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A review by jane_austyn
The Elementals by Saundra Mitchell
2.0
The writing was nice, as always. But...the book just didn't do it for me. I liked some of the characters enough (though I mostly felt indifferent at best), but the pacing was all wrong. I found myself skimming through the first 3/4s of the book. I wish Saundra had made that last bit into the last half. And honestly, I would have much preferred a book soley about the parents to this.
I will say I applaud Mitchell for basically writing a bisexual character and not making it her defining point. It was refreshing and very well done. I hope that this becomes the norm for young adult literature, inclusion of bisexual, pansexual, trans*, or asexual characters without dwelling on how *bizarre* they are. The character just is who she is, and it isn't really a big deal.
I didn't hate the book by any means. It just didn't come anywhere close to the expectations I had for it. It left me feeling sad and a little empty, which is not what I expected from a book which followed the Vespertine and the Springsweet, both of which had satisfying endings. Normally, when I read a good book, I'm left almost feeling like I've eaten a good meal. That was not the case with this one.
I will say I applaud Mitchell for basically writing a bisexual character and not making it her defining point. It was refreshing and very well done. I hope that this becomes the norm for young adult literature, inclusion of bisexual, pansexual, trans*, or asexual characters without dwelling on how *bizarre* they are. The character just is who she is, and it isn't really a big deal.
I didn't hate the book by any means. It just didn't come anywhere close to the expectations I had for it. It left me feeling sad and a little empty, which is not what I expected from a book which followed the Vespertine and the Springsweet, both of which had satisfying endings. Normally, when I read a good book, I'm left almost feeling like I've eaten a good meal. That was not the case with this one.