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A review by starklinqs
Boo by Neil Smith
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book may honestly be my favorite book that I’ve read in a long time - it’s not perfect, but the emotions that this book brought up for me make it so that even the things that I wish were different don’t detract my rating for this book.
Things that I wish were different - the main character doesn’t sound 13 years old whatsoever. I definitely got used to it, and the book acknowledges that he’s different from other 13 year olds, but I do wonder why he wasn’t aged up even slightly. The book also feels very very long. I think it’s all worth it, but there definitely were moments where I’d check to see how much longer I had left.
World building was also done but left me with many questions - and I feel like these things were all mentioned in other reviews and I can see why it would push a rating down.
That being said - I absolutely loved it. I feel like this book had a theme of forgiveness as Gunboy evolves. (This is spoilered and if you haven’t read don’t click it!) The concept of forgiving a stranger, then a best friend, and finally yourself was just wonderfully done and I adored it. The relationship with Boo and Johnny was also a beautifully done relationship - a wonderful platonic relationship with depths of love. I would honestly read a sequel from Johnny’s POV post-Town . Overall I just loved it dearly - I feel like with Boo it’s difficult for me to cry with books, but the last half had me tearing up and I was fully invested in the story.
Things that I wish were different - the main character doesn’t sound 13 years old whatsoever. I definitely got used to it, and the book acknowledges that he’s different from other 13 year olds, but I do wonder why he wasn’t aged up even slightly. The book also feels very very long. I think it’s all worth it, but there definitely were moments where I’d check to see how much longer I had left.
World building was also done but left me with many questions - and I feel like these things were all mentioned in other reviews and I can see why it would push a rating down.
That being said - I absolutely loved it. I feel like this book had a theme of forgiveness as Gunboy evolves. (This is spoilered and if you haven’t read don’t click it!) The concept of forgiving
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, and Suicide
Minor: Ableism and Racism