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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
3.5
I liked Gemma a lot, she was funny, witty, sometimes very mature and sometimes a child, very conscious of her wrongs and her prejudices and quite honest with herself in her inner dialogue, she was different of what I'm used in realistic YA.
I, of course, fell in love with Raven, what an interesting character, and suffered for him and his family.
The story was hilarious (the first visit to the Webster family and the moments previous to the wedding made me laugh like an episode of The Big Bang Theory only can) and sad, very sad. It's very realistic in every possible way, but
It's a big pity I never read The Tempest by Shakespeare. I feel like I missed a lot in the book because of that.
In any case it's a good read, with every ingredient for a smile at the end. Even if it's a bit sour.
I liked Gemma a lot, she was funny, witty, sometimes very mature and sometimes a child, very conscious of her wrongs and her prejudices and quite honest with herself in her inner dialogue, she was different of what I'm used in realistic YA.
I, of course, fell in love with Raven, what an interesting character, and suffered for him and his family.
The story was hilarious (the first visit to the Webster family and the moments previous to the wedding made me laugh like an episode of The Big Bang Theory only can) and sad, very sad. It's very realistic in every possible way, but
Spoiler
was it really necessary to skip the kiss at the end?It's a big pity I never read The Tempest by Shakespeare. I feel like I missed a lot in the book because of that.
In any case it's a good read, with every ingredient for a smile at the end. Even if it's a bit sour.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
A lovely read. There's tragedy in this one, but there's also a lot of laughter and I enjoyed Gemma's self-awareness regarding her own attitude toward the De Head family.
Also, Mrs. De Head deserves a fucking prize. A standing ovation.
A lovely read. There's tragedy in this one, but there's also a lot of laughter and I enjoyed Gemma's self-awareness regarding her own attitude toward the De Head family.
Also, Mrs. De Head deserves a fucking prize. A standing ovation.
Gemma's life has never seemed more complicated. Her sister Debbie is getting married to a guy she's dated for a month, and her biggest crush Nick seems to be paying attention to her. It's because of him that she decides to audition for the school play. Even though she pukes when she speaks publically.
But Gemma gets paried with Raven DeHead, a seemingly deliquient who appears when she isn't looking. After seeing how he is away from school, can she truly say she has it all together? And are her feelings changing?
This book takes place in Australia, so some of the words are used differently. An enjoyable, light-hearted read.
But Gemma gets paried with Raven DeHead, a seemingly deliquient who appears when she isn't looking. After seeing how he is away from school, can she truly say she has it all together? And are her feelings changing?
This book takes place in Australia, so some of the words are used differently. An enjoyable, light-hearted read.
3.5 stars. I feel like this book is one I would have enjoyed more as a teenager, but it has a very authentic teen voice and Gemma is a relatable and likeable narrator. The Aussie vibes are strong as well, which gives it personality (although I didn't know what some of the slang meant). I also appreciated that there are some serious, weightier aspects embedded in the story; I wish these had been explored in a bit more depth and resolved more satisfactorily.
a fun story where i found myself laughing out loud. i liked that i talked about the Tempest and i thought her family was hilarious. all-and-all a good book.
This novel’s wordy title, bubble-gum cover photo and weird back-cover blurb with unfamiliar slang like “chucking a birkett” has probably scared off many an American reader. Had I not been on the prowl for Aussie YA, I might have taken a pass on what proved to be one of my favorite contemporary YA reads.
This story of a shy teen, Gemma, who finds her voice in theater is both hilarious and deeply touching. Amidst the moments of zany comedy (really far-out farce at times), there are some beautifully lyrical scenes. The romantic subplot with the boy from “the wrong side of the tracks” was exceptionally well done—-subtle and thought-provoking. Through Gemma’s interactions with Raven, one of the notorious, thuggish DeHead boys, Shanahan explores the socio-economic divide and exposes how community prejudice makes it exceptionally hard for a kid from a "bad" family to rise above his upbringing.
This story of a shy teen, Gemma, who finds her voice in theater is both hilarious and deeply touching. Amidst the moments of zany comedy (really far-out farce at times), there are some beautifully lyrical scenes. The romantic subplot with the boy from “the wrong side of the tracks” was exceptionally well done—-subtle and thought-provoking. Through Gemma’s interactions with Raven, one of the notorious, thuggish DeHead boys, Shanahan explores the socio-economic divide and exposes how community prejudice makes it exceptionally hard for a kid from a "bad" family to rise above his upbringing.
Ok so IM Australian and i no NO ONE that says some of the stuff that she wrote in this book. I was even confused at some points. I get that shes trying to ad a little Australian culture or whatever into the book but come on? Overall it was still alright for a nice read i guess
I thought it was a really great book. It had a good balance between the sad, happy, and funny parts of the book. Despite the sadness running throughout the book, it ends happily. I love the cover, and I love the way it is written. I did detect some grammar mistakes concerning "there, their, and they're". It was a great book! 5 stars!
This book has a special place in heart because it makes me cry like actual real tears
The author has a beautiful way of describing things. I love the Australian slang! The book is quite hilarious for the most part, though it takes a pretty tragic twist towards the end.