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A review by readerpants
No One Is Alone by Rachel Vincent
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Honestly, I went in with low expectations and ended up loving this? Read for work and didn't expect much beyond a sensationalized hook. But it made me legitimately cry -- cw for parental death and grief, including hospice/dementia.
The characters felt like authentic teens, it didn't feel dated, and while a lot of reviewers apparently didn't like the pacing, that wasn't a problem for me at all. Loved the theatre teacher and setting. I'm not surprised to learn that the author was a high school English teacher.
Except for one unsurprising exception*, I think what this book did best was that it had no villains. I love that. It was a group of flawed characters in horrible situations doing their best and managing to find empathy even in the fog of their own hurt. I felt for all of them, and that focus on character development makes this one that I think I'll end up recommending frequently to students.
Rounding down slightly for the complete lack of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters (even among the theatre kids? In this year of our Lord 2024? Bizarre.)
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Other notes:
*I was convinced pretty early on that Ben had assaulted Emery, maybe while alcohol was in the picture. I was glad that it didn't end up being that.
The characters felt like authentic teens, it didn't feel dated, and while a lot of reviewers apparently didn't like the pacing, that wasn't a problem for me at all. Loved the theatre teacher and setting. I'm not surprised to learn that the author was a high school English teacher.
Except for one unsurprising exception*, I think what this book did best was that it had no villains. I love that. It was a group of flawed characters in horrible situations doing their best and managing to find empathy even in the fog of their own hurt. I felt for all of them, and that focus on character development makes this one that I think I'll end up recommending frequently to students.
Rounding down slightly for the complete lack of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters (even among the theatre kids? In this year of our Lord 2024? Bizarre.)
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
Other notes:
*I was convinced pretty early on that Ben had assaulted Emery, maybe while alcohol was in the picture. I was glad that it didn't end up being that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent