Reviews

Rebelwing by Andrea Tang

biblioemily's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 stars. There is a LOT of swearing for this to be a middle school book, including a number of f-bombs. I suppose otherwise it is fine for 7th grade with a warning about language. I found the character development to be lacking, and the plot a bit too fantastical, but there are some unique things going on with the mech-dragon and family legacies, etc.

storytimed's review against another edition

2.0

This book is such a missed opportunity because WHY would you write a book about being psychically linked to a giant mech dragon and give us LITTLE TO NO MECH DRAGON CONTENT???
Seriously
I don't CARE about the non-dragon OCs, no matter how dreamy the author thinks rich boys are
I don't care about non-dragon politics!!
It is DRAGON OR BUST and there are few dragons therefore it is BUST
Actually I think the political implications of this book are a little Interesting bc the author actually works in DC & she has a clear infatuation with 1) the romance of political speech and gesture (think West Wing) 2) elite private schools
Eurgh.

jenniferduannfultz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

heysunbee's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

daanin's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

snazel's review against another edition

5.0

BOY did I do a 180 on this book as I read it. Really was not in a good mood at the start, was grumpy about everything, and I only kept reading because I normally trust the people who blurbed the book.

And then mom punched the president in the face and it got FANTASTIC. This book has trauma boys. Sentient dragon mechs. Betrayal. Fake Dating. Trauma girls. It All Comes Down To This final plays. Pacific-Rim-Style drift-compatible mech piloting. Extremely evil people to be punched (note, that isn't the president, that was just some fun times).

Note that I just had to knuckle down through the culture shock until I got used to the fact that this story was about super socially powerful kids. At some point a character in all sincerity is told to read the society pages to learn about a character's backstory.

carola84's review against another edition

2.0

I just finished reading this book and multiple times had to force myself to keep reading and not DNF it in hopes it would get better.
Unfortunately it didn’t get better.

The writer style didn’t get my attention, I found it irritating to read. The main character was annoying and childish. I had high hopes about the dragon but even that wasn’t it for me.

Overall I finished reading this book but I could have lived with a DNF after all.

wildflowerz76's review against another edition

4.0

As a student at New Columbia Prep, Prudence Wu has found a way to supplement her scholarship by smuggling black market media. But when she's betrayed by one of her buyers, she only makes it out by the last minute rescue from a sentient cybernetic dragon. Suddenly, Pru finds herself in the middle of a revolution she had no interest in joining.

Rebelwing is a smart, sci-fi, YA novel that I'm totally here for. This novels boasts multi-dimensional POC main character and we'll fleshed out queer side characters, all wrapped in a kick-ass story with cybernetic dragons! What's not to like?

esseastri's review against another edition

5.0

This book makes me feel the same way I feel about Pacific Rim. It's bright and neon and full of absolutely delightful, unapologeitc ridiculousness. It's witty and warm, full of biting humor and character growth to die for. But it's also a social commentary and a ruthless destruction of capitalism and censorship. It's about a girl piloting a dragon-shaped mech that's sentient and imprinted on her mind. But it's also a war story. It's about absolute disaster teens who I love with my entire being and their straight up shenanigans. But it's also about revolution, and maybe a little bit about Les Mis, which makes it--you know--My Thing. My Exact Brand.

I admit I'm biased to like this story on principle, but trust me when I say that even if you don't think it's your jam, you will probably love it anyway. I'm not kidding when I say it's witty--the humor in this book had me in stitches, and my girlfriend asking me why I couldn't stop laughing out loud. But there are some poignant character moments that had me turning into a sobbing mess because

Spoiler

he'd make music, I DIE

. There's a gorgeous attitude about this book, which drops you into a near-future world that feels uncomfortably possible while at the same time being a little bit ridiculous, but in the best way. It trusts you to figure it out for yourself, much like the main character, Pru, who has to learn on the fly (literally). You learn along with her, and it's a wild ride, and I loved every page of it.

TL;DR: Revoltuionary disaster teens save the world from censorship and capitalism with a magical dragon mech. Please preorder now. You will not regret it.

localogophile's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5