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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I have read several survival stories while I have read through the nominees for the SCLA book awards (third summer). Out of all of them I have read, Marshall's story tops them all. That's not to say that I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. What I appreciated was that Marshall dealt with Jess' disability realistically. She didn't magically summon the ability to do different things like others that I have read.
The thing holding me back from five stars is the gruesome nature of some bits of the narrative (though not as bad as the wolves story from last year's list) as well as the rather optimistic epilogue. (I won't say any more to avoid potential spoilers.)
The thing holding me back from five stars is the gruesome nature of some bits of the narrative (though not as bad as the wolves story from last year's list) as well as the rather optimistic epilogue. (I won't say any more to avoid potential spoilers.)
I picked up this book during a trip to the library and I ended up absolutely loving it. It's a fantastic read and so creatively written, I highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a great standalone that will have your heart racing!
Rating it 4.5 stars
I went into this book with zero expectations and came out of it with lots of feelings. This book in a way is very simple. Its a book about survival. Jess loses her mother in an accident, that also leaves her with a disability and has to go live with her dad who she hasn't seen since she was a child. Once she makes her way to him she finds out that he basically loves in the middle of nowhere in Canada. Stuff happens and she loses him. She must now survive this wild country she knows nothing about with just a dog for company.
What I thought:
1) I loved Bo. Bo is the most adorable dog ever. And he made this book awesome. And I will never forget him
2) Jess. I actually didn't love her. Honestly, I didn't even come to like her. But i did come to respect her. And with time I admired her and rooted for her.
3) I never felt sorry for Jess. But I was super fascinated with her journey and the way she dealt with her circumstances. She made mistakes, sometimes she didn't really learn from them. But I cant help but root for someone who keeps going despite all the pain, fear and uncertainty.
4) This book was fast paced and the back and forth between past and present events kept me hooked and thinking about the book long after i had put it down
5) I did not expect to be gutted close to the end. Well I kinda saw it coming but lets just say I'm in denial.
6) I don't know anything about survival but I'm pretty sure a lot of this was super unrealistic. Still the author did a great job in convincing me otherwise.
7) Honestly, I enjoyed this book because I love survival stories and this one was simple, fast paced, entertaining and gripping. Glad I picked it up!
Pop Sugar 2018 Reading Challenge #7: A Book set in a Country that Fascinates You
I went into this book with zero expectations and came out of it with lots of feelings. This book in a way is very simple. Its a book about survival. Jess loses her mother in an accident, that also leaves her with a disability and has to go live with her dad who she hasn't seen since she was a child. Once she makes her way to him she finds out that he basically loves in the middle of nowhere in Canada. Stuff happens and she loses him. She must now survive this wild country she knows nothing about with just a dog for company.
What I thought:
1) I loved Bo. Bo is the most adorable dog ever. And he made this book awesome. And I will never forget him
2) Jess. I actually didn't love her. Honestly, I didn't even come to like her. But i did come to respect her. And with time I admired her and rooted for her.
3) I never felt sorry for Jess. But I was super fascinated with her journey and the way she dealt with her circumstances. She made mistakes, sometimes she didn't really learn from them. But I cant help but root for someone who keeps going despite all the pain, fear and uncertainty.
4) This book was fast paced and the back and forth between past and present events kept me hooked and thinking about the book long after i had put it down
5) I did not expect to be gutted close to the end. Well I kinda saw it coming but lets just say I'm in denial.
6) I don't know anything about survival but I'm pretty sure a lot of this was super unrealistic. Still the author did a great job in convincing me otherwise.
7) Honestly, I enjoyed this book because I love survival stories and this one was simple, fast paced, entertaining and gripping. Glad I picked it up!
Pop Sugar 2018 Reading Challenge #7: A Book set in a Country that Fascinates You
(Warning: Pretty big spoilers here)
It was a pretty good book, very much in the vein of Hatchet (the book is referenced in the story, though not by name) with enough differences (beyond the main character being a girl) to make it more than another survival story for the YA crowd. The first part of the book is set up combined with a back and forth flashback structured narrative to set up Jess being left out in the cold wilderness by herself. Our main character simply isn't very competent at first, and has to rely on a great deal of luck, her trusty dog and a few saving throws by her late father. I feel for some people that all would have been a bit too much but I actually didn't mind it. It is realistic and I could completely see myself making the same mistakes she makes. Plus even after she catches her 'big break' which I won't spoil here, she still has to learn to hunt and adapt and seeing her do that is interesting. I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more of her having to learn actually. Thinking about older books, I wonder if a story from a previous generation or two ago would have had long sections essentially acting as educational studies in how to smoke wild game? Ah well.
The ending wraps up violently though...I don't know. Well I'll end with one major spoiler that I suspect will make or break it for a few people I know:
With regards to the dog...
Bo does get the Old Yeller ending.
It was a pretty good book, very much in the vein of Hatchet (the book is referenced in the story, though not by name) with enough differences (beyond the main character being a girl) to make it more than another survival story for the YA crowd. The first part of the book is set up combined with a back and forth flashback structured narrative to set up Jess being left out in the cold wilderness by herself. Our main character simply isn't very competent at first, and has to rely on a great deal of luck, her trusty dog and a few saving throws by her late father. I feel for some people that all would have been a bit too much but I actually didn't mind it. It is realistic and I could completely see myself making the same mistakes she makes. Plus even after she catches her 'big break' which I won't spoil here, she still has to learn to hunt and adapt and seeing her do that is interesting. I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more of her having to learn actually. Thinking about older books, I wonder if a story from a previous generation or two ago would have had long sections essentially acting as educational studies in how to smoke wild game? Ah well.
The ending wraps up violently though...I don't know. Well I'll end with one major spoiler that I suspect will make or break it for a few people I know:
With regards to the dog...
Bo does get the Old Yeller ending.
Definitely something I took a chance on. At first I wasn't sure. It took me a while to get into it, and because of the timeline back and forth it was a little bit hard to follow. After that I started to get more in tune with the story and everything this girl's survival meant to her. Near the end I had a hard time putting it down and I'm glad I was able to read and finish this novel.
4.5/5*
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book! The pacing was perfect, there weren't convenient ways for this MC to survive in the situation she was put into and the representation of her disability was done well in my opinion. If you like survival stories I highly recommend this one. It kept me on my toes and interested in what was going to happen the whole time.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book! The pacing was perfect, there weren't convenient ways for this MC to survive in the situation she was put into and the representation of her disability was done well in my opinion. If you like survival stories I highly recommend this one. It kept me on my toes and interested in what was going to happen the whole time.
This is a worthy, unflinching addition to the survival genre, featuring a disabled teen girl. Adult me very much appreciates that, along with the fact that things aren’t easy for Jess, where characters in other such stories have oddly convenient knowledge or resources. Teenage me would’ve reveled in Jess’s determined survival and desire for revenge. This is not an easy read, and friends, I will gladly give you content warnings. But it’s a good one.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes