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A review by kaelaceleste
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson
3.0
Super torn on how to rate this one because I really liked parts of it and really, really did not like others lol
I loved the overall theme of uncovering gentrification of the neighborhood. It was super interesting and not something you see super often in YA so I appreciated that. I also really liked the writing style, very easy to get through and casual, and kept my attention despite the plot being slow at times.
The pacing was wayyyy off to me. It felt like nothing happened for huge stretches of time and then the ending was SO ABRUPT with no resolution once the big scary was revealed. I realize that was probably intentional but it left me wanting to know what happened after, almost like it was halfway to being a cliffhanger. A lot happened at once in the last 3-4 chapters which was the part I liked the most - big reveal was great and exciting to read - but then it just...ends.In that way it just felt unfinished.
I also felt like there were a lot of qualities of the characters that ended up being overexplained and then brought back as a sort of "gotcha" later on. Like
Overall though it was creepy and well-written. Especially for a YA horror it was a great haunted house story with some good social commentary, if a little on-the-nose.
I loved the overall theme of uncovering gentrification of the neighborhood. It was super interesting and not something you see super often in YA so I appreciated that. I also really liked the writing style, very easy to get through and casual, and kept my attention despite the plot being slow at times.
The pacing was wayyyy off to me. It felt like nothing happened for huge stretches of time and then the ending was SO ABRUPT with no resolution once the big scary was revealed. I realize that was probably intentional but it left me wanting to know what happened after, almost like it was halfway to being a cliffhanger. A lot happened at once in the last 3-4 chapters which was the part I liked the most - big reveal was great and exciting to read - but then it just...ends.
Spoiler
So we don't get any info on the aftermath, what happened to the bad guys, what happened to her FRIEND IN JAIL? Does her stepdad stop being a huge dick to her and her brother and favoring "his" kid? Am I supposed to not hate Piper now?I also felt like there were a lot of qualities of the characters that ended up being overexplained and then brought back as a sort of "gotcha" later on. Like
Spoiler
the moment that it was mentioned her brother was allergic to everything I knew we'd end up with an accidental peanut butter situation. Same with the anxiety about bed bugs that she just sort of...got over. I also personally found it really annoying and almost off-putting the MC was with getting high and then it also sort of just...petered off? Idk it felt really weird to me. Please go to therapy I'm begging.Overall though it was creepy and well-written. Especially for a YA horror it was a great haunted house story with some good social commentary, if a little on-the-nose.