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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This book's protagonist is 11, so this might be billed as a middle-grades book, but its content is tough, so it would have to be not just a good reader but a mature one who read this. Violence in this story is more upsetting than in a cartoonish adventure novel, because there is a small cast of characters who are sweet and vulnerable, and who are not set very long ago or very far away. In this story, a bully sets up shop in a small town, picking on children and outsiders and finding ways to blame others and silence victims. Then, the bully disappears, and it looks as though one of her victims may have something to do with it. The young girl who was her first victim is both glad she's gone and worried about her disappearance, but it becomes even more important to find the bully when suspicion falls on a community member who lives on the fringes and suffers from PTSD. Although the ending was realistic, it was also not the satisfying alternative I wished the author had found--too simple, too off-stage, and not worthy of the character of the outsider. The writing and plotting are very good, and I think that a serious-minded reader who wants something more from a book than simple moral dilemmas or simple action will like it a lot.
This is pretty intense for a middle grade book.
Annabelle is a twelve-year-old girl in 1943 when she starts being bullied by an older girl, Betty. Annabelle is a likeable, bright MC who makes big-hearted decisions and tries her best to follow a moral compass. Betty is a SUPER bully. I'm not talking sticking a frog in a pocket or shooting a spitball. She does some pretty awful things (trigger warnings for) that made me drop my jaw and think this is middle grade?
But this is a middle grade book, so we will probably just find out why Betty is being such a terrible human being and have a big kumbaya circle, right? Uh. Wrong.
As Betty continues being an absolute horror, things get worse and worse for both Annabelle and the man that Betty is now also targeting, a homeless (sort of) middle-aged veteran and (eventual) friend of Annabelle's named Toby. And then Betty goes missing.
I was absolutely engrossed in this story and flipping the pages to see what would happen.
There are some heavy topics in here, which include the trigger warnings above as well as and discussions on both war and animosity towards Germans (it's 1943 so this tracks).
This could be a bit much for younger children, but I'd recommend for children about eleven and up. There's nothing inappropriate - just some really heavy stuff.
3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars
Annabelle is a twelve-year-old girl in 1943 when she starts being bullied by an older girl, Betty. Annabelle is a likeable, bright MC who makes big-hearted decisions and tries her best to follow a moral compass. Betty is a SUPER bully. I'm not talking sticking a frog in a pocket or shooting a spitball. She does some pretty awful things (trigger warnings for
Spoiler
animal cruelty and bodily harmBut this is a middle grade book, so we will probably just find out why Betty is being such a terrible human being and have a big kumbaya circle, right? Uh. Wrong.
As Betty continues being an absolute horror, things get worse and worse for both Annabelle and the man that Betty is now also targeting, a homeless (sort of) middle-aged veteran and (eventual) friend of Annabelle's named Toby. And then Betty goes missing.
I was absolutely engrossed in this story and flipping the pages to see what would happen.
There are some heavy topics in here, which include the trigger warnings above as well as
Spoiler
deathsThis could be a bit much for younger children, but I'd recommend for children about eleven and up. There's nothing inappropriate - just some really heavy stuff.
3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars
Beautiful writing. Her descriptions and metaphors were so gentle, unexpected and soft. Really lovely. Annabelle is a great protagonist.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVE this book!!! It was one that got me into reading, and I recently reread it.
There were some really small moments that annoyed me after rereading it.
One of the main points is that the main character is growing up and dealing with more responsibilities and burdens. My problem with this is how the author chooses to show her young age. She has a big focus on “this all happened because I’m 12 now” and I personally have grown to hate that. At one point someone says a metaphor, and she gets confused. It gives the vibes of when someone says “we have to address the elephant in the room” and the response is “I don’t see an elephant”. Most eleven/twelve year olds know what a metaphor is, and if they didn’t understand the meaning they could at least tell it wasn’t meant to be taken literally. This moment especially annoyed me because one of her character traits is intelligent, and it just seemed like it was saying kids don’t understand what adults say. I could see it being one way the author shows her growth from child to adult, but there are others ways to do that.
Most books I read once and even if I loved it won’t buy it or reread it at any point, because I get bored easily. This book has me coming back and I’m glad I own it!
There were some really small moments that annoyed me after rereading it.
One of the main points is that the main character is growing up and dealing with more responsibilities and burdens. My problem with this is how the author chooses to show her young age. She has a big focus on “this all happened because I’m 12 now” and I personally have grown to hate that. At one point someone says a metaphor, and she gets confused. It gives the vibes of when someone says “we have to address the elephant in the room” and the response is “I don’t see an elephant”. Most eleven/twelve year olds know what a metaphor is, and if they didn’t understand the meaning they could at least tell it wasn’t meant to be taken literally. This moment especially annoyed me because one of her character traits is intelligent, and it just seemed like it was saying kids don’t understand what adults say. I could see it being one way the author shows her growth from child to adult, but there are others ways to do that.
Most books I read once and even if I loved it won’t buy it or reread it at any point, because I get bored easily. This book has me coming back and I’m glad I own it!
ANIMAL CRUELTY. Automatically will not read a book once it happens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
dark
reflective
sad
tense
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, War
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced