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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This book left me stunned. I devoured it in a manner of hours, and was so moved by its simple yet powerful story. I'm sure I'll be thinking about it for some time to come.
So well done, but my kids are pissed AGAIN because I can’t seem to pick books that don’t involve death and sadness and war. Welcome to life, kids. (They also still gave it five stars, so.)
I liked “Beyond the Bright Sea” more, but I can say now for sure that I’ll read whatever Lauren Wolk wants to put out into the world. She’s not a flashy writer, but she has things to say, and sometimes that’s worth more than all the sparkly words in the sky.
I liked “Beyond the Bright Sea” more, but I can say now for sure that I’ll read whatever Lauren Wolk wants to put out into the world. She’s not a flashy writer, but she has things to say, and sometimes that’s worth more than all the sparkly words in the sky.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
6/2020: Read this aloud to my kids. Such an amazing book. 9/2018: Absolutely gorgeous.
I much prefer books with happy endings and where right prevails. I found both lacking here, but Annabelle was worth the read.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Knocking down a star for a misogynist comment about a character who "might be handsome if she were a man." Otherwise this would be a solid five stars. This is a really tense book - the author does an incredible job of maintaining an undercurrent of dread and anticipation as the story unfolds. It is a story about first impressions and judgements and who is listened to in our society.
Beautifully Written
A beautiful, painful, amazing story about moving on from a innocent child to a complicated person. A masterpiece in the art form of writing.
A beautiful, painful, amazing story about moving on from a innocent child to a complicated person. A masterpiece in the art form of writing.
This book is nothing more than the author’s thinly veiled and utterly failed attempt to be Harper Lee. I am baffled by the accolades it has received. It is dark, ugly, and not particularly well done. I can appreciate a little well written darkness, written with a purpose, and aimed at the right audience. That is not what this was. This was brutality and hatred merely for the shock value and to make the pages turn. That’s it. There was nothing deeper. That little trick is bad enough in an adult book. It is despicable in a children’s book.
Speaking of that, this is not a children’s book, despite how it may be presented. It is most certainly better categorized as YA fiction and mediocre YA fiction at that. The plot is ridiculous. Hello, why would you take the advice of an eleven year old and hide in a barn if you have a solid alibi with a witness? For that matter why do all these adults just go along with whatever wacky plan pops into this girl’s head? Would you really dismiss those strange moaning noises when the whole damn town is out looking for a missing girl? The author weaves the storyline into such a unlikely and disastrous knot the only way she can undo it is by abruptly cutting it off and killing the two most troublesome characters. “Well shoot. I don’t know what to do with this bully I created and have written into a corner. I guess she’ll have to be impaled.” Less than impressive.
Speaking of that, this is not a children’s book, despite how it may be presented. It is most certainly better categorized as YA fiction and mediocre YA fiction at that. The plot is ridiculous. Hello, why would you take the advice of an eleven year old and hide in a barn if you have a solid alibi with a witness? For that matter why do all these adults just go along with whatever wacky plan pops into this girl’s head? Would you really dismiss those strange moaning noises when the whole damn town is out looking for a missing girl? The author weaves the storyline into such a unlikely and disastrous knot the only way she can undo it is by abruptly cutting it off and killing the two most troublesome characters. “Well shoot. I don’t know what to do with this bully I created and have written into a corner. I guess she’ll have to be impaled.” Less than impressive.
What a powerfully written novel. Really liked this one. It reminded me of To kill a mockingbird in many ways, so that although it is marketed to middle school, I think adults will find much to savour in this book.