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violet_primroses's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
maddie_orart's review against another edition
5.0
Full review posted on Of Reading and Random Things
It seems to me that Tahereh Mafi could write about pretty much anything and I would read it no matter what, and Whichwood is no exception. After the wonderful, magical adventure that is Furthermore, I was ready to delve back into the lush, imaginative world that Mafi created.
Right off the bat, I could feel a kinship with the main character, Laylee, and despite being 13 years old, I could see parts of myself in her character. I knew then that I would be in for an emotional roller coaster with this book, and I was right. Laylee is prickly, detached and packaged with a shell made of steel, all in the effort of protecting herself from the harshness of her life. I’ve always thought that Mafi’s writing style is beautifully emotive, but in Whichwood, I feel that it really conveyed everything that Laylee is feeling, from pain and loneliness to happiness and kinship, it was an absolute joy to read.
I think that Whichwood is an amazing book with a captivating story, unforgettable characters and a writing style that just blows me away. I really recommend it and I hope you will love it as much as I do!
It seems to me that Tahereh Mafi could write about pretty much anything and I would read it no matter what, and Whichwood is no exception. After the wonderful, magical adventure that is Furthermore, I was ready to delve back into the lush, imaginative world that Mafi created.
Right off the bat, I could feel a kinship with the main character, Laylee, and despite being 13 years old, I could see parts of myself in her character. I knew then that I would be in for an emotional roller coaster with this book, and I was right. Laylee is prickly, detached and packaged with a shell made of steel, all in the effort of protecting herself from the harshness of her life. I’ve always thought that Mafi’s writing style is beautifully emotive, but in Whichwood, I feel that it really conveyed everything that Laylee is feeling, from pain and loneliness to happiness and kinship, it was an absolute joy to read.
I think that Whichwood is an amazing book with a captivating story, unforgettable characters and a writing style that just blows me away. I really recommend it and I hope you will love it as much as I do!
madiganinwonderland's review against another edition
4.0
This book was... Crazy. It was really cool and I actually felt like I really connected with Laylee. She went through so much and it really made her internalize herself, but she went through so much character development through the book it was great.
I loved that we got Oliver and Alice into story too. I was worried we wouldn't see them at first.
However, I feel I must note the EXTREMELY GRAPHIC content in here. There are descriptions of really gruesome scenes that I can't believe are in a middle grade novel. I haven't read that in YA even. It was so detailed and brutal, I can't imagine kids wouldn't have a nightmare. I'm all about the gore, but this shocked even me.
However, this was a cool adventure and I really actually enjoy the morbidity/darkness overall to the plot.
I loved that we got Oliver and Alice into story too. I was worried we wouldn't see them at first.
However, I feel I must note the EXTREMELY GRAPHIC content in here. There are descriptions of really gruesome scenes that I can't believe are in a middle grade novel. I haven't read that in YA even. It was so detailed and brutal, I can't imagine kids wouldn't have a nightmare. I'm all about the gore, but this shocked even me.
However, this was a cool adventure and I really actually enjoy the morbidity/darkness overall to the plot.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
5.0
Soms heb je dat ineens. Het is twaalf uur 's middags en de onbedwingbare drang om NOG een boek, nadat je er al een hebt uitgelezen, te lezen vandaag bekruipt je. Als een spinnetje met 7 glibberige pootjes dat langs je nek omhoog kruipt naar een plekje achter je linkeroor. Dat was wat er gebeurde met Welkwoud. Ik wilde het gewoon lezen. Nu. Helemaal. Binnen een paar uur.
En dat laatste is niet heel moeilijk. Net als alle andere boeken van Tahereh Mafi is de schrijfstijl van dit boek ook weer prachtig, maar vlot. Ik vloog gewoon door het verhaal heen en genoot met volle teugen van alle beeldspraak, alle slimme zinsconstructies en metaforen en alle bedreigingen van mijn eigen logica, die ik dit keer maar al vanaf bladzijde één heb losgelaten.
Mafi weet wederom een hele bijzondere en wonderlijke wereld te scheppen, met wederom bijzondere en magische karakters. Door de vertelstijl, waarbij een verteller overduidelijk de verhalen ingefluisterd gekregen heeft van de karakters, wordt de lezer constant bij de les gehouden en het verhaal ingetrokken. Elke keer als je denkt te ontsnappen, grijpt een bepaalde zin je weer bij de keel en sleurt je weer mee de wereld van Welkwoud in.
Wat ik vooral heel sterk vind aan Welkwoud is de sfeer die Mafi weet te scheppen in dit boek. Al vanaf het prille begin ontstaat er een ietwat lugubere, maar wel sprookjesachtige sfeer die de rest van het boek blijft sluimeren en hangen. Waar Verdermeer zich kenmerkte door zijn kleurrijkheid, kenmerkt Welkwoud zich door zijn sluier van duisternis en al dan niet levende wezens.
En in die wereld zien we hoe een prachtig meisje een nog mooiere ontwikkeling doormaakt. Wederom een pareltje om duimen, vingers, tenen en neuzen bij af te likken.
En dat laatste is niet heel moeilijk. Net als alle andere boeken van Tahereh Mafi is de schrijfstijl van dit boek ook weer prachtig, maar vlot. Ik vloog gewoon door het verhaal heen en genoot met volle teugen van alle beeldspraak, alle slimme zinsconstructies en metaforen en alle bedreigingen van mijn eigen logica, die ik dit keer maar al vanaf bladzijde één heb losgelaten.
Mafi weet wederom een hele bijzondere en wonderlijke wereld te scheppen, met wederom bijzondere en magische karakters. Door de vertelstijl, waarbij een verteller overduidelijk de verhalen ingefluisterd gekregen heeft van de karakters, wordt de lezer constant bij de les gehouden en het verhaal ingetrokken. Elke keer als je denkt te ontsnappen, grijpt een bepaalde zin je weer bij de keel en sleurt je weer mee de wereld van Welkwoud in.
Wat ik vooral heel sterk vind aan Welkwoud is de sfeer die Mafi weet te scheppen in dit boek. Al vanaf het prille begin ontstaat er een ietwat lugubere, maar wel sprookjesachtige sfeer die de rest van het boek blijft sluimeren en hangen. Waar Verdermeer zich kenmerkte door zijn kleurrijkheid, kenmerkt Welkwoud zich door zijn sluier van duisternis en al dan niet levende wezens.
En in die wereld zien we hoe een prachtig meisje een nog mooiere ontwikkeling doormaakt. Wederom een pareltje om duimen, vingers, tenen en neuzen bij af te likken.
sultanareads's review against another edition
4.0
4,5 stars! I liked this book much more than the first one.
astheplotthickens24's review against another edition
3.0
For a middle grade book, this is certainly dark.
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pangnaolin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
I was quite surprised at how beautiful & dark this was for a supposed Y/A book. Embarrassingly, I had no idea it was the second in a series when I first read it, but I enjoyed it thoroughly despite the lack of context! Laylee was such an intriguing & captivating character, cleaning corpses for a living and being quite a dark, bleak, and gory character, but at the same time, surprisingly full of heart.
I remember especially loving Benyamin and his care for bugs, too! Every interaction with the world or a character felt like a new exploration, and allowed me to really feel immersed in it all.
I'm not sure how much I'd like it on a re-read, as my style and maturity with writing have already matured quite a bit, but I do have a fondness for it, regardless. I'd just caution that I'd be wary of giving this to actual young people exploring Y/A just because it could be a bit dark for some, depending on their preferences, but it's worth a shot if it's something they're interested in.
I remember especially loving Benyamin and his care for bugs, too! Every interaction with the world or a character felt like a new exploration, and allowed me to really feel immersed in it all.
I'm not sure how much I'd like it on a re-read, as my style and maturity with writing have already matured quite a bit, but I do have a fondness for it, regardless. I'd just caution that I'd be wary of giving this to actual young people exploring Y/A just because it could be a bit dark for some, depending on their preferences, but it's worth a shot if it's something they're interested in.
lsparrow's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the characters and the worlds of this story - however I did not find myself pulled into the series.