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guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Ableism
wisecraic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
Actual rating: 3.5
Please look up content warnings for this work.
Gillian French presents Sugaring Off, a coming-of-age story in an isolated town with a main character whose partial Deafness has isolated her further. Owl is half in the world of the hearing and half in the world of the Deaf, with no real community to be found in either. Her aunt and uncle took her in after the injury that sent her father to jail and caused her hearing loss. Owl helps run the maple syrup production with her uncle, but a new hire throws the whole town off balance. Cody is fleeing from something, but finds connection with Owl. When there is a murder discovered, Owl really has to consider what she values most.
I cannot speak to the quality of representation of Deafness shown in Owl's character, but I can say that Owl is much more than her disability. Owl is absolutely a fully formed character whose interpretation of the world and the people in it are handled with nuance impacted by her experiences. Cody, in a separate manner, is also very clearly the product of his own experiences. I think that overall the character work done by French in this novel is an asset to the novel itself as is the atmosphere French built. The setting, to me, was one of the best parts about the novel and was a brilliant evocation of the autumn to fall transition.
Where this novel falls a bit short is in the pacing. The beginning of the book is slow. The build of the setting, the characters, introducing Cody and building the relationship between Cody and Owl is all very slow. The "dash of mystery" is truly just that. Barely there and the conflict that Cody brings is raised and over within the last 15% ish of the book. This felt rushed and unnecessary as the entirety of the book up until that point had really been build without that threat and had been riding on the strength of the character interactions rather than any specific plot.
While the summary suggested that Cody and Owl's families wanted them to be apart, that really wasn't evident in the writing beyond the concerns any families might have about an inexperienced girl and known delinquent (older) boy developing feelings for one another. This is not a star-crossed lovers trope and readers should not be seeking that here.
I'm slightly concerned that there is potential that the book has been mismarketed between the "mystery" and implicated "forbidden romance" both of which really are not strong aspects of the novel.
Overall. I enjoyed my time with Sugaring Off, and would be happy to read more from this author in the future.
Actual rating: 3.5
Please look up content warnings for this work.
Gillian French presents Sugaring Off, a coming-of-age story in an isolated town with a main character whose partial Deafness has isolated her further. Owl is half in the world of the hearing and half in the world of the Deaf, with no real community to be found in either. Her aunt and uncle took her in after the injury that sent her father to jail and caused her hearing loss. Owl helps run the maple syrup production with her uncle, but a new hire throws the whole town off balance. Cody is fleeing from something, but finds connection with Owl. When there is a murder discovered, Owl really has to consider what she values most.
I cannot speak to the quality of representation of Deafness shown in Owl's character, but I can say that Owl is much more than her disability. Owl is absolutely a fully formed character whose interpretation of the world and the people in it are handled with nuance impacted by her experiences. Cody, in a separate manner, is also very clearly the product of his own experiences. I think that overall the character work done by French in this novel is an asset to the novel itself as is the atmosphere French built. The setting, to me, was one of the best parts about the novel and was a brilliant evocation of the autumn to fall transition.
Where this novel falls a bit short is in the pacing. The beginning of the book is slow. The build of the setting, the characters, introducing Cody and building the relationship between Cody and Owl is all very slow. The "dash of mystery" is truly just that. Barely there and the conflict that Cody brings is raised and over within the last 15% ish of the book. This felt rushed and unnecessary as the entirety of the book up until that point had really been build without that threat and had been riding on the strength of the character interactions rather than any specific plot.
While the summary suggested that Cody and Owl's families wanted them to be apart, that really wasn't evident in the writing beyond the concerns any families might have about an inexperienced girl and known delinquent (older) boy developing feelings for one another. This is not a star-crossed lovers trope and readers should not be seeking that here.
I'm slightly concerned that there is potential that the book has been mismarketed between the "mystery" and implicated "forbidden romance" both of which really are not strong aspects of the novel.
Overall. I enjoyed my time with Sugaring Off, and would be happy to read more from this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Abandonment, Ableism, and Adult/minor relationship
Relationship between MCs is 17yoF and 19yoM. Regarding child abuse/drug abuse:
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