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ruthie's review
4.0
wowowow when will middle grades stop breaking my heart!! this was so good
rowan beck I love you, you're gonna be okay, kid <3
(also if you were ever the weird kid in elementary school you might wanna brace yourself bc Oof this hit a lil too close to home sometimes)
rowan beck I love you, you're gonna be okay, kid <3
(also if you were ever the weird kid in elementary school you might wanna brace yourself bc Oof this hit a lil too close to home sometimes)
swordy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
anacereading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Incest, Transphobia, and Homophobia
sophielauren's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
krystims's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cried at the end. such an emotional and hopeful book
charireads's review
4.0
I think this book will be important to some kids. However, there were a couple of things that bothered me. I'm not sure why the author chose the time period it was set in, maybe it's semi-autobiographical? Also, the voice of the main character didn't seem consistent. Sometimes it sounded like the character was much older than the age of the protagonist, and sometimes it sounded much younger. I would like for that to have been more consistent.
bookishbiggie's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to love this much-needed middle grade book, but I just couldn't get through it. I stopped reading this about halfway through. The characters had no depth causing me to feel disconnected to them; maybe this was due to the story-telling through letters too. The constant 90's references became an unnecessary focal point of the story causing serious disruptions in the plotline.
Rowan, born Ellie, is struggling with his identity at an age when the biggest concern is being invited to the next birthday party and being invited to play at recess. While trying to come to terms with his identity, he's also being abused by his father. The story is told through letters written by Rowan that he sends off on balloons for someone to find.
Rowan, born Ellie, is struggling with his identity at an age when the biggest concern is being invited to the next birthday party and being invited to play at recess. While trying to come to terms with his identity, he's also being abused by his father. The story is told through letters written by Rowan that he sends off on balloons for someone to find.
lilyrooke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
are you looking for a 90s-vibe, MG epistolary novel from the perspective of a trans child who is being sexually abused by his father?
read this if you enjoyed: other painful, unflinching trauma narratives.
rep: questioning, trans MC; Black queer-coded best friend.
cw: child sexual abuse; incest; transphobia; bullying; homophobia; dissociation; trauma; suicide ideation; parental incarceration; institutional racism
Haunting. Painful. This is a book I wish I hadn't read, in all honesty. But perhaps someday I'll feel different, and I'll know it helped guide me along my own river. Please pay attention to the content warnings; this book does not play nice.
CAWPILE: 7.7 (4*)
favourite aspect: Rowan's friendship with Sofie offered a beautiful ray of light. I cheered when Mr B left Rowan the note with his phone number, but as the author says, it's rare that a sexually abused child would reach out to another adult, so it's our responsibility to keep looking out for them.
a wish: Content. warnings. save. lives. and. should. be. mandatory.
read this if you enjoyed: other painful, unflinching trauma narratives.
rep: questioning, trans MC; Black queer-coded best friend.
cw: child sexual abuse; incest; transphobia; bullying; homophobia; dissociation; trauma; suicide ideation; parental incarceration; institutional racism
Haunting. Painful. This is a book I wish I hadn't read, in all honesty. But perhaps someday I'll feel different, and I'll know it helped guide me along my own river. Please pay attention to the content warnings; this book does not play nice.
CAWPILE: 7.7 (4*)
favourite aspect: Rowan's friendship with Sofie offered a beautiful ray of light. I cheered when Mr B left Rowan the note with his phone number, but as the author says, it's rare that a sexually abused child would reach out to another adult, so it's our responsibility to keep looking out for them.
a wish: Content. warnings. save. lives. and. should. be. mandatory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Bullying, Transphobia, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
lannimade's review against another edition
5.0
Melancholic, beautiful, transformative middle grades story that I wish I had read as a kid. Some big, heavy topics (sexual abuse, transgender identity, parental incarceration, racism) that make this book more appropriate developmentally for ages 10-14. The epistolary narrative is written as letters tied to balloons by Rowan, a trans boy seeking to find his identity and place. Own Voices.