A review by everie
The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful fast-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? Yes

5.0

Feels like if Junie B. Jones was born in the post-apocalypse (HIGHEST PRAISE).

This is my first Valente, and I cannot BELIEVE how much she packs into so few pages. Just when you think it can't go any farther, she drops things like
semi-sentient robot and the entire lost rich jerk population of earth terraforming Mars
on you so naturally. Nothing feels out of place, everything is heart-wrenching, and certainly it's a story for our strange, strange times.