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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated
Linus Baker sets out to evaluate an orphanage with some complicated magical children, only to fall in love with the caretaker of this home as well as the kids there. With themes of love, longing, acceptance, and resilience, this book entertains, inspires, and evokes every emotion possible. Each child is lovable in their own way, my personal favorite was Talia because she constantly threatens to beat or bury someone which is an adorable thought given her size. This book echoes some themes in the schools that existed to “help Indigenous children adapt” and given my family tree…. This bothered me a lot. But a few town members and Linus, realizing that these kids were being treated horrifically and that they needed to stop it, was inspiring. The same sex couples in the story seemed to have caused the book to be banned in many areas… and that demonstrates how easily those people missed the themes of acceptance. There are so many lessons in this book, that your family can be those you choose, that home is not 4 walls, it is the people you surround yourself with, that social advocacy is needed and that your voice, if given the chance, should be used when others are rendered mute, that love can be as pure and simple as a hand held or a sweet kiss.. I’m not sure who could look past those and ban it because of an anti christ character. Lucy proves that nobody is just evil, that beneath the exterior, there is good. The references to spiders in the brain and not being able to help behaviors I think echoes a need for tolerance and understanding of mental illness as well. Linus and Arthur as well as Helen and Zoey make beautiful couples with innocent affection and adoration for each other, the moments are sweet and not graphic so I’m at a loss for why people would be so offended like that. Do we not all deserve to be seen and truly loved for who we are? Are we all not capable of finding another who appreciates all that we are and sees all we can be? I loved this read, this one will stick with me and will remain on my shelf for when my daughter is old enough to read it because if a book is banned, it means something important lies within its pages.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Five stars for this sweet book that had me crying happy tears and a few sad ones too. I stayed up for threw hours past my usual bedtime last night to finish this book because I just couldn't get enough of it.
The characters are so loveable and so well described - the whole time I read this book it was like a movie playing out in my head. I loved the themes about finding a home, how big change can be prompted by a few open minded people, and the value of finding people who love you and find you spectacular even if you feel ordinary. I would recommend this book to anyone. ❤️
The characters are so loveable and so well described - the whole time I read this book it was like a movie playing out in my head. I loved the themes about finding a home, how big change can be prompted by a few open minded people, and the value of finding people who love you and find you spectacular even if you feel ordinary. I would recommend this book to anyone. ❤️
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
IF I COULD GIVE THIS BOOK 6 STARS I WOULD this changed my life everyone needs to read this i genuinely had the time of my life it was so fun and lighthearted yet so inspiring and impactful i will never stop thinking about this i will be making my children read this and my children’s children and basically everyone in my life until i die
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
The story started really slow and I almost gave up on it. Glad I didn't though because I ended up loving it!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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