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ncrozier's review against another edition
3.0
It's short, it keeps you engaged, but it was also a little unsatisfying.
jpark414's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. Read this bc Becca loved it.
I love the last image of Jo and Stephanie in the magnolia tree and I love the poetics woven into the pattern of the text. It’s both beautiful and ominous
But this book is like The Vegetarian or Lolita. I can appreciate it, but I can’t say that I ...like it?
I love the last image of Jo and Stephanie in the magnolia tree and I love the poetics woven into the pattern of the text. It’s both beautiful and ominous
But this book is like The Vegetarian or Lolita. I can appreciate it, but I can’t say that I ...like it?
theknitpick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
suzydemric's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen this book on a few lists, and finally picked it up at the library. I am not familiar with the author, and really hadn't read the summary so went into it completely blind.
Perhaps that is why the initial event felt so devastating to me; others who reviewed the book knowing more of the plot may have focused on the writing style and found it off putting.
This style worked for me for a number of reasons. It revealed things at various points, which not knowing the plot, gave me a nice sense of Jo, her memories, her beloved friends, and the devastating event that happens one night.
Followed by a perfect set-up for a manipulative male teacher. I felt the author described all of this horridness beautifully.
I plan on looking up Walbert's other titles.
Perhaps that is why the initial event felt so devastating to me; others who reviewed the book knowing more of the plot may have focused on the writing style and found it off putting.
This style worked for me for a number of reasons. It revealed things at various points, which not knowing the plot, gave me a nice sense of Jo, her memories, her beloved friends, and the devastating event that happens one night.
Followed by a perfect set-up for a manipulative male teacher. I felt the author described all of this horridness beautifully.
I plan on looking up Walbert's other titles.
brylkayyy's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the plot and the overall story. However, I found the book to be jumpy and the story nonlinear. I found myself questioning the placement of storylines. I wanted to connect with Jo(e) but I couldn't seem to get myself to do so
heartofoak1's review against another edition
1.0
it sucked but at least it counts toward the reading challenge.
manaledi's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't particularly like this one, although I couldn't quite put my finger on why. The back and forths in time were confusing and none of the big issues felt fully developed. I found myself skimming lots of unnecessary descriptions of boarding school architecture.
pixe1's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't feel that this succeeded in what it was trying to do, in part because it was so short and tried to tackle some big topics, and in part because there were certain narrative elements such as repetition and change in tense that made me feel too emotionally removed.