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talasterism's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
what a warm hug this book was. the exposition of the charactern aka the beginning was quite quite slow but the trust put in me by jole and many others who adored this book made me keep going. its just HHHHHHH so COZY so cozy such a hug! and not just anywhere at SEA, and he loves the sea so much and im right there with him. the smell of sea was mentioned like, a Lot, and i loved every time. very puhpuhphuphuph very :pleading: emoji, VERY SWEET. SO SWEET!! the character development was soooooo oo oo o o o oo good, such an emotional glow up and arthur /sigh /pos. so strongly gentle, so so gently strong.
its also funny (e.g. "Linus did his best not to shriek, but unfortunately, his best wasn'T good enough"). and LUCY?? LUCY IS SUCH MY FAVOURITE the fucking unparalleled DRAMA he brought to every conversation?? just the slow build into the family and into being yourself and everything was so lovely. so adorably heart warming. i adore this book, with its healing house, and rolling waves, and those funky lovely people.
its also funny (e.g. "Linus did his best not to shriek, but unfortunately, his best wasn'T good enough"). and LUCY?? LUCY IS SUCH MY FAVOURITE the fucking unparalleled DRAMA he brought to every conversation?? just the slow build into the family and into being yourself and everything was so lovely. so adorably heart warming. i adore this book, with its healing house, and rolling waves, and those funky lovely people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This queer, inclusive novel was just a big bear hug. The characters are so sweet and trying to do their best. I thought it was quite interesting to have as a main character someone who is part of the oppressive system, who realises what's wrong and who tries to do better without necessarily bringing said system down in a revolution because he's just one person. There's a lot of Hobbit vibes and I'm here for it - not everyone can be a superhero and endanger one's life for the greater good. Sometimes you have to work with what you have and bring along a quiet revolution.
TW: residential schools
One thing has to be acknowledged when reading this book though, and that it the horrific events that have inspired it. The orphanages for magical children are directly inspired by Canadian residential schools in which Indigenous children were taken from their families and brought up, enduring unspeakable hardships there. You may have heard about the graves discovered in such locations. There has been an uproar in the First Nations communities of Northern America around this book which took a situation that still causes trauma for these people and turned it into a heart-warming story. Before picking this book, I listened to First Nation people's reactions. For many, it was another layer of trauma. For some, it was the opportunity to acknowledge the hurt but also sublimate it in a way, to imagine a world in which things hadn't gone so bad.
Further reading: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq, This Accident of Being Lost by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.
Rep: gay MC, queer secondary characters (they're not defined but it's pretty clear).
TW: residential schools
One thing has to be acknowledged when reading this book though, and that it the horrific events that have inspired it. The orphanages for magical children are directly inspired by Canadian residential schools in which Indigenous children were taken from their families and brought up, enduring unspeakable hardships there. You may have heard about the graves discovered in such locations. There has been an uproar in the First Nations communities of Northern America around this book which took a situation that still causes trauma for these people and turned it into a heart-warming story. Before picking this book, I listened to First Nation people's reactions. For many, it was another layer of trauma. For some, it was the opportunity to acknowledge the hurt but also sublimate it in a way, to imagine a world in which things hadn't gone so bad.
Further reading: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq, This Accident of Being Lost by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.
Rep: gay MC, queer secondary characters (they're not defined but it's pretty clear).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Misogyny, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, and Homophobia
greyys_libraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Fatphobia and Confinement
Minor: Homophobia
oscareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia
haindfielda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Just a great book. It’s well written, many lines read like poetry, but also heart wrenching and made me ugly cry. So good, lovable, characters with faults and quirks. Makes you feel like you experience it with the characters with the captivating imagery used.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Body shaming, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Homophobia, Bullying, Classism, Hate crime, and Emotional abuse
chloevienna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
really loved this one, but found out after reading that the author might be problematic? this might be a book to steer clear of/avoid supporting, but i also should read more before forming an opinion. disappointing, to say the least :/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Cannibalism
sssssoup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is hands down my favorite book I’ve ever read!! Not only is it 400 pages of free serotonin, it has important messages about prejudice and problems with the government that are especially relevant today. I think everyone should read it at some point in their lives because I believe everyone can learn something from it. It’s very well written and it makes my heart so happy (:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Confinement
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Sexism, Grief, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
lena_3103's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia