Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This is the saddest book I have read in awhile. Even though you really only got to see two characters in this book I still felt attached to them and the characters they encountered. If you cry easily in books I recommend having a box of tissues near by.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Suicidal thoughts
In the introduction of the ARC, Dan Gemeinhart writes that this story was inspired by his friend Mark, who passed away from cancer. While the book is not about Mark, there are "smooth rocks of truth" within it. He wrote the story in hopes that Mark would enjoy reading it. With this in mind, I began the book already emotionally invested. Mark is a 12-year-old boy who has recently relapsed with cancer. He is tired of being sick, and he has set out with his dog and plans to go to Mt. Rainier to die. Much of the book is Mark's journey to Rainier, and we slowly learn about his experiences with cancer throughout the story. Every other chapter is written by his best friend Jesse, and I found their friendship to be inspiring, particularly given the author's introduction. This is a beautiful story that will leave a mark on readers' hearts. I will be recommending it often.
I don't speak sufficient English to completely convey how beautifully written and absolutely devastating this book is. Hands down the best book I've read so far this year and there is no doubt whatsoever that it'll stay with me for a very long time.
From the very start to the very finish it's incredibly soulful and excruciatingly heartbraking, all the while highlighting the beauty in life and love. It's often quite difficult to swallow but in the end absolutely worth the pain for all the sentiment it brings out in the reader.
Books like this showcase exactly why literature is essential to humanity and to the world and how effective it really is.
I would give it 10 stars out of 5 if I could.
From the very start to the very finish it's incredibly soulful and excruciatingly heartbraking, all the while highlighting the beauty in life and love. It's often quite difficult to swallow but in the end absolutely worth the pain for all the sentiment it brings out in the reader.
Books like this showcase exactly why literature is essential to humanity and to the world and how effective it really is.
I would give it 10 stars out of 5 if I could.
Very moving. I cried and almost flipped out when I thought the dog was going to die.
Veers between thriller (falling into crevasse, getting beat up, almost drowning in a river) and emotional gut wrencher (cancer battle, suicidal thoughts, losing best friend).
Oy, this book. I loved it and was angry at it at the same time. More precisely, I was angry at everything the dog was put through.
Veers between thriller (falling into crevasse, getting beat up, almost drowning in a river) and emotional gut wrencher (cancer battle, suicidal thoughts, losing best friend).
Oy, this book. I loved it and was angry at it at the same time. More precisely, I was angry at everything the dog was put through.
I liked this book.
The thing is - I think it's an extraordinary middle grade novel. It's really smart, touching, yet not pretentious. I would like young people (10-14 yrs old?) to read it. It's a quick and easy to read, yet it manages to present a huge spectrum of emotions. It also shows how to deal with them.
Yeah, there is something in this comparison - it has some TFiOS vibes and not only because of cancer. At the same time - it's very different in how it's written.
The thing is - I think it's an extraordinary middle grade novel. It's really smart, touching, yet not pretentious. I would like young people (10-14 yrs old?) to read it. It's a quick and easy to read, yet it manages to present a huge spectrum of emotions. It also shows how to deal with them.
Yeah, there is something in this comparison - it has some TFiOS vibes and not only because of cancer. At the same time - it's very different in how it's written.
Teachers of middle school--add this to your curriculum! What a great introduction for symbolism and existentialism, and also incorporates haiku poetry that can work into a great connection lesson. The text is manageable yet powerful for middle schoolers--but have tissues!
I had to read this in ELA class, and one of the things we had to do was name each chapter. Honestly, the best titles would've been 'idiot does something dumb' 'idiot almost kills himself' and 'idiot is such an idiot'. I mean, seriously, if your entire mission is to die in a freezing cold mountain, why in the world would you put your sweet, loyal dog through all that with you? Beau deserves better, because seriously, Mark needs to get his priorities straight. I pray I never have to read another book as pointless as this.
Oh, how I loved this book! It’s completely un-put-down-able. Stellar characterization, beautiful imagery, and a page-turning plot. What a gut-wrenchingly gorgeous book. It’s for middle grade kids, but really it’s just a great story for any human. Go read it. I’m now an official fan of Dan Gemeinhart!