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aohkait's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
kgauthier's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book changed my view on the world and the people around me, in a good way. It was heartbreaking and had realistic characters, it showed the flaws of humanity. I love this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, and Child death
gymbeannz's review against another edition
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Child death
Minor: Homophobia, Bullying, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Drug use
snazzysie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise of this book had a lot of potential and I was excited when I was assigned to read it for my English class. However, I bought the original version of the book, before seeing that there was a young reader's version and that that was the recommended one for my study of the novel. I still managed to follow along with the comprehension questions for the class study, and as a high school student, the content wasn't too confronting, but I thought the descriptive romantic and violent scenes were unnecessary and didn't add to the plot line.
That being said, I still enjoyed the story, and the idea of these not so random acts of kindness is certainly admirable, but I also feel like it was unrealistic in the way it suddenly jumped from barely a few people being affected by this to suddenly the whole world. I didn't love the writing style, having a rotation of the main character for each chapter, and if the author was going to do it this way, I wonder why she did not include more of Trevor's side of the story, or other perspectives in how the movement was being "payed forward". This writing style made the story center too much around Arlene and Reuben's romance for my liking.
That being said, I still enjoyed the story, and the idea of these not so random acts of kindness is certainly admirable, but I also feel like it was unrealistic in the way it suddenly jumped from barely a few people being affected by this to suddenly the whole world. I didn't love the writing style, having a rotation of the main character for each chapter, and if the author was going to do it this way, I wonder why she did not include more of Trevor's side of the story, or other perspectives in how the movement was being "payed forward". This writing style made the story center too much around Arlene and Reuben's romance for my liking.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
Minor: War
dani_2006's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
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