214 reviews for:

Firebird

Sunmi

3.77 AVERAGE

february_friday's review against another edition

4.5

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

jilli_reads's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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it was relatable and cute but just kinda boring. the ending fell flat for me and i really liked the characters so it was a let down. i felt like it focused so much on their family drama. i enjoyed the art style and the use of the black and red. i loved caroline’s friends and seeing the connections Kim had. i liked watching caroline and kim give each other safe spaces to be themselves. 

inaraexplains's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

solson5212's review

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Dysphoria

beccaajah_8004's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

goldentortoisebeetle's review

emotional reflective

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Two Asian American teens dealing with high school and family stuff. Caroline's got her routine down - early classes, band, studying, sneaking fantasy romance comics when no one's looking. Kim's all over the place - failing math because she's constantly running around picking up siblings, working at a garage, teaching guitar, helping her mom, showing up to friend hangouts last minute. They get paired up for tutoring. Something clicks between them. Caroline starts coming out of her shell. Kim slows down a bit. 

Nothing super dramatic happens - just friendship developing, identity stuff, figuring out priorities. Both girls are carrying a lot from their immigrant families while trying to be regular teenagers. It feels authentic, like watching actual people instead of characters hitting plot points. Just a quiet story about growing up. 

I also didn't mind the ambiguous ending, it felt open to possibilities. I enjoyed the conversations on gender, bodies, sexuality, straight/queer friendships, absentee dads, mommy issues. They held lots of nuance.

brynnas_books's review

3.0

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cute and had a lot of potential, but ifl it was cut off a bit soon. i would’ve liked a bit more expansion on the various characters and their relationships with each other

signedqueercarter's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful fast-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

taylormadebooks's review

4.0

emotional lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ebbys_library's review against another edition

3.0

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I feel like the story ended abruptly and could have been longer to wrap up things. It felt incomplete. It was a very good story about trying to figure out yourself and what you want, and not fixing yourself to the mold your parents want.