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crowmore 's review for:
White Smoke
by Tiffany D. Jackson
White Smoke is good. It’s well written, and Marigold’s anxiety is really palpable. I found it a bit boring early on because I wasn’t as invested in her friendships, but that’s really personal preference. I also thought the writing could’ve been a bit more complicated, as it stands it’s a book that could be easily understood by a middle schooler, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but it’s just not my preference.
I also found myself wanting more descriptions of Mari’s emotions. Her anxiety about bedbugs was so gripping and real and I wish some of that was felt with her other emotions because it was just so fantastic.
I also thought the characters besides Mari had some really strange reactions at times, specifically when [SPOILERS HERE] everyone’s stuff but Piper and Alec’s gets smashed. The mom didn’t question them about that? Why did no one else comment on this? That’s insane to me! [END SPOILERS].
There was also a few moments that were never fully explained, like someone knowing something they shouldn’t, but it’s pretty minor and doesn’t really take away from the overall plot.
Once it hits the climax, the book is absolutely incredible. It grips you like nothing else, and I think it was masterfully written. I absolutely couldn’t look away and I loved every second. It really felt like it flew by when the earlier parts seemed to drag for me.
It does, however, end kind of abruptly. The most major things are resolved, but there’s a lot of minor stuff that isn’t wrapped up, and some parts that are really crucial that I wish had been addressed. The choice to end where it did just felt so strange to me, like there was a final chapter that was cut off or something.
All in all, it’s absolutely a good book and one I’d recommend, but not my personal favorite. It doesn’t wrap up super neatly, but the climax is so good that it kind of makes up for that and makes you forget all the details that have slipped through unaddressed. I cannot stress enough that it is absolutely worth your time to read, it just isn’t perfect.
I also found myself wanting more descriptions of Mari’s emotions. Her anxiety about bedbugs was so gripping and real and I wish some of that was felt with her other emotions because it was just so fantastic.
I also thought the characters besides Mari had some really strange reactions at times, specifically when [SPOILERS HERE] everyone’s stuff but Piper and Alec’s gets smashed. The mom didn’t question them about that? Why did no one else comment on this? That’s insane to me! [END SPOILERS].
There was also a few moments that were never fully explained, like someone knowing something they shouldn’t, but it’s pretty minor and doesn’t really take away from the overall plot.
Once it hits the climax, the book is absolutely incredible. It grips you like nothing else, and I think it was masterfully written. I absolutely couldn’t look away and I loved every second. It really felt like it flew by when the earlier parts seemed to drag for me.
It does, however, end kind of abruptly. The most major things are resolved, but there’s a lot of minor stuff that isn’t wrapped up, and some parts that are really crucial that I wish had been addressed. The choice to end where it did just felt so strange to me, like there was a final chapter that was cut off or something.
All in all, it’s absolutely a good book and one I’d recommend, but not my personal favorite. It doesn’t wrap up super neatly, but the climax is so good that it kind of makes up for that and makes you forget all the details that have slipped through unaddressed. I cannot stress enough that it is absolutely worth your time to read, it just isn’t perfect.