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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Okay 3.5 stars. I liked North of Beautiful, I really did. But maybe I had too high expectations, because I wasn't amazed by it. And then I tried to review it and totally blanked. So I thought I’d write down things I liked and didn’t like about the book.
Likes:
1. Geocaching - Never heard of it before, but Terra and Jacob made it sound like a fantastic hobby. And I really want to try it out now.
2. China – A large part of the book takes place in China. I love the way the author wrote about it. She knows the country well and made me want to visit, when, previously, I’d not had a strong desire to go there. I also loved the idea that the characters take a big trip during the story. It made the book unique, as most YA don’t feature a big trip in the way this one does.
3. Jacob – I really liked him. He knew who he was and paid attention to Terra, figuring her out as well. That’s a great quality in a guy.
Dislikes:
1. Terra’s relationship with Erik. (Sorry, can't further explain this without a SPOILER >>) I get why she had trouble mentioning him to Jacob in the beginning. But she lost a lot of my respect when she decided to stay with him – just because she wanted to make sure she was loveable (in her words). To me it seemed more like she was afraid to be boyfriend-less.
Likes:
1. Geocaching - Never heard of it before, but Terra and Jacob made it sound like a fantastic hobby. And I really want to try it out now.
2. China – A large part of the book takes place in China. I love the way the author wrote about it. She knows the country well and made me want to visit, when, previously, I’d not had a strong desire to go there. I also loved the idea that the characters take a big trip during the story. It made the book unique, as most YA don’t feature a big trip in the way this one does.
3. Jacob – I really liked him. He knew who he was and paid attention to Terra, figuring her out as well. That’s a great quality in a guy.
Dislikes:
1. Terra’s relationship with Erik. (Sorry, can't further explain this without a SPOILER >>) I get why she had trouble mentioning him to Jacob in the beginning. But she lost a lot of my respect when she decided to stay with him – just because she wanted to make sure she was loveable (in her words). To me it seemed more like she was afraid to be boyfriend-less.
Better yet 3 1/2 stars if not 4 (I can never make up my mind-this book afterall was on my Maybe shelf). It's funny how things work out in life.
I had never heard-nor seen a port wine stain before. Everyone has their own interpretation of beauty, not everyone understands true beauty. Beyond physical appearance, indeed there is so much more.
I had never heard-nor seen a port wine stain before. Everyone has their own interpretation of beauty, not everyone understands true beauty. Beyond physical appearance, indeed there is so much more.
2.5 stars
This didn’t do much for me. I found the descriptions of maps and geocaching to be over the top, and I do not enjoy books that justify cheating. In this book, the main character Terra cheats on her boyfriend while on vacation, but justifies that it’s ok because she’s going to break up with him when she gets home. To me, this is not ok.
I also felt that some plot lines were left open ended, and that is not something I’m usually a fan of in books. What happened between Terra and her brother Merc? Or the parents? The father was verbally and psychologically abusive, and the book didn’t resolve their plot line at all. Yes, the mother stood up to him a little bit, but their issues went much deeper than that.
I also didn’t care for the somber tone of the book, and parts seemed dragged out.
However, it was decently written, and I really enjoyed Terra’s relationship with Jacob, despite the cheating.
This didn’t do much for me. I found the descriptions of maps and geocaching to be over the top, and I do not enjoy books that justify cheating. In this book, the main character Terra cheats on her boyfriend while on vacation, but justifies that it’s ok because she’s going to break up with him when she gets home. To me, this is not ok.
I also felt that some plot lines were left open ended, and that is not something I’m usually a fan of in books. What happened between Terra and her brother Merc? Or the parents? The father was verbally and psychologically abusive, and the book didn’t resolve their plot line at all. Yes, the mother stood up to him a little bit, but their issues went much deeper than that.
I also didn’t care for the somber tone of the book, and parts seemed dragged out.
However, it was decently written, and I really enjoyed Terra’s relationship with Jacob, despite the cheating.
This novel I will read again. It was absolutely beautiful and reinforced my love for literature. Not only did I enjoy the experience Terra had as she pealed away at layers that hid her from herself and others, but it caused me to evaluate myself and my relationships with those that I love as well. This is a story that stays with you. I haven't been so in love with literature for a long time. It's a good place to be.
Such a great book, of finding yourself, your true beauty, when people try to knock you down. Such a great book! Loved it!
What a powerful, inspiring, young adult book. I will be recommending this to all of my students. The main character, Terra, is living with a birthmark that seems to drive her whole life. In addition to this, she is battling issues with school, her future and her family. How she navigates her life is wonderfully reassuring and she has quickly become one of my favorite main characters.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
Stunning, I love the characters. The style and language is beautiful. Released Feb. 2009
I really, really LOVE this book. If you like Sarah Dessen, it’s like that, only better (I feel like I’m always ragging on Ms. Dessen. I love her books, they are the ultimate comfort reads, but in plot and characters and ideas this one just really won out.) It is romantic and funny and interesting and thought provoking and amazing. I could try to put into words how I felt at some points during here, the time that I cried (and not the little tears that I get when reading most books that I love; full out eyes red, face puffy and salt tracks when I finally finished) when I laughed, when I got SO ANGRY, and when I smiled and had to look up for a minute because what I was reading made me so happy. It was also exactly what I needed for when I read it… I really did love this.
This book is about Terra, a cartographer’s daughter (explaining the name) who just needs to get out of her small town, away from her dad, and explore the world. Then she, y’know, almost maims a teenage boy. Turns out that his mom brings out everything beautiful in her mom (not romantically) and he brings out everything beautiful in her (romantically.) But, there’s the small matter of her boyfriend. However, him aside, how can she find herself within Jacob and the amazing places he can take her? (See, I told you I loved it. That summary was way too put together to be one of my classics.)
SPOILERSSSSSSSSSSSS DISCUSSION
Tears first? Tears first. When they’re at the orphanage and she sees the little girl, I thought she was going to go up to her from the beginning and then I was super angry when I saw that she went to the bathroom. I thought she was avoiding, deflecting, like she spends the whole book saying her father taught them to do. But she doesn’t, she scrubs off all the makeup, walks back out and has probably one of the sweetest moments in all literature. That was just so beautiful. And her calling them both handsome or beautiful or good-looking, I was sobbing, it meant that much to me.
Angery-almost-book-throwing-moments-but-no-because-I-treasure-books next? Yes, but I don’t have the energy to type all that again. Her dad. What a class-A __________ (substitute explicative of your choosing which I can’t actually write down because I’m such a goody-two-shoes.) I know people like him (thankfully, not anyone near me often) and I know how much it hurts. It really scared me how submissive he made their family, never in ways you could physically see, because they would be able to go get help, but emotionally and mentally. He hurt them more that way. When she was describing the way her mom deflated every time he cut her down, I wanted to just walk into that kitchen and punch him and kick him and then go up and give her a hug, walk her over to the couch and make the tea for her for a change.
I hated that he made the whole family submissive like that, even the sons that had been gone for years were still so scared. I was infuriated at the Dad for the whole time, but also Merc for a long while. Not the same way, because he was just the same as the rest of them, but he could have started it without fear of being hurt more in China. He could have stood up for them, and it wouldn’t even really cost him anything.
I adored Elisa. I loved them together (though I think that we could have gotten a couple more flashbacks to see how he was before her.) When she saw them both, how they were both so broken without each other (more tears, btw) but Merc had to do the one thing that really scared him if he wanted them to be together. I hated that Terra gave up; she could have shown them back together, brought Elisa back for herself, to talk with and to have a sister, then (having Merc previously stand up to his dad) bring them back together. As I wrote that I became aware of how absurd that is, but I’ve known so many Mercs in my life (comes with being an expat kid) that I can’t help but hope each time they’ll get their heads out of their asses (having your head in a donkey is always bad news, kids :P) and wake up. I’m so lucky that my dad puts family first, now and always. But I go to school with so many kids whose parents are so removed from it all, I see them, I go to their houses and see how upset they are when it turns out their parents aren’t home (even though they pretend they’re happy about it, “Yah! Freedom!” I know better) I see all the presents and gifts showered onto them to make up for it. But I also see the couples that find a way to balance it, whose kids are well adjusted and happier. I want Merc to switch from category one to category two. And I think he has the capacity to love like Elisa needs him to, obviously he did at one point, he just needs to get there. I want him to be happy, I know so many hims that I need him to be happy.
Also, if you were wondering, all that driving liability stuff: True. We’ve seen a little bit more of Thailand than Merc has seen of China, but not that much more. I know how easy it is to go through life the way Merc does, I only hope that I can remember what’s actually important in life as I grow up.
To be honest, I’ve never really known anyone with a port wine stain. There was my reading buddy (where you go down to a younger class and read to them and stuff [or vice versa], you probably had it) who had a big one on her cheek, but I was so focused on reading (not much has changed) that she could have been a blue alien and all I would’ve cared about would have been, “Is she (I’m not sure this blue alien race I’ve invented have genders like we do, but accept it for now) enjoying the story? Is she happy with how I’m reading?” The only time I really noticed it was when she got distracted because some of the boys in my class were discreetly (but obviously not enough) pointing and wondering. You do not get distracted when I’m reading to you. So I scolded the boys, moved us, and continued reading.
I loved each moment when Terra’s mom was growing into herself again. It made me so proud when she walked part of the great wall by herself, and equally proud when Terra began to let go. Everything that Jacob’s mom brought out in Terra’s made me so happy.
Susannah was so kickass. I loved her! And even leaving little pieces of the China map all over the world is not great role-model-wise but entertainment-wise, OH YEAH!
And Terra and Jacob were so infinitely cute. I loved their romance SO much, high quality stuff right there.
FFFFFFIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing contemporary read, highly recommended: 95%
This book is about Terra, a cartographer’s daughter (explaining the name) who just needs to get out of her small town, away from her dad, and explore the world. Then she, y’know, almost maims a teenage boy. Turns out that his mom brings out everything beautiful in her mom (not romantically) and he brings out everything beautiful in her (romantically.) But, there’s the small matter of her boyfriend. However, him aside, how can she find herself within Jacob and the amazing places he can take her? (See, I told you I loved it. That summary was way too put together to be one of my classics.)
SPOILERSSSSSSSSSSSS DISCUSSION
Tears first? Tears first. When they’re at the orphanage and she sees the little girl, I thought she was going to go up to her from the beginning and then I was super angry when I saw that she went to the bathroom. I thought she was avoiding, deflecting, like she spends the whole book saying her father taught them to do. But she doesn’t, she scrubs off all the makeup, walks back out and has probably one of the sweetest moments in all literature. That was just so beautiful. And her calling them both handsome or beautiful or good-looking, I was sobbing, it meant that much to me.
Angery-almost-book-throwing-moments-but-no-because-I-treasure-books next? Yes, but I don’t have the energy to type all that again. Her dad. What a class-A __________ (substitute explicative of your choosing which I can’t actually write down because I’m such a goody-two-shoes.) I know people like him (thankfully, not anyone near me often) and I know how much it hurts. It really scared me how submissive he made their family, never in ways you could physically see, because they would be able to go get help, but emotionally and mentally. He hurt them more that way. When she was describing the way her mom deflated every time he cut her down, I wanted to just walk into that kitchen and punch him and kick him and then go up and give her a hug, walk her over to the couch and make the tea for her for a change.
I hated that he made the whole family submissive like that, even the sons that had been gone for years were still so scared. I was infuriated at the Dad for the whole time, but also Merc for a long while. Not the same way, because he was just the same as the rest of them, but he could have started it without fear of being hurt more in China. He could have stood up for them, and it wouldn’t even really cost him anything.
I adored Elisa. I loved them together (though I think that we could have gotten a couple more flashbacks to see how he was before her.) When she saw them both, how they were both so broken without each other (more tears, btw) but Merc had to do the one thing that really scared him if he wanted them to be together. I hated that Terra gave up; she could have shown them back together, brought Elisa back for herself, to talk with and to have a sister, then (having Merc previously stand up to his dad) bring them back together. As I wrote that I became aware of how absurd that is, but I’ve known so many Mercs in my life (comes with being an expat kid) that I can’t help but hope each time they’ll get their heads out of their asses (having your head in a donkey is always bad news, kids :P) and wake up. I’m so lucky that my dad puts family first, now and always. But I go to school with so many kids whose parents are so removed from it all, I see them, I go to their houses and see how upset they are when it turns out their parents aren’t home (even though they pretend they’re happy about it, “Yah! Freedom!” I know better) I see all the presents and gifts showered onto them to make up for it. But I also see the couples that find a way to balance it, whose kids are well adjusted and happier. I want Merc to switch from category one to category two. And I think he has the capacity to love like Elisa needs him to, obviously he did at one point, he just needs to get there. I want him to be happy, I know so many hims that I need him to be happy.
Also, if you were wondering, all that driving liability stuff: True. We’ve seen a little bit more of Thailand than Merc has seen of China, but not that much more. I know how easy it is to go through life the way Merc does, I only hope that I can remember what’s actually important in life as I grow up.
To be honest, I’ve never really known anyone with a port wine stain. There was my reading buddy (where you go down to a younger class and read to them and stuff [or vice versa], you probably had it) who had a big one on her cheek, but I was so focused on reading (not much has changed) that she could have been a blue alien and all I would’ve cared about would have been, “Is she (I’m not sure this blue alien race I’ve invented have genders like we do, but accept it for now) enjoying the story? Is she happy with how I’m reading?” The only time I really noticed it was when she got distracted because some of the boys in my class were discreetly (but obviously not enough) pointing and wondering. You do not get distracted when I’m reading to you. So I scolded the boys, moved us, and continued reading.
I loved each moment when Terra’s mom was growing into herself again. It made me so proud when she walked part of the great wall by herself, and equally proud when Terra began to let go. Everything that Jacob’s mom brought out in Terra’s made me so happy.
Susannah was so kickass. I loved her! And even leaving little pieces of the China map all over the world is not great role-model-wise but entertainment-wise, OH YEAH!
And Terra and Jacob were so infinitely cute. I loved their romance SO much, high quality stuff right there.
FFFFFFIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing contemporary read, highly recommended: 95%