A review by hellohannahw
The Girl Who Became a Tree: A Story Told in Poems by Joseph Coelho

2.0

If you look at my recently read books you may realise I'm reading the Carnegie medal shortlist. I would not have read this book if it weren't for that nomination and I kinda wish I hadn't. It wasn't that long so I didn't waste much of my time but I'm annoyed I wasted any of it. The plot was incredibly confusing, the characters were okay (i guess?) but given the main theme was grief which has been dissected and written about so many times I was expecting something more original. Some of the poems were objectively good poetry but unluckily they did not fit narratively. I was also hoping for a story inspired by Greek mythology but I did not see the myth of Daphne and Apollo reflected in the plot. The author should stick to writing strictly poetry books.