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flyingsails's review against another edition
2.0
I went to the library and opened this book, only to find I'd already read it (which is something that doesn't happen to me often). I think I read it a while ago, so I don't remember what exactly I thought, but I don't recall it being that good.
trogdor19's review
5.0
This book was beautiful. The idea is that these two homeless kids who've been beat up by life (literally) get together and end up going on a road trip to try to decide if there is enough beauty in life to want to keep living. I was impressed by the author's portrayal of the beauty of nature, the kindness of strangers, and also the carelessness of people and the deliberate cruelty of people to one another: she puts them all in, and doesn't try to make it all good or all bad. I loved the characters and their inherent goodness, and the ending was satisfying and well-written. The letters at the end of the books contain some great quotes about the nature of life.
mellamaron's review
3.0
I don't know what to say about this book. I liked the premise of it. I liked what they found and how they did it. But I really didn't like Chloe. In fact, I hated her for the first half of the book. She was okay by the end, I guess, but I didn't care for her.
And since she took up pretty much the whole story, I can't give the book higher than a 3.
And since she took up pretty much the whole story, I can't give the book higher than a 3.
its_kelso_yo's review
2.0
More details, more descriptions, more explanations, more closure. I feel like this book just needed a lot more.
chaotic_ramblings's review
4.0
I am really starting to like the YA books that are being told from the guys point of view. Becoming Chloe was an impulse pickup from the library based solely on the cover ( I know I shouldn't do that), but I am so glad that I grabbed it. We meet Jordan "Jordy" at the beginning while he is listening to someone having sex; he soon realizes that it really isn't consensual and that there is a rape keeping him awake.
Enter Wanda"Chloe" Johnston, she was the girl being raped and as she drops into the cellar that Jordy has been squatting in they end up forming a tentative friendship.
Chloe as she becomes known puts off this simpleminded vibe, like even though something is bad, she just doesn't get it ( take the rape for example). Jordy then becomes ill and even though you would think that Chloe wouldn't know what to do, she gets the medication that he needs to make him feel a little better. After she takes care of Jordy they run into a few problems with having the money to support themselves and Jordy does what he feels he needs to just to make sure they survive. They end up close to Jordy's home and we get to meet his parents ( and I use that term lightly). His mom and dad don't like that Jordy is gay and apparently the head would that caused Jordy so many problems in the beginning is due to one of his parents 9 you can probably guess which one).
I really don't want to give too much more away, but Jordy and Chloe end up staying with this old man and his dog until both of them pass on. Then Jordy sets out to show Chloe that the world is beautiful, and during this time they see so much. While Driving across the country they meet a few nice people and then when their truck breaks down they meet even nicer people that give them rides. I really liked when they arrived in Kentucky ( could be because I live there), they met some amazing people and I have to say that Randy Banyan may have been one of my favorite people that they met.
I loved how the book took me to all the places that I have never seen and I got to see the beauty in the world right along with Chloe and Jordan. Though they do run into some "ugly" out there, the book wouldn't be real without it. The ending of the book left me confused and wanting to know more, so that is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
Enter Wanda"Chloe" Johnston, she was the girl being raped and as she drops into the cellar that Jordy has been squatting in they end up forming a tentative friendship.
Chloe as she becomes known puts off this simpleminded vibe, like even though something is bad, she just doesn't get it ( take the rape for example). Jordy then becomes ill and even though you would think that Chloe wouldn't know what to do, she gets the medication that he needs to make him feel a little better. After she takes care of Jordy they run into a few problems with having the money to support themselves and Jordy does what he feels he needs to just to make sure they survive. They end up close to Jordy's home and we get to meet his parents ( and I use that term lightly). His mom and dad don't like that Jordy is gay and apparently the head would that caused Jordy so many problems in the beginning is due to one of his parents 9 you can probably guess which one).
I really don't want to give too much more away, but Jordy and Chloe end up staying with this old man and his dog until both of them pass on. Then Jordy sets out to show Chloe that the world is beautiful, and during this time they see so much. While Driving across the country they meet a few nice people and then when their truck breaks down they meet even nicer people that give them rides. I really liked when they arrived in Kentucky ( could be because I live there), they met some amazing people and I have to say that Randy Banyan may have been one of my favorite people that they met.
I loved how the book took me to all the places that I have never seen and I got to see the beauty in the world right along with Chloe and Jordan. Though they do run into some "ugly" out there, the book wouldn't be real without it. The ending of the book left me confused and wanting to know more, so that is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
forestgreenreader's review
4.0
I first read this book when I was in middle school. It was the first book I read that explored the idea of suicide, it also helped develop my yearning for travel.
The writing is very simplistic, so are the characters and character development. But it's simple in a nice, heart warming way. I immediately liked Jordan (I too get easily attached to others, and somehow become the mother figure in my group of friends), and I also adored Chloe. It was nice seeing them travel by any means, meeting amazing people- but their trip wasn't always happy-go-lucky.
This is quick read. But if you're a person that sometimes forgets to take a breather and have a look at the world we're all living in (despite all the ugliness) and remember there's beauty still here- I recommend this book for you.
The writing is very simplistic, so are the characters and character development. But it's simple in a nice, heart warming way. I immediately liked Jordan (I too get easily attached to others, and somehow become the mother figure in my group of friends), and I also adored Chloe. It was nice seeing them travel by any means, meeting amazing people- but their trip wasn't always happy-go-lucky.
This is quick read. But if you're a person that sometimes forgets to take a breather and have a look at the world we're all living in (despite all the ugliness) and remember there's beauty still here- I recommend this book for you.
halcyon_nights's review
4.0
This is not what I usually read but I thought I'd try something new and different and I'm glad I did.
This book made a whole lot of difference to me. It's one of those books that make you see the world differently like you've never seen it before. Even if slightly. There are so many beautiful things in our world, not just from the exterior but from the interior that we take for granted or not really 'look' at them carefully.
Jordy and Chloe are very unique yet relatable characters. I loved how special their relationship is. Like best friends but even more than that.
They had met so many nice and lovely people on the way. It's so easy to warm up to everybody with Jordy's narration. They were some strange parts since he sees guys as you know and it feels weird at first but it grew on me by the end of the book.
Anyhow, I would've actually loved a totally different ending--perfect, but that doesn't happen in real life, does it? Hyde made it very realistic and true when she chose the path the story took though I would've loved something developed between Jordy and Chloe.
This book made a whole lot of difference to me. It's one of those books that make you see the world differently like you've never seen it before. Even if slightly. There are so many beautiful things in our world, not just from the exterior but from the interior that we take for granted or not really 'look' at them carefully.
Jordy and Chloe are very unique yet relatable characters. I loved how special their relationship is. Like best friends but even more than that.
They had met so many nice and lovely people on the way. It's so easy to warm up to everybody with Jordy's narration. They were some strange parts since he sees guys as you know and it feels weird at first but it grew on me by the end of the book.
Anyhow, I would've actually loved a totally different ending--perfect, but that doesn't happen in real life, does it? Hyde made it very realistic and true when she chose the path the story took though I would've loved something developed between Jordy and Chloe.
booksnstitches's review
3.0
I first read this book when I was in middle school, so about 10 years ago now. And after all this time, even though my memory was heavily clouded by time, I would still think about it. It’s darker than I remember it being, but it’s also very light and heart-warming.
I liked the book a lot. The language was pretty simple, and it conveyed these complicated ideas, like depression and homelessness, in a way that I was able to understand it when I was younger. This book is a different take on teen homelessness and runaways, one that doesn’t shy away from the hard realities of what they are experiencing. At the same time, it offers a lighter side, showing the kindness they receive and the way their life was changed in unimaginable ways by meeting each other.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
It was a good book and a very quick read. I enjoyed it just as much at 22 as I did when I was 12. If anything, I can appreciate it so much more this time around, now that I better understand how dire their situation was and how fortunate they are in being able to travel. Honestly, they remind me a lot of the free-spirited travelers I met, people just like Jordy and Chloe, traveling all over the country with just what they can carry in a backpack. It’s not the greatest piece of literature out there, but it’s good.
I liked the book a lot. The language was pretty simple, and it conveyed these complicated ideas, like depression and homelessness, in a way that I was able to understand it when I was younger. This book is a different take on teen homelessness and runaways, one that doesn’t shy away from the hard realities of what they are experiencing. At the same time, it offers a lighter side, showing the kindness they receive and the way their life was changed in unimaginable ways by meeting each other.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
It was a good book and a very quick read. I enjoyed it just as much at 22 as I did when I was 12. If anything, I can appreciate it so much more this time around, now that I better understand how dire their situation was and how fortunate they are in being able to travel. Honestly, they remind me a lot of the free-spirited travelers I met, people just like Jordy and Chloe, traveling all over the country with just what they can carry in a backpack. It’s not the greatest piece of literature out there, but it’s good.