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the_bookish_chimera 's review for:
The Art of Running Away
by Sabrina Kleckner
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“Listening is underrated. It’s usually the most helpful thing we can do.”
I’ve read The Art of Running Away after reading The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark and I loved the ride –even though I believe reading in order would have been more satisfying, as book 2 acts like a spoiler for book 1 (so if you plan to read both, read them in order).
I adored how 12YO Maisie is written, especially her inner monologues that are SO adapted to her age. I loved to know her feelings, how she analyses situations and makes her interpretations. And if sometimes she takes the wrong path, it’s always with the best possible intentions. In this regard, this book is a great story about growing up, and trying to get some independence, trying to be heard by adults who sometimes don't want to. And I loved that sometimes (often?) don’t get it smoothly, that Maisie makes the wrong choice and has to learn to think before acting. Because this book is a lot about the power of listening to people instead of wanting to do the things for them. That is right for what Maisie tries to do for her brother, or for her family’s business, but that’s also right for adults who think they know best what she needs than herself.
But what I loved more was the sibling relationship between Maisie and her (much) older brother Callum. They have been estranged, and there is resentment. During the whole story, they work on it and I adored seeing them opening to each other, as much as I loved Callum’s found family and how they become older siblings for Maisie too. The allyship discourse around Callum was so pertinent, and I’m glad some middle-grade books exist now to tell all that, especially using a 12YO’s POV, and seeing how the whole situation affected not only Callum but also little (and less little) Maisie.
I’ve read The Art of Running Away after reading The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark and I loved the ride –even though I believe reading in order would have been more satisfying, as book 2 acts like a spoiler for book 1 (so if you plan to read both, read them in order).
I adored how 12YO Maisie is written, especially her inner monologues that are SO adapted to her age. I loved to know her feelings, how she analyses situations and makes her interpretations. And if sometimes she takes the wrong path, it’s always with the best possible intentions. In this regard, this book is a great story about growing up, and trying to get some independence, trying to be heard by adults who sometimes don't want to. And I loved that sometimes (often?) don’t get it smoothly, that Maisie makes the wrong choice and has to learn to think before acting. Because this book is a lot about the power of listening to people instead of wanting to do the things for them. That is right for what Maisie tries to do for her brother, or for her family’s business, but that’s also right for adults who think they know best what she needs than herself.
But what I loved more was the sibling relationship between Maisie and her (much) older brother Callum. They have been estranged, and there is resentment. During the whole story, they work on it and I adored seeing them opening to each other, as much as I loved Callum’s found family and how they become older siblings for Maisie too. The allyship discourse around Callum was so pertinent, and I’m glad some middle-grade books exist now to tell all that, especially using a 12YO’s POV, and seeing how the whole situation affected not only Callum but also little (and less little) Maisie.