Reviews

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro

xoxo_jess's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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? It's complicated

2.25

theseventhl's review against another edition

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5.0

I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up. I would have spent so many school days looking for my own doorway. A perfect book for kids who have always felt like outsiders, written in perfect form for a middle grade reader, and featuring some delightful cameos by names in the kid lit world. Mark Oshiro never fails to deliver on sincere page-turners like these.

anna_0001's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

franklyfrank's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? No

4.25

ay_angie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring 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? No

4.0

Very cute and fun read! I am so glad Héctor got to speak up and have his friends help him because baby boy was going through it!

meredithgr's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I read this book to my kids, ages 10 and 13.  We all loved it.  Most of us have had the feeling of being an outsider at some point, and long for friends who understand us and can help us solve our problems.  Most of the main characters in this book are outsiders because they're LQBTQ+, and while they feel alone, they eventually learn they're not.  

We loved the characters and hated the villains.  The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars is that it did seem to drag on a bit in the middle, and the trials Hector goes through got a bit repetitive.  It's almost 400 pages, and I felt like it could have been edited to 300 and not lost anything.  If you're an LGBTQ+ kid, though, and reading about something you've experienced, you probably wouldn't mind spending the extra time with the characters.  

Would definitely recommend. 

booksarah8's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-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? No

4.0

tara1234's review against another edition

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3.0

dnf at 35%

mogar_pogar's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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

shell_s's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75