Reviews

Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff

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cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition

5.0

A 2021 staff favorite recommended by Andrea and Ellen J. Read Andrea's review on the Cook Memorial Public Library blog, Shelf Life: https://shelflife.cooklib.org/2021/03/30/raft-of-stars-by-andrew-graff/

Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sraft%20of%20stars%20graff__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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

4.25

tender and beautiful.
i didn't really know what to expect when i picked this up. i stuck to the synopsis that vaguely promised adventure and american landscapes and decided that this would definitely be something new, something i wouldn't normally pick up.
but oh am i glad i did.

right off the bat, i loved all the protagonists - every single one. they all had their own aspirations, dreams and motives, and were undoubtedly unique, yet also easy to sympathise with.
the relationship dynamics were at times wholesome, at others tenuous but without fail always profoundly human.

the occasional switch between the different points of view kept the story interesting and made for a very diverse reading experience.

the landscape descriptions were often quite long, however, and got repetitive after a while. during many of these very detailed scenes, i found myself zoning out and getting a little bored.

i did love the ending though, how it didn't seem to confine the characters to a certain conclusion but rather set them free to explore the world after, like releasing a bird from its cage. it was refreshing.

a very good read indeed.

Content Warnings

scknitter's review against another edition

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5.0

Move over This Tender Land, you have competition for one of my favorite books of all time.

The Raft of Stars will take you on an adventure through the Northwoods of WI that you can not begin to imagine. It is a coming of age story where two ten-year-old boys, Fish and Bread, share an unbreakable bond of friendship. The boys are not the only ones who are tested as they run away from the murder that Fish committed in order to save Bread from his abusive father. The adults in the story: Sheriff Cal newly arrived from Houston and not at all familiar with anything other than an urban setting, Tiffany a young waitress who has had a rough life and sees little hope for improvement. Miranda, Fish’s mom, who is still mourning the death of Fish’s dad 3 years earlier. And Teddy, Fish’s grandfather, who just wants peace and quiet all show a side of themselves that they did not know existed as they try to find and save the boys. The writing evoked such vivid imagery I could almost feel the mosquitos biting, sense the river tossing the raft back and forth, and hear the explosive force of the rapids. Once can only wish to know boys as profoundly good as Fish and Bread and to experience the kind of friendship that they have. Raft of Stars is sure to become a classic that should be read by the young and adults alike.

barkylee15's review against another edition

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4.0

3.75. This was both slow moving and then fast-paced like the river on which much of the novel takes place. I adored the setting for this novel and the look into these very different relationships and people. Overall, it was a solid debut and I would read more from Graff.

*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.