booksaremyparadise 's review for:

The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish

4.75

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

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I've had this book for years and put off reading it until now and now my mind is blown. I never expected a Middle Grade book to make me cry and break my heart like this one did. Like in a way it felt like a book for kids because some characters and plot points lacked some depth, but overall It was just a book for everyone who has ever experienced grief. And it that sense I think as a kid I wouldn't have gotten as much out of it as I did now. Especially Grandpa Ike just broke my heart into a million pieces. I literally was sobbing in my bed at 12 am.