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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
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:
No
Bit of a slow start but definitely picks up. It is utterly devastating in some parts. I would recommend this for ages 10 and up and including adults who need to build some empathy and understanding for what refugees and asylum seekers go through.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I loved this book, it was a quick read, but still emotionally impactful. It tells an incredibly important story about how refugees are treated in Australia, but really, all over the world. It also introduces the Rohingya in an easy-to-understand way, especially if you came in with no knowledge. I liked both Subhi and Jimmie, and their relationship and understanding of each other.
This book is so moving, a very heartfelt tribute to the struggle of refugees everywhere and a must for anyone in need of a little empathy or understanding.
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
I have read some wonderful reviews of this book, but it just didn't create that same overwhelming emotion for me. It is a very poignant story about the horrors of being a refugee, and that aspect makes it an important read. However, I kept getting distracted and pulled out of the story by my own questions and doubts. The mystical elements kept me from truly staying with the realistic horror of the situation. I couldn't quite make these two components fit together in a way that worked for me, and I kept questioning the possibility of some things, specifically Jimmie's constant ability to sneak in and out. Then, although I appreciate that everything is not just neatly wrapped up in the ending, this one left too many unanswered questions for me to be satisfied.
Additionally, when I review a middle grade novel I think about who I would recommend it to, and I had a hard time coming up with the kind of student I would give it to and what I would say about it to encourage them to read it.
* I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
Additionally, when I review a middle grade novel I think about who I would recommend it to, and I had a hard time coming up with the kind of student I would give it to and what I would say about it to encourage them to read it.
* I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I very much enjoyed The Bone Sparrow. In many ways it reminded me of When Stars Are Scattered, but Fraillon’s main character is more hopeful, more full of imagination, and also more naïve. I also saw similarities with The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, though with less of an open ending and slightly more optimism for the future. The power of words was an integral part of the story, and also the complex nature of humans (particularly when the ‘good’ ones ignore horrible actions by others).
Refugees. Middle Grade. Difficult situations.
Story: Subhi is a young boy living in a refugee camp. He was born in the camp and it's the only life he has ever known. He shares a tent with his ma and older sister and other families. The living conditions are grim, with poor beds and out of date food.
Characters: Subhi tells our story in first person. Queeny is his older sister, a wise voice with a bit of sibling rivalry. Harvey is one of the guards at the camp, and the only nice one. An interesting character is a rubber duck that Subhi carries around with him. The rubber duck often gives very adult (mature thoughts and questions, advanced vocabulary) comments, which guide Subhi through the book.
Language: While the book is told in first person from Subhi's perspective, some chapters are told in third person, from a girl named Jimmie's perspective. The chapters are short and divided by a full page illustration, making the 290 page book a faster read than it looks. While many adult and distressing things happen in the book, we experience them through young Subhi's eyes and perspective, allowing the reader to speculate or learn more themselves and according to their own level.
While not a page turner, definitely a worthwhile read.
Story: Subhi is a young boy living in a refugee camp. He was born in the camp and it's the only life he has ever known. He shares a tent with his ma and older sister and other families. The living conditions are grim, with poor beds and out of date food.
Characters: Subhi tells our story in first person. Queeny is his older sister, a wise voice with a bit of sibling rivalry. Harvey is one of the guards at the camp, and the only nice one. An interesting character is a rubber duck that Subhi carries around with him. The rubber duck often gives very adult (mature thoughts and questions, advanced vocabulary) comments, which guide Subhi through the book.
Language: While the book is told in first person from Subhi's perspective, some chapters are told in third person, from a girl named Jimmie's perspective. The chapters are short and divided by a full page illustration, making the 290 page book a faster read than it looks. While many adult and distressing things happen in the book, we experience them through young Subhi's eyes and perspective, allowing the reader to speculate or learn more themselves and according to their own level.
While not a page turner, definitely a worthwhile read.