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stephen_arvidson's review against another edition
5.0
The only thing that Astrid Jones hates more than trigonometry is being labeled. Thoughtful and intelligent, she refuses to be pigeonholed into a categorical box. Recently transplanted from the Big Apple to small-town suburbia, this bookish high school senior is unsure which sexual identity fits her. Is she gay, or is she straight? In a well-trod theme of self-discovery, A.S. King’s latest YA novel challenges heteronormative conventions and reveals the glaring limitations of definition.
Astrid’s life is complicated, to say the least. When her apathetic father isn’t building birdhouses in the backyard, he’s stealing a toke up in the attic. Her best friends are closeted queers and her agoraphobic mother warrants a place on the Mount Rushmore of shrews. Stifling and unsupportive, this alpha-mom is all about façades and maintaining status in a cloistered Pennsylvania hamlet buttressed by Stepford-esque values. What’s worse, Astrid’s younger sister, Ellis, the very picture of normalcy and ultra-femininity, epitomizes the clash between Astrid’s desire to fit in and her sense of individualism.
Lacking any suitable outlet for her consuming emotions, Astrid resorts to sending her love to the passenger jets overhead, a cathartic outpouring that connects her to humanity without any expectation of return. No one in this story has a firm handle on love. Interspersed throughout the narrative are vignettes of the anonymous passengers affected by her earthbound love, and King artfully juxtaposes their preoccupations with Astrid’s quest for self-enlightenment, evoking epiphanies and life-altering clarity to their relationship problems. Love is neither straightforward nor classifiable, as King masterfully illustrates, and her deft touches of magical realism hint at a deeper connectedness beyond the details of the plot. Soul-to-soul, we’re all somehow connected, as many spiritual philosophies agree. King’s use of magical realism in Ask the Passengers shows how the complexities of Astrid’s emotions inform those existing 30,000-ft above her, adding further dimension to the deep and mundane mysteries of life.
After a misbegotten night of clubbing outs Astrid and her friends, the fog of gossip closes in around them. Our questioning protagonist desperately searches for answers even as those closest to her demand an orderly definition for her sexuality. Astrid, however, is determined to unveil herself on her own terms and refuses to let narrow-mindedness dictate who she chooses to be. A philosophy buff, she turns to the teachings of the classic philosophers to better understand her blossoming sexuality, her dysfunctional family, and increasingly intense relationship with her secret girlfriend, Dee. Finding solace and guidance through imaginary conversations with Socrates, Astrid discerns what’s most important to her and remains stolid and wise in the face of bigotry.
A.S. King breaches some delicate social issues—homophobia, familial dysfunction, the demands of high school academia, peer pressure, and consent, to name a few—while simultaneously offering an engaging story with a strong, sympathetic heroine. Astrid’s spiritual strength seems anchored in love and hope—hope that no matter what the outcome, love will always find a way. This beautifully progressing story is assisted by Astrid’s distinct narration that brings King’s storytelling abilities to the fore, and readers will draw inspiration from this touching journey of identity and self-acceptance even if they don’t belong to the LGBTQ alphabet soup.
This witty and tender bildungsroman is an invaluable addition to young-adult literature. Rich stories like this share universal appeal because they convey something about the human condition that speaks to all of us. Ask the Passengers offers perspective on the paradoxes and complexities of the varied human experience that will appeal to audiences regardless of how they label themselves.
Astrid’s life is complicated, to say the least. When her apathetic father isn’t building birdhouses in the backyard, he’s stealing a toke up in the attic. Her best friends are closeted queers and her agoraphobic mother warrants a place on the Mount Rushmore of shrews. Stifling and unsupportive, this alpha-mom is all about façades and maintaining status in a cloistered Pennsylvania hamlet buttressed by Stepford-esque values. What’s worse, Astrid’s younger sister, Ellis, the very picture of normalcy and ultra-femininity, epitomizes the clash between Astrid’s desire to fit in and her sense of individualism.
Lacking any suitable outlet for her consuming emotions, Astrid resorts to sending her love to the passenger jets overhead, a cathartic outpouring that connects her to humanity without any expectation of return. No one in this story has a firm handle on love. Interspersed throughout the narrative are vignettes of the anonymous passengers affected by her earthbound love, and King artfully juxtaposes their preoccupations with Astrid’s quest for self-enlightenment, evoking epiphanies and life-altering clarity to their relationship problems. Love is neither straightforward nor classifiable, as King masterfully illustrates, and her deft touches of magical realism hint at a deeper connectedness beyond the details of the plot. Soul-to-soul, we’re all somehow connected, as many spiritual philosophies agree. King’s use of magical realism in Ask the Passengers shows how the complexities of Astrid’s emotions inform those existing 30,000-ft above her, adding further dimension to the deep and mundane mysteries of life.
After a misbegotten night of clubbing outs Astrid and her friends, the fog of gossip closes in around them. Our questioning protagonist desperately searches for answers even as those closest to her demand an orderly definition for her sexuality. Astrid, however, is determined to unveil herself on her own terms and refuses to let narrow-mindedness dictate who she chooses to be. A philosophy buff, she turns to the teachings of the classic philosophers to better understand her blossoming sexuality, her dysfunctional family, and increasingly intense relationship with her secret girlfriend, Dee. Finding solace and guidance through imaginary conversations with Socrates, Astrid discerns what’s most important to her and remains stolid and wise in the face of bigotry.
A.S. King breaches some delicate social issues—homophobia, familial dysfunction, the demands of high school academia, peer pressure, and consent, to name a few—while simultaneously offering an engaging story with a strong, sympathetic heroine. Astrid’s spiritual strength seems anchored in love and hope—hope that no matter what the outcome, love will always find a way. This beautifully progressing story is assisted by Astrid’s distinct narration that brings King’s storytelling abilities to the fore, and readers will draw inspiration from this touching journey of identity and self-acceptance even if they don’t belong to the LGBTQ alphabet soup.
This witty and tender bildungsroman is an invaluable addition to young-adult literature. Rich stories like this share universal appeal because they convey something about the human condition that speaks to all of us. Ask the Passengers offers perspective on the paradoxes and complexities of the varied human experience that will appeal to audiences regardless of how they label themselves.
dembury's review against another edition
5.0
It's been awhile since a book has made me cry, but boy oh boy, this one had me leaking happy and sad and frustrated and painful tears all over the place.
inook_u's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars This is my first a.s king and first f/f novel. I didn't know this going into it and it did however caught me by surprise. However I loved it, it touched on many basis of coming out and the hardships following it. It's was a beautiful novel and I see why people love a.s kings writing. It flows and just beautiful to read. I'm excited to read other books by her. Added them too my to-read list. Full review to come.
daynap's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is a super important read, not only for young adults struggling to discover who they are, but for anyone who may be a little lost in their lives.
kelly_cosgrove's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tidtil's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
igood54's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
4.0
There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance. -Hippocrates
Equality is obvious paradox.
Everybody's always looking for the person they're better than.
I am equal to a baby and a hundred-year-old lady.
What matters is your future. What matters is that we get out of here in one piece. What matters is finding the truth of our own lives, not caring about what other people think is the truth of us!
For what it's worth, I've got your back.
I decide he's my new hero because of who he was and what he stood for.
I just love how he rejected all the boxes. (Socrates)(Frank)
Frank, that baby is smarter than half of my humanities class.
There is no place for hate in a happy life.
The world is made up of clear definitions, which is exactly why Socrates was put to death. People didn't like him messing with them.
But there is no such thing as perfection. And if there is, then everyone is perfect in their own way.
You still love me?
More than a pilot loves air traffic control, baby.
Equality is obvious paradox.
Everybody's always looking for the person they're better than.
I am equal to a baby and a hundred-year-old lady.
What matters is your future. What matters is that we get out of here in one piece. What matters is finding the truth of our own lives, not caring about what other people think is the truth of us!
For what it's worth, I've got your back.
I decide he's my new hero because of who he was and what he stood for.
I just love how he rejected all the boxes. (Socrates)(Frank)
Frank, that baby is smarter than half of my humanities class.
There is no place for hate in a happy life.
The world is made up of clear definitions, which is exactly why Socrates was put to death. People didn't like him messing with them.
But there is no such thing as perfection. And if there is, then everyone is perfect in their own way.
You still love me?
More than a pilot loves air traffic control, baby.
melissaverasreads's review against another edition
3.0
#41: A book by an author you haven't read before.
Ok, esta es una historia interesante, que te atrapa y te invita a seguir leyendo. Es de una adolescente que está confundida acerca de su orientación sexual, y que para colmo vive en un pueblo pequeño (ya saben lo que dicen: pueblo pequeño, infierno grande). Ella, Astrid, siente que no puede confiar en nadie y lo peor, que no tiene nadie a quien amar. Entonces en un exceso de brillantez, decide enviar casi todo su amor a los pasajeros de los aviones que vea pasando. Y como ella se acuesta en el patio a ver el cielo, ve muchos aviones.
Cuando no está mandando amor a los pasajeros de los aviones; Astrid se encuentra compartiendo con gente con personalidades un tanto cuestionable: sus padres y su hermana, su mejor amiga y su mejor amigo, y su ¿novia?
Entre confusiones y filosofía, la autora en verdad logra que entiendas a Astrid. Que entiendas por lo que está pasando y por qué hace lo que hace (aunque la entendí, no siempre estuve de acuerdo).
Algo bastante interesante, y que al principio hace que casi suelte el libro, es que de repente, cuando Astrid manda muucho amor a los aviones, obtenemos un vistazo en la vida de uno de los pasajeros. Un pasajero afortunado recibe el amor de Astrid, y en una o dos páginas vemos lo que él o ella está pensando en esos momentos, mientras va en el avión. Y créanme que que yo detesto que me interrumpan la historia de esa manera, poniendo una cosa que a nadie le interesa y que nada tiene que ver con la historia ahí en el medio. PERO estuve gratamente sorprendida en darme cuenta que las historias de los pasajeros eran bien interesantes. Todas y cada una de esas pequeñas historias de los pasajeros me encantaron; y es algo que debo recalcar porque de verdad pensé que iba a odiar este detalle cuando me di cuenta.
De verdad que esta historia cuenta de manera excelente lo que se sufre cuando los rumores y las mentiras se salen de control, y me gustó mucho la manera en que Astrid fue aclarándose a sí misma en cuanto a su orientación sexual.
Pero como digo lo bueno, digo lo malo. A. S. King se las ingenió para hacer un libro donde nadie me cayó bien. Nadie. Ni siquiera la protagonista. No era que no me importara lo que les iba a pasar (sí me importaba, la trama me mantuvo interesada), y tampoco es que los personajes fueran malas personas o algo así. Simplemente nadie me cayó bien. Ni siquiera Astrid, la protagonista. Y en mi opinión eso es terrible, cuando nadie te cae bien en un libro.
Justo por ese detalle, no supe muy bien que rating ponerle. Estuve debatiendo mucho tiempo entre ponerle un 3 o un 4. Pero como con todo, la historia estuvo interesante, y me puso a pensar... el rating final para mí es:
3.5 estrellas.
Ok, esta es una historia interesante, que te atrapa y te invita a seguir leyendo. Es de una adolescente que está confundida acerca de su orientación sexual, y que para colmo vive en un pueblo pequeño (ya saben lo que dicen: pueblo pequeño, infierno grande). Ella, Astrid, siente que no puede confiar en nadie y lo peor, que no tiene nadie a quien amar. Entonces en un exceso de brillantez, decide enviar casi todo su amor a los pasajeros de los aviones que vea pasando. Y como ella se acuesta en el patio a ver el cielo, ve muchos aviones.
Cuando no está mandando amor a los pasajeros de los aviones; Astrid se encuentra compartiendo con gente con personalidades un tanto cuestionable: sus padres y su hermana, su mejor amiga y su mejor amigo, y su ¿novia?
Entre confusiones y filosofía, la autora en verdad logra que entiendas a Astrid. Que entiendas por lo que está pasando y por qué hace lo que hace (aunque la entendí, no siempre estuve de acuerdo).
Algo bastante interesante, y que al principio hace que casi suelte el libro, es que de repente, cuando Astrid manda muucho amor a los aviones, obtenemos un vistazo en la vida de uno de los pasajeros. Un pasajero afortunado recibe el amor de Astrid, y en una o dos páginas vemos lo que él o ella está pensando en esos momentos, mientras va en el avión. Y créanme que que yo detesto que me interrumpan la historia de esa manera, poniendo una cosa que a nadie le interesa y que nada tiene que ver con la historia ahí en el medio. PERO estuve gratamente sorprendida en darme cuenta que las historias de los pasajeros eran bien interesantes. Todas y cada una de esas pequeñas historias de los pasajeros me encantaron; y es algo que debo recalcar porque de verdad pensé que iba a odiar este detalle cuando me di cuenta.
De verdad que esta historia cuenta de manera excelente lo que se sufre cuando los rumores y las mentiras se salen de control, y me gustó mucho la manera en que Astrid fue aclarándose a sí misma en cuanto a su orientación sexual.
Pero como digo lo bueno, digo lo malo. A. S. King se las ingenió para hacer un libro donde nadie me cayó bien. Nadie. Ni siquiera la protagonista. No era que no me importara lo que les iba a pasar (sí me importaba, la trama me mantuvo interesada), y tampoco es que los personajes fueran malas personas o algo así. Simplemente nadie me cayó bien. Ni siquiera Astrid, la protagonista. Y en mi opinión eso es terrible, cuando nadie te cae bien en un libro.
Justo por ese detalle, no supe muy bien que rating ponerle. Estuve debatiendo mucho tiempo entre ponerle un 3 o un 4. Pero como con todo, la historia estuvo interesante, y me puso a pensar... el rating final para mí es:
3.5 estrellas.