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megelizabeth's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Usually if I'm reading a Jacqueline Wilson book it's an old one for nostalgia, but I was really intrigued by this new release of hers and am so glad I picked it up! It has a great cast of characters, a wonderful sibling relationship, and a solid amount of sadness and angst that ultimately culminates in a trademark hopeful but realistic ending. A bunch of important themes are explored - generally really well - and I just loved being in a world and writing style that I felt so comforted by but still getting to experience a new story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Bullying
Minor: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
skylarkblue1's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Representations: https://trello.com/c/pp3rZzFM/104-the-girl-who-wasnt-there-by-jacqueline-wilson
"Traumatised by my sister jodie as a kid" gang, we're gonna have a lotta anxiety with this one xD
I don't think this book knew if it wanted to be a mental health/parenting story, or a ghost story. The "girl who wasn't there" is only hinted at once until around the 60% mark, and even after that it seems pretty confused on what story it's trying to tell. But... I still liked it! I really loved the tension and danger of the tower, I really loved the relationships between the characters and the characters themselves.
The sibling pair I think where a pretty unique show of siblings, dysfunctional but with love there still. The different relationships they have with the parents was really interesting and well done - especially in the amount of pages. There was so many complex emotions, backstory that doesn't need to be explicitly said because it's all there with the reactions and emotions and it really build up some quite wonderful characters.
Honestly I didn't realise this was exactly the kinda book I've been waiting for from Wilson for years until I started reading this - I just wish it committed enough to one side or the other like mentioned before. I read my sister jodie as a kid around when it released and that shit fucked me up lmao, that history absolutely did up the tension and anxiety I got while reading this (in a... fun? way? lmao) but she's also really damn good at writing peril and danger like this.
I think my main issue is just the ending wasn't as punchy as I would have liked it to be. The climax was excellent, really gripping and tense, but then the final bit was a bit of a let down honestly. Not sure what it is with books with fantastic stories but middling endings recently.
"Traumatised by my sister jodie as a kid" gang, we're gonna have a lotta anxiety with this one xD
I don't think this book knew if it wanted to be a mental health/parenting story, or a ghost story. The "girl who wasn't there" is only hinted at once until around the 60% mark, and even after that it seems pretty confused on what story it's trying to tell. But... I still liked it! I really loved the tension and danger of the tower, I really loved the relationships between the characters and the characters themselves.
The sibling pair I think where a pretty unique show of siblings, dysfunctional but with love there still. The different relationships they have with the parents was really interesting and well done - especially in the amount of pages. There was so many complex emotions, backstory that doesn't need to be explicitly said because it's all there with the reactions and emotions and it really build up some quite wonderful characters.
Honestly I didn't realise this was exactly the kinda book I've been waiting for from Wilson for years until I started reading this - I just wish it committed enough to one side or the other like mentioned before. I read my sister jodie as a kid around when it released and that shit fucked me up lmao, that history absolutely did up the tension and anxiety I got while reading this (in a... fun? way? lmao) but she's also really damn good at writing peril and danger like this.
I think my main issue is just the ending wasn't as punchy as I would have liked it to be. The climax was excellent, really gripping and tense, but then the final bit was a bit of a let down honestly. Not sure what it is with books with fantastic stories but middling endings recently.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, and Abandonment
natalia_booksss's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
5.0