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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Really interesting concept and fun characters but I could really do without the teenage romance. I also love how the book talked about Christianity and colonialism in no uncertain way.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
love love love.
i’m an atheist myself and saw a lot of myself in michael. from his struggle to understand those who are religious to his complicated relationship with his dad, we’re not too different.
made me laugh out loud countless times, and even tear up a couple times toward the end. i loved this book and it’s simple, sweet, and genuine storytelling. <3
i’m an atheist myself and saw a lot of myself in michael. from his struggle to understand those who are religious to his complicated relationship with his dad, we’re not too different.
made me laugh out loud countless times, and even tear up a couple times toward the end. i loved this book and it’s simple, sweet, and genuine storytelling. <3
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I really, really enjoyed this book. I thought that the character dynamics were great, I thought that the story was great, and I would just love a sequel to this book.
Book 4/50 (2019)
Book 4/50 (2019)
Michael does not believe in a deity of any sort, so ending up at a private Catholic school is a bit of a stretch for him. Still, he quickly falls into a group of friends with different beliefs: Catholic, UU, Jewish, and pagan, to name a few, making Michael the token atheist. Through the course of his time at his new school, Michael learns a lot about when to accept things, when to challenge things, and when to open his mind to new differences. This was a cute, easy read.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book but I'm going to try to condense it the best I can.
I felt a personal connection to Michael. He's an atheist surrounded by die-hard pious kids and adults in a strictly Catholic environment, and it reminded me a lot of myself as a high schooler living in the Bible Belt. Although I went to a secular rather than religiously affiliated private school, I felt the pressure of staunchly religious views on a daily basis. I was I had the luxury of a Heretics Anonymous!
I used to be an avid consumer of Young Adult contemporary, but now that I have graduated from college, high school plots are a bore to me. Moreover, these books often contain underdeveloped and juvenile themes. I'm so sick of heroines complaining that Tripp, the star quarterback, decided to ask another girl to homecoming. What I appreciated about Katie Henry's writing was the presence of mature themes in a book about immature teenagers. It had pretty awesome representation too.
There was a subplot of romance in this book, and if you had asked me about it in the first 50% of the novel, I would have rolled my eyes and told you it was a pointless addition, but toward the end I started to understand why the author chose to include it. Not only did Michael grow to understand and respect people of different faiths, but the people around him, especially the ones closest to him, also grew to appreciate his points of view. If high schoolers can learn to do this in a little Catholic school bubble, so can you!
I felt a personal connection to Michael. He's an atheist surrounded by die-hard pious kids and adults in a strictly Catholic environment, and it reminded me a lot of myself as a high schooler living in the Bible Belt. Although I went to a secular rather than religiously affiliated private school, I felt the pressure of staunchly religious views on a daily basis. I was I had the luxury of a Heretics Anonymous!
I used to be an avid consumer of Young Adult contemporary, but now that I have graduated from college, high school plots are a bore to me. Moreover, these books often contain underdeveloped and juvenile themes. I'm so sick of heroines complaining that Tripp, the star quarterback, decided to ask another girl to homecoming. What I appreciated about Katie Henry's writing was the presence of mature themes in a book about immature teenagers. It had pretty awesome representation too.
There was a subplot of romance in this book, and if you had asked me about it in the first 50% of the novel, I would have rolled my eyes and told you it was a pointless addition, but toward the end I started to understand why the author chose to include it. Not only did Michael grow to understand and respect people of different faiths, but the people around him, especially the ones closest to him, also grew to appreciate his points of view. If high schoolers can learn to do this in a little Catholic school bubble, so can you!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes