Reviews

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi

sweeneysays's review against another edition

4.0

Maybe I am wrong and I actually really like middle great, because I'm 2 for 2 on picking up middle grade books this summer and loving them? This book is weird and charming and lovely.

calypsogilstrap's review against another edition

1.0

Listened to this for five hours. Could not finish.

lesdel70's review against another edition

3.0

Though I loved Zoboi's American Street, I struggled with this one. It just wasn't my type of story. She's still an amazing author and I'm sure many would love this book, but it just wasn't for me.

literaryk's review against another edition

3.0

This was a unique read! Zoboi truly encapsulates the cringy, confusing side of growing up. At times, I had to take a break from reading because our protagonist just seemed to get every social situation completely and utterly wrong. To make matters worse, she had a hard time seeing outside of her imaginative perspective, which made it difficult for her to acknowledge and understand anything in her new environment. However,Starfleet Ebony-Grace is always true to herself against her "foes," and I think that helps the other characters get to know and understand her in a way. This leads her to change too.
The secondary plot of Ebony Grace's family was very vague, but this may be because Ebony knows very little about what's happening. I wish we learned more about her Grandfather and her parents (they were mostly static, although there was a little development on her parents, more on her grandfather)
Second-hand cringe aside, I enjoyed this fresh character and plot.

neglet's review against another edition

Came in prepared to love this book, with its 80s setting and sci-fi loving protagonist. But while the Harlem setting was fabulous, the main character lived in her imagination so much I sometimes had trouble following the story.

dayshmck's review against another edition

5.0

I rarely rate books as 5 stars, but I love this one. I am not a Star Trek fan but was able to understand most of the references. I love that this book is written in first person point of view and through the eyes of a child who may be on the Autism spectrum.

There is also a quote from this book that I have noted as pretty wonderful. It takes place between a potential friend-like character for Ebony and Ebony herself.

Pablo: But at some point, so many people will be doing it that no one is gonna get to shine. You know what I mean?
Ebony: But, Pablo, there are lots of stats in outer space. Every one of them shines.

I highly recommend!

saschwart17's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

lisayoud's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to like this, and read it to see if my 11 year old daughter would enjoy it, but ultimately it was just too confusing. It switches between the main character's imagination and reality in such an odd way that made it very hard to understand what was actually happening.

evilanchovy's review against another edition

2.0

Good premise, but I got lost in all the Star Trek references. It really interfered with my understanding of the plot.

readbyashleyd's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

2.0

I wanted so badly to love this because a middle grade book that refers to NASA and space really sounds like something that tickles my fancy. Sadly that wasn’t the case and it ended up being a big jumble of nothing that tickled no fancies at all. Some parts had some merit but overall this just wasn’t for me.