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msrcreation's review against another edition
5.0
You know pretty quickly where this story will end but it does not make it any easier to read. This is absolutely heartbreaking from start to finish. For such a short book it has so much power in every page. Their relationship is adorable and I really loved reading about each of their families. It's a difficult and wonderful and important read. Really glad I finally picked this up.
savaging's review against another edition
1.0
A caveat: As a kid I read only picture books about animals for much too long, and went straight from there to adult books, skipping over YA entirely. This is maybe why I have no nostalgia for the genre. They feel only like failed adult books, with the naughties culled out.
And so maybe that's to blame for why I hated this book, even though it tells an important story of the consequences of modern racism. My apologies, but it's not good writing. Aside from being interracial, the relationship is written wholly in cliches. Boy and girl literally meet by bumping into each other in the school hall, she drops her books, he stoops down to help her gather them, their eyes meet, it's magic.
Also: if you're writing for kids about racism, is it more important to paint the story in very stark terms (this person was unidimensionally good, never did anything wrong, and still they suffered); or should authors allow characters to be complex so kids can better relate it to real life? I'm thinking about the Mike Brown obituary asserting that "he was no angel," vs. Jeremiah from this book who is maybe actually an angel. If we expect victims to be pure, does that make us think that everyone else 'deserved it'?
And so maybe that's to blame for why I hated this book, even though it tells an important story of the consequences of modern racism. My apologies, but it's not good writing. Aside from being interracial, the relationship is written wholly in cliches. Boy and girl literally meet by bumping into each other in the school hall, she drops her books, he stoops down to help her gather them, their eyes meet, it's magic.
Also: if you're writing for kids about racism, is it more important to paint the story in very stark terms (this person was unidimensionally good, never did anything wrong, and still they suffered); or should authors allow characters to be complex so kids can better relate it to real life? I'm thinking about the Mike Brown obituary asserting that "he was no angel," vs. Jeremiah from this book who is maybe actually an angel. If we expect victims to be pure, does that make us think that everyone else 'deserved it'?
jbrooks124's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I picked this up because Jacqueline Woodson is excellent, and I was very interested in the idea behind a 90s-esque Romeo and Juliet-style story. However, I was disappointed because this book was so short, it felt as though there were aspects that weren't properly fleshed out. I wasn't sure how Ellie's religion played into the story, as it wasn't spoken of much beyond her Star of David. There wasn't much explanation of how she didn't fit in to her new school, other than the fact that she was new. Miah was noted as not fitting in because it was a PWI, which makes sense at least. The story was good, I just wanted/expected more.
appaloosa05's review against another edition
Beautiful, heartbreaking, Woodson's talent with language shines in this one.
ashbrasch's review against another edition
5.0
a book hasn’t made me cry in a long time, and this one has. a beautiful yet heartbreaking story.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm. Brief…maybe a bit too brief to convince the audience that Ellie and Miah love each other in the way they claim they do. I tend not to like endings like the one this book had anymore. The writing was nice though.
komy's review against another edition
4.0
Rounded up from a 3.5
Overall, it was interesting enough. The ending was sudden and shocking, but it makes sense in the context of the story since no one gets a fair warning for tragedy and misfortune. Definitely on the sadder side, so beware.
Overall, it was interesting enough. The ending was sudden and shocking, but it makes sense in the context of the story since no one gets a fair warning for tragedy and misfortune. Definitely on the sadder side, so beware.
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't know what to expect when I picked this one up but boy did it wreck me. I was sobbing at the end, absolutely sobbing. I knew, but I didn't know. Really well done book.
sophrolijkbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Een mooi verhaal, nog steeds relevant. Als je wilt kan je het binnen een dagje uitlezen.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
Short and powerful enough to stand the test of time.