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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Loved this book. It is about life after a cult, which is rarely tackled in middle-grade fiction. I loved the mother's character and flaws, as did the marvelous Babs. The audio was delightful.
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book fills a huge whole in the market that I’ve never even considered: middle grade books about cults. This one was very well done and nuanced. Fern was given the space to process and deprogram from her experience, as well as to mourn the changes in her life. As a middle school librarian, I hope there continue to be books like this, especially slightly aged up from this one. This is the exact type of topic middle schoolers would eat up if the cover/protagonist/writing were a little more mature. As is, I would say the sweet spot for this one is grades 5 and 6.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
Yes
The premise of this book is so unique, that the minute I first heard about it, I had to check it out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way Fern acclimates to her new normal and realizes the truths about her old life are fascinating. It is gradual, and there is no magic flip that gets switched. She really has to contend with who and what she is going to believe.
I thought this was a great story to help kids see the black and white elements of the world.
Content Note: This book deals with a child realizing and contending with the place she calls home being a cult. There are also LGBTQ side characters. The mentions are minor, but one scene does feel like an agenda is being pushed.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The way Fern acclimates to her new normal and realizes the truths about her old life are fascinating. It is gradual, and there is no magic flip that gets switched. She really has to contend with who and what she is going to believe.
I thought this was a great story to help kids see the black and white elements of the world.
Content Note: This book deals with a child realizing and contending with the place she calls home being a cult. There are also LGBTQ side characters. The mentions are minor, but one scene does feel like an agenda is being pushed.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Grief
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
3 for 3 O'Shaughnessy is great!
I will say I enjoyed the book. I think kids would too but I'm not certain about how they will handle the cult thing or what their background knowledge would be on the subject. Definitely saving it for older readers. Life her other books I'd say best for 5-6 grader or middle schoolers who need something on the easier side.
I will say I enjoyed the book. I think kids would too but I'm not certain about how they will handle the cult thing or what their background knowledge would be on the subject. Definitely saving it for older readers. Life her other books I'd say best for 5-6 grader or middle schoolers who need something on the easier side.