Scan barcode
sam_hartwig's review
4.0
Melina Marchetta has this way of drawing a reader in and making them fall head over heels in love with her characters. I don't know how she does it! Her books always seem to start off confusing, this one wasn't any different, and before you know it you're sucked right into the story like nothing else in the real world matters. I was almost halfway through and was going to give up on this because it was just too confusing, but I went on because I have read so many good review, and oh my I'm am SO glad I kept going!
Marchetta's characters feel so real, by the end of the book I feel like I know them and could text them to catch up and hang out. It's hard to tell you exactly what was going on in this book, so all I will say is read this NOW! Or you could wait until the movie is released, there's no knowing when it will come out so you should just read it. My only problem with books being adapted into a movie is that I hope they can capture the chemistry between all the characters.
My only issue with this book (other than the confusing beginning, which made sense by the end) was the mystery behind Taylor's background and who her father was. I slowly guessed what was going on, which if you've read my reviews before you will know I hate when I guess things before they are revealed. But Marchetta was good at keeping little things secret and didn't reveal until later, so she kept me guessing a bit. Because of those small faults I give this 4 stars. I am now a huge fan of Melina Marcetta and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
Also on my blog
Marchetta's characters feel so real, by the end of the book I feel like I know them and could text them to catch up and hang out. It's hard to tell you exactly what was going on in this book, so all I will say is read this NOW! Or you could wait until the movie is released, there's no knowing when it will come out so you should just read it. My only problem with books being adapted into a movie is that I hope they can capture the chemistry between all the characters.
My only issue with this book (other than the confusing beginning, which made sense by the end) was the mystery behind Taylor's background and who her father was. I slowly guessed what was going on, which if you've read my reviews before you will know I hate when I guess things before they are revealed. But Marchetta was good at keeping little things secret and didn't reveal until later, so she kept me guessing a bit. Because of those small faults I give this 4 stars. I am now a huge fan of Melina Marcetta and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
Also on my blog
bella247's review
4.0
4/5 -
i forgot how this book ended so i decided to reread it! i remember the beginning being so confusing but this time i understand how melina wrote it and i truly enjoyed so much of it.
2015 Review -
The love between Jonah and Taylor made me smile and when everything pieced together I couldn't believe that this book actually made me cry.
Melina Marchetta is an amazing author and I finished the book dazed.
I cannot express my feelings for this because it is truly one of a kind and one of my favourites.
i forgot how this book ended so i decided to reread it! i remember the beginning being so confusing but this time i understand how melina wrote it and i truly enjoyed so much of it.
2015 Review -
The love between Jonah and Taylor made me smile and when everything pieced together I couldn't believe that this book actually made me cry.
Melina Marchetta is an amazing author and I finished the book dazed.
I cannot express my feelings for this because it is truly one of a kind and one of my favourites.
bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition
5.0
Is there a Melina Marchetta book that I've rated less than five stars?? Is there even a bad Melina Marchetta book? Nope.
alicebme's review
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of it all and especially the generational links. I've always wanted to go to a boarding school, and this one sounds magical and dark and everything I hoped for. The natural setting is lovely, and I want to romp around in the woods after reading it.
brendalovesbooks's review
2.0
I'm not sure what I missed while reading this that almost everyone else saw. The reviews on this are generally really good, and that's what kept me reading while I was confused and disliking it for the first half of the book. I read how it got so much better, how everyone cried and cried, and I was convinced that if I just got past the first part, I would really like it.
Well, not so much. I could never bring myself to care about anything. Didn't so much as feel even a little sad. Maybe I'm just heartless. I don't know, but this book did nothing for me.
Well, not so much. I could never bring myself to care about anything. Didn't so much as feel even a little sad. Maybe I'm just heartless. I don't know, but this book did nothing for me.
joana_stormblessed's review against another edition
5.0
Wow... I am not even sure what to say...
I think that I will start with the mini summary, so that I have time to gather my thoughts to give my opinion.
Summary:
This story follows 17 year-old Taylor, who was abandoned by her mother six years prior at a gas station. Taylor was picked up by this lady called Hannah, and lived with her ever since. She also attends a school for people in a similar situation: no parents, psychological issues, etc.
Every year, there are these territory wars that oppose three clans: the Cadets, the Townies (locals), and the Houses (Jellicoe School students). Taylor is picked to be the leader of her clan, with Ben Cassidy being her second-in-command and her friend Raffy being a close advisor.
The Cadets are led by a guy named Jonah Griggs, who knows things about Taylor that most people don't. The Townies are led by Santangelo, who has a past with Raffy, and the tension between them rises pretty fast.
However, as the territory wars stars, Hannah disappears, and Taylor needs to start piecing her life back together, and remembering things that most people would never want to resurface.
Opinion:
I finished this book last night, and I am still having a hard time gathering my thoughts. At first, I was very confused by the story, because there is Taylor's POV and we have excerpts from a story that happens in the past. (which I did not know about, so I thought those were Taylor's thoughts from when she was young). The first few pages are definitely confusing, but, little by little, the pieces start to gather together and paint a beautiful picture. Once I started understanding what was going on, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I basically read the first 40 pages over two days and the other 380 in one sitting!
This book is simply beautiful! Marchetta definitely portrays love in every way that it can be felt: friendship, romance, family, and love for a place, for tradition. Honestly, this book doesn't really focus much on romance per se, but it is one of the most beautiful "love stories" I have ever read in my entire life.
I could not help put fall in love with the characters and the plot. The writing was amazing, and the pacing was perfect!!
This book definitely challenges the reader, in the sense that you have to hold on, even when you are confused. It is not an "easy read" where everything is served on a silver platter, but it is definitely worth the ride!
I loved this book,and I will surely re-read this many times.
I think that I will start with the mini summary, so that I have time to gather my thoughts to give my opinion.
Summary:
This story follows 17 year-old Taylor, who was abandoned by her mother six years prior at a gas station. Taylor was picked up by this lady called Hannah, and lived with her ever since. She also attends a school for people in a similar situation: no parents, psychological issues, etc.
Every year, there are these territory wars that oppose three clans: the Cadets, the Townies (locals), and the Houses (Jellicoe School students). Taylor is picked to be the leader of her clan, with Ben Cassidy being her second-in-command and her friend Raffy being a close advisor.
The Cadets are led by a guy named Jonah Griggs, who knows things about Taylor that most people don't. The Townies are led by Santangelo, who has a past with Raffy, and the tension between them rises pretty fast.
However, as the territory wars stars, Hannah disappears, and Taylor needs to start piecing her life back together, and remembering things that most people would never want to resurface.
Opinion:
I finished this book last night, and I am still having a hard time gathering my thoughts. At first, I was very confused by the story, because there is Taylor's POV and we have excerpts from a story that happens in the past. (which I did not know about, so I thought those were Taylor's thoughts from when she was young). The first few pages are definitely confusing, but, little by little, the pieces start to gather together and paint a beautiful picture. Once I started understanding what was going on, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I basically read the first 40 pages over two days and the other 380 in one sitting!
This book is simply beautiful! Marchetta definitely portrays love in every way that it can be felt: friendship, romance, family, and love for a place, for tradition. Honestly, this book doesn't really focus much on romance per se, but it is one of the most beautiful "love stories" I have ever read in my entire life.
I could not help put fall in love with the characters and the plot. The writing was amazing, and the pacing was perfect!!
This book definitely challenges the reader, in the sense that you have to hold on, even when you are confused. It is not an "easy read" where everything is served on a silver platter, but it is definitely worth the ride!
I loved this book,and I will surely re-read this many times.
jjwearsprada's review
5.0
This is my all-time favorite book. I’ve read it countless times and still pick it up to escape often. 10/10 recommend.
halynah's review against another edition
5.0
Beyond amazing - all the best epithets are not enough to describe this book. It was very confusing at first - I gave up on it several times, but when I finally braved the first chapters and the confusing puzzle pieces began to make sense, I was mesmerized by the story. Melina Marchetta made the fictional characters alive and so real, that I felt like I knew them. Romance was original and beautiful, and I can't praise high enough her style of writing - it's perfect, and brilliant, and special, and inimitable. Every one of her books is a masterpiece, and this one is the best, in my opinion. So don't be afraid of confusing beginning - it will become clear as a day, when you finish the book. It's a kind of reading, that lingers and stays with you, it's is unforgettable, a true must-read!
rebeccapullan's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0