Reviews

Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells

thestarman's review against another edition

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3.0

ADULT VERDICT: 2.75 stars, rounded to 3.
YA VERDICT: ~3.75 stars.

bookfeast101's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad

4.5

ifthebook's review against another edition

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4.0

This was...a lot darker than I expected it to be, especially at the end. I was expecting a book about the horrors of nuclear war, yes, but I also expected a much more uplifting ending, something about how there is good in mankind, and that we survive and are better for it. Well, what I got was that we survive, but are probably not better for it, and that are attempts to survive and maintain high standards eventually all come to an end. Like I said, very dark, especially for the age group that this seems to be aimed at. (Not that I'm saying that's a bad thing.)

marysanderson's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

jasminegannaway's review against another edition

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4.0

It's been 12 years since I last read this book. I'd forgotten how harrowing it could be. I think I appreciated it even more this time than I did then.

heather34's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

lizziehorsey's review

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3.0

Read in Year Seven, my first year of secondary school when I was 11/12 - can't remember much about how I felt about it because i think i missed parts when we were reading it in class and i couldn't always follow or remember what had previously happened because of the gaps of our reading sessions in our english lessons (hence only 3 stars), but i want to read it again, to properly appreciate it as everyone seems to raving about it a bit!

ithinkmohammedistaken's review

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5.0

A brilliant book. Still strong on re-reads and manages to be poignant without being too heavy-handed with it (except when it needs to be; then it slaps you in the heart and makes you whimper). I haven't read this book in years though so I may be remembering this a bit too fondly.
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