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conspystery's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall, I don’t think I have much to say about this book; I thought the concept of following a group of not-chosen ones through the struggles of their regular lives while earth-shattering apocalyptic events took place around them was adorable, and its execution was great. The main cast of this book had enough depth to carry that idea past novelty and tell a funny yet genuine and sincere story about friendship under difficult circumstances-- be those circumstances in-fighting in a friend group, the changing relationships of people who’ve known each other a long time, graduation and the spreading out of a close group of people across distant lands, or the actual apocalypse. Possibly all at once! Mikey is flawed as any teenager is, with a wry tone throughout the novel that complements his moments of more serious contemplation. I liked how far this book went into dissecting his issues with self-worth; it didn’t shy away from dark themes, and I appreciated the realism of it even amidst the supernatural aspects of the setting. I will say that there were parts of this book that felt a bit juvenile to me-- strange asides in the writing, or scenes that felt contrived-- but this is a YA novel, so it’s to be expected, and it didn’t ruin the book for me at all. This is a story about finding a family versus making peace with the one you have, and also about being true to yourself and the people you surround yourself with; it’s about communication and growth and how complicated friendship can be. It was a solidly good book. I liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Animal death, Eating disorder, and Alcoholism
Moderate: War, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
olivedean's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cursing, Cancer, Drug use, and Child death
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