Reviews

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

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meebo's review

4.5

If you could know exactly how long you’d live, would you look? Everyone in the world is delivered a box with the length of their life in it. Amazing concept and heartbreaking execution. There were many characters, but I loved how the author found ways to tie them all together (like strings, get it? Hehe). I also appreciated all the bigger messages the author through in there that were also easy to consume. I had a really good time reading this. Queer, POC, disability, chronic illness rep (and much more). 4.5⭐️ - only wish the reason behind the strings was resolved more

whispy_crumb's review

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Heavy handed with the emotional heart wrencher plot lines. Not balanced with humor. Felt like I was being lectured.

library_kb's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I read this book for bookclub, and didn't know much going in. I was not expecting literary fiction with sci-fi/dystopian themes, but I ended up liking this book overall. It was a weird reading experience because while I was reading, it read really fast--but every time I put it down, I had no will to pick it up again--I think because there were so many characters that the story kept swapping in between that there wasn't a cohesive reason to keep going through the book. I did like a lot of the themes the book explored about life and death and purpose and perspective on mortality--some parts did remind me of Scythe by Neal Shusterman but more character than plot based. Would recommend to others!

laura_mikasa's review

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5.0

Would you open your box?

It's a very interesting book. With a fiction premise about the strings, the author is able to show real situations about the discrimination that happens nowadays.

brit7930's review

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emotional reflective 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

4.75

meaganriley12's review

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mysterious

4.0

ptstewart's review

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5.0

By all accounts, The Measure should have too much going on. Too many characters, too many storylines, too many tragedies. Its brilliance, therefore, lies in Erlick’s choice to confront an entire world with an unfathomable question. The result is both intrapersonal and interpersonal, minute and grand, joyful and disastrously painful. Erlick examines the results of possibility she creates from countless angles via characters who battle the news differently due to both circumstance and personality. The villain is awful but believable, and his inclusion is a bold and important choice. The joining of two apparent fringe characters (initially), the death of someone in whom we were just becoming invested. The sacrifices, prejudices, fear, and celebrations the people and world encounter at this development are gut wrenching and grounded in a reality we could see developing. There is many a mark of a good book: a book that leaves the reader wondering what they might do in that situation, and all the ways it could go right or wrong, is undeniably successful.