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kelkelkelhart's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death
arha's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This is an inventive and engaging fantasy novel. It's technically historical fiction, but the author clearly explains in an afterward what is actually known about the Khazar empire (very little) and what she made up (quite a lot), and some cultural details are clearly anachronistic. As fantasy, it's super fun. I read this as an adult and the magical creatures and mystical worlds will stay with me for a long time.
It's very well-written, and I was particularly impressed by the structure and pacing. This would have been very inspiring to me as a 12-year-old aspiring author.
It's also a book about a terminally ill child written by an ICU nurse. I've never been gravely ill myself, but based on my friends' experiences, I would recommend it for children whose siblings or friends are dying, but it may be more hit-or-miss for children facing their own deaths.
This book treats its themes around death and religious ritual with depth and sincerity without becoming dull or depressing. I would strongly recommend this as a discussion book for the lead-up to the Jewish High Holy Days.
It's very well-written, and I was particularly impressed by the structure and pacing. This would have been very inspiring to me as a 12-year-old aspiring author.
It's also a book about a terminally ill child written by an ICU nurse. I've never been gravely ill myself, but based on my friends' experiences, I would recommend it for children whose siblings or friends are dying, but it may be more hit-or-miss for children facing their own deaths.
This book treats its themes around death and religious ritual with depth and sincerity without becoming dull or depressing. I would strongly recommend this as a discussion book for the lead-up to the Jewish High Holy Days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
limdurlu's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Medical content
Moderate: Death and Child death
jillianelis_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As a youth services library assistant, you would think I would read a lot more middle grade books in my free time.
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Terminal illness
adotzam's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
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