Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

28 reviews

haylzno's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

First off, the narration was just wonderful. Amber McBride really knocked it out of the park. It was like I was listening to someone recite poetry. I loved the addition of music to add to the storyline and aid in our (readers) understanding of the bond between Moth and Sani. 

I'm not one to ever guess "plot twists" and I definitely didn't foresee any of this plot. I loved that most of the novel was told through Moths POV and only switched to Sani at the end. The characters were relatable and it really provoked many emotions (again, the audiobook was just fantastic. I listened to it while paining and had to take quite a few breaks to wipe away some tears). 

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ladygetslit's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.0


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halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely adore this audio!!! So fast-paced with no filler sentences. Adore how poetic, spiritual and straight to the point this novel is told. 

This novel in a span of 3 hours had so much heartache, passion, first love, tragedy, emotion and everything in-between. But that plot twist at the end completely shook my world and felt bittersweet. Moth is such a loving character whom I wanted to encase in a protective bubble. I adore both her and Sani's relationship. 

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bookishcori's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0


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aargot1's review against another edition

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medium-paced

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mangolover72's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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oldandnewbooksmell's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 Trigger Warnings: physical abuse, racism, bullying, death, mental health - depression

Moth lost her mother, father, and brother when their car split in half like a candy bar. Now she lives with her aunt but she feels deeply alone and unnoticed.

Then one day, she meets Sani, a boy battling depression and searching for his roots, and hoping that finding those will help him understand the static in his mind. If Moth can help him, maybe she can understand her own history. They decide to go on a road trip together to find out.

A YA novel told in verse, Me (Moth) is about identity, first love, and what holds us together.

What a beautiful, heartbreaking story. Both Moth and Sani and their stories will stay with me for a very long time. Amber McBride did wonderful writing these characters so they dug into your heart to stay there. McBride also did an amazing job at including Navajo and Hoodoo culture and blending them together through Moth and Sani.

This book will sit among the titles of The Poet X, The Crossover, and Long Way Down, just you wait, it is that special! It’s a fast read that will break your heart and stitch it back together, all while you learn and grow with Moth and Sani.

I borrowed this from my public library, but I’m adding it to my list to get myself my own copy so I can reread it again, and again, and again. Teens and adults will both be mesmerized by this emotionally beautiful novel-in-verse.

 

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thesaltiestlibrarian's review

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

2.0

 Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

...which you the readers are probably not gonna like very much.


Okay...

Listen.

Rating an OwnVoices book low has absolutely no reflection on me as a person. Anyone with their hackles up can take a deep breath. Merely glimpse at my shelves and tell me I don't read widely or think hard enough about things.

As a work of written story, this book was objectively disappointing.

As a work of crafting sentences, this book was a gilded piece of art.

McBride clearly knows how to string words together. Even when the plot went way out somewhere North of "Huh??" I stuck around for the way these sentences were carefully constructed. The probability for me coming back to McBride's work in future books is 99%. "Only 99, Caitlin?! You're insensitive!"

No. I'm leery.

The main characters showed up. Within two pages of reading them, I physically set aside my Kindle and said, "Oh no." Whenever Moth or Sani spoke, I had the distinct feeling I somehow found my way into a John Green novel. Teenagers just don't talk in abstract pseudo-philosophical compound thoughts. Would they write in their journals that way? Absolutely! Even I did, once upon a time. But I don't think I've ever once heard a teenager spew words like a second-year philosophy major who's favorite thought-master is Nietzsche.

The character writing needs work. A lot of work. Sani sauntered onto the scene with his best "wounded badboy cliche" skinsuit on, and Moth was no better in her instalove "hee hee it's so cute that this boy I don't know calls me honey" romper. And anyone with eyeballs--functioning or no--could see the reveal coming.

I just...I wanted to love this book. It has all of the elements that I gravitate towards in anything, from picture books to la-dee-dah literature. It just fell flat. I know I'm in the minority here. Part of me wonders if the five-stars read the same book as I did. 

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