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cc_shelflove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Cancer and Cultural appropriation
hinkleh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Ableism and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape and Medical content
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As the book went on, I became increasingly interested in the ongoing story of her non-speaking brother, Eugene. Even though I have a son with ASD, I know very little about the world of non-speakers. Learning about the progress of therapies since the turn of this century was fascinating. The ramifications of trying to defend a child who can't tell their side of the story in our legal system were frightening. And with all this, we still had the mystery of what happened to the father.
Reading the reviews, I can see that some people could not get past their dislike of Mia and her wordiness. However, I'm glad I did. I hope the author's next book will be a bit easier to read.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
"Happiness Falls" is an exploration of family, and about truly accepting everything about a person. When Mia's father does not come home with her autistic brother after hiking, the family is not too concerned. But, when they have not heard from him and cannot get ahold of him, they quickly begin to worry. Unfortunately, the only witness to what happened on the hiking trail is Eugene, and he is nonverbal. When the family bans together to try to find this father, they uncover years of secrets that may end up explaining where he went.
This was such an exceptional story about family and accepting people as they are. Eugene is nonverbal, and has been his whole life, but that does not mean he has nothing to say. He as a beautiful mind and is capable of great things, he just needs the right tools and support to encourage him to communicate. I think this is such a profound message. Communication is often what connects human beings to one another, and it is so important to encourage any and all ways of communicating.
This family, like many others, has secrets they are all keeping from one another. I think this book highlights the good that sharing the burden of your thoughts with those closest to you can bring.
I really enjoyed that this book was about more than the disappearance. Their father disappearing was just the catalyst to uncover more important thoughts and feelings.
I will definitely be reading more from Angie Kim in the future.
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent
jasminechocklettslee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, and Suicide
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
- wasn't as gripping. it started to drag three-fourths of the way through, and i got fed up with all the cheap foreshadowing of the form "looking back, i wish [x] hadn't happened".
- didn't feel as expertly-crafted. though i recognize that's kind of the point—
not all mysteries, especially missing person cases, have neat solutions; that's life —it was still somewhat disappointing. i'm trying tolearn the lesson Mia did and accept an open ending—i choose to believe that her and John's mind-meld recreating the accident was a display of fraternal jeong, just the tiniest bit of magical realism.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Car accident, Alcohol, and Deportation