OK, so this was nice. So, I am currently reading the Carnegie Longlist, and this is the first book that I have picke2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 4/20
OK, so this was nice. So, I am currently reading the Carnegie Longlist, and this is the first book that I have picked up that I hadn't read previously. I'm going to be writing this review with that in mind - that this is nominated for an award, and how far I think this should go. Lauren Wolk's previous book, Wolf Hollow, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Award in 2017, and to be perfectly honest, I have many of the same issues with this book that I do with that one.
This is a very NICE book. I remember learning that "nice" is the "in the bin" word in primary school, because it is plain and average and not very interesting to use. Here, though, I think it describes the feel of the book perfectly. This book is nice, there is nothing particularly wrong with it, but then there's nothing really spectacular about it either. I felt the same about Wolf Hollow. Here, I found the plot extremely predictable. The so called mystery of Crow's parentage was very easy to solve, and that is surprising as this was a factor that took up most of the book. Also, the reveal (if we can even call it that - I had worked it out long before) happened at only 2/3 f the book, and then I was confused as to what was going to happen for the next 50 or so pages. (view spoiler)[ They felt very unnecessary as well, with Crow finding out that someone isn't actually her brother, so therefore never actually finds her brother, which is what I was waiting for, and then the antagonist excaping from prison and being put back in again. It kind of just felt as if we were going round in circles to try and lengthen the book. (hide spoiler)] However, the writing was lovely. It is crisp and pretty, though not too challenging as this is aimed at younger readers, I believe. Lauren Wolk did an awesome job describing the setting and making it real. Especially in the first few pages of the book, I found myself easily able to picture the setting. The book takes place on the Elizabeth Islands, one of which is home to a leper colony. This was a really interesting place to set the book, and the historical elements were really interesting. Learning more about the way the lepers were treated is both horrifying and sad. I think this was the most emotive part of the book.
I want to say that I loved the characters, but again, I really can only say that I liked them. I'm not really sure how old Crow was, but she felt quite young and naïve. I feel like the story wasn't really about HER as much as it was about where she came from, so I didn't feel like I really got to know her that well. I didn't really sympathise with Osh, I thought that in places he was very selfish, but I did like Miss Maggie and her independence and resilience. (view spoiler)[ I was all ready for the possible romance between her and Osh. (hide spoiler)]
This book was very nice, but award worthy? Possibly not? It just felt very safe and simple and nice . There was nothing to WOW me, but there was nothing to hate, either. I enjoyed the concept, but the plot was so predictable, and I never felt any danger or threat. Maybe it is Lauren Wolk's style of writing that creates this effect? I'm not sure. I enjoyed this, but there are better books out there....more
This is my winner. Or, so far, anyway. No doubt about it, this by far the best book that I have read on this longli2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 16/20
This is my winner. Or, so far, anyway. No doubt about it, this by far the best book that I have read on this longlist, apart from maybe Release by Patrick Ness. But I loved this a lot. It was creepy and unusual and altogether a perfect blend of greatness. And that cover? I am obsessed, and I'm not sure why. And it is based on true events! Which I think was handled really well - I'll go into that more in a minute.
The book has six parts (plus a really short bit at the end) which are each narrated by a different character. I personally really liked this - it made the book a slow unravelling, small things were picked up with every new part, and you learn all different sides of each character, both from their own POV and other's. I will admit, it did have a few problems - each part overlapped, and then carried on the story a little further, and in places conversations were repeated without giving much more insight, but I didn't really mind this very much. I think my favourite part was Chloe's. This was the darkest and creepiest part of the book and it really does leave you quite scared when you finish it. Chloe was also my favourite character. I didn't like Gary - though I do think that his part was important to be in there - and another thing that ruined him for me was that I swear instead of the word "said" EVERY SINGLE TIME the author used "tuned". I don't know why - it was only in Gary's part! But then I have visions of people just singing conversations and I don't know. I don't really mind, as this was only in the first part of the book.
What I also love is the way the author handled the fact that this is based on true events. I don't think anyone really knows what the children saw that day, and I like how Jason Wallace neither confirms nor denies anything. There are also some super awesome talks about the universe and all these big questions we ask ourselves and it was just really interesting to read about. The whole concept of this book is interesting - and even though it is based on true events it feels original.
This book gave me shivers and I left it feeling distinctly creeped out. But at the same time, I think the story was really clever, and I definitely think that this one should have made the shortlist. It is the best one of the lot that I have read so far, and I think it is unique and clever and thoughtful (and in places, shocking). Definitely something that I would recommend. ...more
I actually enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would! I really did not think that this book was for me at first, but I think it majorly impro I actually enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would! I really did not think that this book was for me at first, but I think it majorly improved in the second half. I have mixed feelings about a lot of Marcus Sedgewick's books, but I did like this one. It isn't my favourite, but I think it has some important things to say and that it is very powerful and impactful. It isn't my type of book, and I got extremely FRUSTRATED towards the middle, but I did like a lot of things about it.
So I really like the writing. I love third person, present tense style, and I think that it really worked for this book. It felt very whimsical and almost sad. It's hard to explain but it really suited the whole story. I also really liked how the speech was written sort of like it is in Spanish - not actually IN Spanish, but with the upside down question/exclamation marks that they use. It made the book feel really authentic. I liked the themes this book had about corruption and migrants/immigrants. The book is about Arturo, who is a poor kid (not sure of his age - maybe 16?) living in a place called Anapra (sorry if that is spelt wrong). He is approached by his friend who desperately needs money after running into some trouble with a gang leader. This book did an amazing job portraying the gritty and hard life of these boys, and the corruption of the police. Arturo agrees to help, makes some pretty dumb mistakes and (view spoiler)[ Seriously spoilery (view spoiler)[ ARTURO WHY WHY WHY DIDN'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM THE TABLE WHEN OU HAD $3000??? And then he DIED! (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)] I loved how the ending connected to the prologue though - I thought that was really clever. If you've read the book I think you'll know what I am talking about.
I don't really have much else to say? I enjoyed this, it isn't something that I would usually read. I didn't love it but I thought it had some ally important things to say about world issues. I loved the writing, as I do in most of Marcus Sedgewick's books. And I think that this is worthy to be put on the Carnegie Shortlist, and is definitely one of the best books on the longlist....more
This had all the warmth and wit of Katherine Rundell’s previous books. I adored Rooftoppers, and I liked this o2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 17/20
3.75
This had all the warmth and wit of Katherine Rundell’s previous books. I adored Rooftoppers, and I liked this one too. Perhaps not as much, though - this one didn’t feel quite as effortlessly funny and unique. However, that being said, my overall experience of reading this book was pure enjoyment, and I think it is a book that lots of young readers will really love. I would say that this is a children’s book written with children in mind.
I think Rundell’s biggest talent is her lush, quirky writing. Immediately present from the first pages, the writing is a beautiful compliment to the story, and perfect for readers of all ages. The charming humour is woven into the prose with a lot of skill, and it brought back memories of reading Rooftoppers, which was a completely different story but had a similar story. Rundell’s writing is easy to spot - it is bright and bold and colourful and fun. I also think that this book as effective with the fast paced story line. It is a relatively long book, but the story is swooping and really makes it a quick read. This is something that you can just sit down and get all the way through. I also think it would make a perfect read out loud story. Although I can definitely see the story is aimed at younger kids, as there never really seems to be that much of a threat, and the dangers of the jungle are never really present. This is a light positive read that will make you smile.
I do think that in places it was trying a little too hard to be bold and bright. Some of the scenes and funny moments felt a little unnatural. And sometimes they were overcrowded, which I think was an attempt to try and make the book as quirky as possible. Paired with extremely bold setting, this was just a bit too much for me, though I know some readers will adore that kind of stuff. I wasn’t 100% impressed with the characters either. The whole thing is told from Fred’s POV, which can get a little tiring when you realise that you are stuck with a book that is just a brave, heroic, stereotype. The two girls didn’t really step outside of their allocated boxes much either - though I did like Con. And Max grew a little grating after reading about the same irrating things that he did over 300 pages.
All in all, I thought this was fun ride. Not as good as Rooftoppers, but still a book I think that many people will love. Rundell’s lovely writing is all there, and though this was maybe trying a bit too hard, I think some readers won’t mind that. I liked this book, and left it feeling pretty satisfied. ...more
Well, wow. I was not expecting this. Though to be honest, now I think that my review of Railhead was a little harsh.2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 8/20
Well, wow. I was not expecting this. Though to be honest, now I think that my review of Railhead was a little harsh. I just really don't think I appreciated it enough when I read it. I really enjoyed this one though! I was really into it and appreciated the world building a LOT more this time. Though technically I don't think this should be on the longlist, as it IS a sequel, and how can you judge a sequel alone? And this isn't a companion novel, you cannot read it without reading Railhead first. I only just managed to remember the details of Railhead from a year ago. But, it is one of the best books on this list (o help me) and I think it deserves some kind of recognition.
Seriously, if you like science fiction, you need to try this one out. The world building really is incredible and I am scowling at my past self for not realising that. There are all these trains that travel through these gates and turn up in other worlds seconds later. And there are these cool guardians and things get complicated (wow my use of the English language is so eloquent). But honestly, it is much better than that. And it is so diverse! Hooray for diverse books! There are people of all different races, sexualities, shapes and sizes (and sometimes species). It kind of reminds me of the later Star Wars films, in that respect. Though I still have the same issues with the love interest being a robot and everything. I still have a hard time getting on with that. But if I suspend my disbelief, I can enjoy it, and I do like Nova as a character.
I think the reason that I enjoyed this one more is in part to the characters. There was more of a range this time. Instead of just Zen, and occasionally a few others, we had Nova, Threnody and Chandni as well. I really enjoyed reading about Threnody and Chandni. I also preferred the plot this time. Heists have never really been my thing, I must admit, so the first book didn't appeal to me that much. However, in this book, there is more adventure and the world really expanded and it was much more action packed and fast paced. I whizzed through this and I am super excited (dare I say it) to read the next book. Yay!
This was an unexpected delight for me. I am annoyed at my self for not appreciating Railhead enough. Seriously, this is a really underrated series, and I really don't think it is middle grade fiction like some people are saying. The world is complex and interesting and this will appeal to anyone who likes science fiction and/or adventure. Go try out Railhead - who knows, it may surprise you.
I struggle to review this book because there is literally nothing that I want to say about it. It is such an unre2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 9/20
1.5
I struggle to review this book because there is literally nothing that I want to say about it. It is such an unremarkable book, there was literally nothing I enjoyed about this book. It was such a boring story, there really nothing special about it. I think that I am just very bitter because it is NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD, and I have wracked my brain trying to find a reason why, even a message that could possibly be spread by it, even if I don't agree with it, but there is literally nothing. I am just very annoyed because there are a load of other awesome books that were nominated for the Carnegie Award but not chosen, and so I gave this a low rating. I don't really know why the author even chose to write about this, because there is like no plot.
boy finds injured bird with his brother. boy admits that he has crush. boy does bad thing and fears crush will hate him. boy learns lessons and doesn't do any more bad things.
^ actual summary of plot. Wondering where the bird went? Yeah, it literally vanishes halfway through so I don't really know why it was presented as such a big part of the story.
The writing was really annoying and emotionless. I can't even say that this book was suggested for beautiful prose. Again, the only way I can describe it is as unremarkable. There was nothing beautiful about it. It wasn't very cringey, but just boring. I'm glad this book wasn't longer than 150 pages because I don't think I would have got through it other wise. That being said, the fact that it is only a novella makes it seem like such a pointless and forgettable read. If it had been longer, maybe the characters would have been further developed, and the plot more interesting. As it was, it all felt very flat.
I have nothing more to say. This was a forgettable read in which I was bored. Not really sure why this is on the Carnegie longlist, but I don't think it should win. It is just so undeveloped and there are better books on there that deserve places in the spotlight. ...more
Geraldine McCaughrean has always been a hit and miss author for me. I adored her A Little Lower Than The Angels, an2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 13/20
Geraldine McCaughrean has always been a hit and miss author for me. I adored her A Little Lower Than The Angels, and I liked Peter Pan in Scarlet, but I couldn't finish The Middle of Nowhere. This one kind of fell more into the later category, unfortunately, though I was able to finish this. And it did get better as it went on. It just felt a bit dry .
I didn't dislike the writing style. It does have a nice style to it, and I think it can work, but here it kind of made the first half of the story very boring. It meandered down places and took too long over things and I napped. It was the kind of writing that looks nice and sounds nice on the surface but doesn't really do anything to draw you into the story. I liked it. I did. But it didn't do anything for me. And the pacing was really off. The beginning introduces this mystery that I was desperate to know the awswer to - why the boys were left on the island - but then I don't think that there was really enough going on in the rest of the book to interest me, and this just frustrated me. (I spoiled myself okay? It annoyed me that much.) And the story does pick up, but not until like 2/3 of the way through the book, which is a bit too late. The rest of it is just what is going on on this sea stac and quite frankly it was boring. Though I will say I think that the author did an amazing job creating that chilling sense of isolation. It is something that I find very haunting and scary, and the book had a very haunting atmosphere. That was definitely my favourite thing about this book. It was the main thing that stayed with me. And this book was a lot moer adult than I was expecting it to be - not that I disliked that. It just looks like a children's book, and it is DEFINITELY not. Please expect that before going into it.
So yeah, I did like this, but I was a little bored. I think the idea and the fact that it is based on truth is really interesting. The story itself is definitely very different from anything that I have read before. Geraldine McCaughrean's books do tend to be very original. I think that for the atmosphere alone that this book created it, I would put it on the shortlist. But I think the slow moving plot and the frustration about learning the truth is just not for me, due to the fact that I am very impatient. But if you like slower books that haunt you, you will definitely enjoy this....more
Well, hello major disappointment. This book. THIS BOOK. I want to cry, because this could have been SO GOOD. I wante2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 5/20
Well, hello major disappointment. This book. THIS BOOK. I want to cry, because this could have been SO GOOD. I wanted to love this so so much. But...but....I didn't. And it makes me very sad. I've kind of been feeling like reading some historical fiction lately, and this is on the Carnegie Longlist! So I was excited. Unfortunately, my excitement was misplaced. And the awful thing is that I can see the wonderful, beautiful POTENTIAL in this book that was ruined by its poor execution.
This book has such an amazing plot. It is set in WW2 and spans the whole of the war from beginning to end. And it is set in Germany, not England, which always makes the book so much more interesting. It follows the story of two young people, Lili and Max. Lili is a Romani girl who is part of a travelling circus with the rest of her family. Max is a German boy whose family is mainly supportive of Hitler (besides his father and elder sister). I think this was such a unique idea. Often, we read about the hardships of Jews, but this book focuses on the many gypsies who were sent to concentration camps as well, and are not mentioned in many books. The plot is interesting, unique, and sad, especially towards the end. (view spoiler)[ Lili dies. Though you can kind of guess this from the first page. (hide spoiler)] It was such an incredible story that I just wish had been done better.
I hated the writing style. SO much. It is dual narrated by Max and Lili, and both POVs have that irritating, plain and matter of fact 1st person style. It is almost Jaqueline Wilson like. It isn't deep enough to cover this story. It doesn't have enough emotion to do the story justice. Almost like a diary entry. And there were these moments where Lili or MAx would be caught up in a memory, or the scene was very intense, and it would switch to present tense. <--- ??????? Please, authors, never do this. It is confusing and annoying and ugh. NO. Also, the fact that it is dual narrated? Well, it also has occasional flicks to the future, where Max is an old man, and he is writing their story. So basically the whole book is Max's book. But then I am actually told that Max is writing Lili's POV FOR HER??? So although it is dual narrated, and Lili's POV is in first person, Max is writing them both?? WHAT??? This does not work. The level of detail in Lili's thoughts and actions - Max would never have been able to write about that, a) because he didn't know her that well and b) because half the time HE WASN'T THERE. And this fact was distracting, because every time I was reading Lili's chapters I was super super sceptical about it.
Also - the romance is INSTALOVE. Literally, Max and Lili meet like once and then they are in love. He actually hardly gets to know her (view spoiler)[ before she dies (hide spoiler)] so I don't know why they acted like they were so in love. Max cant stop thinking about Lili for like three years, but he hardly knew her and I hate it when this happens because it is SO unrealistic. Sure, they might have felt some attraction after one meeting, but to literally act as if they have sworn undying love to each other is extremely NO.
SO the potential for this book was huge, but so many things simultaneously put me off. The writing style, mainly. So I do not think that this is the book to win the Carnegie Award this year. Possibly could be shortlisted? But this was not well written enough to win and I am sad about this because I could have loved this so much. I loved the story. I loved the concept. But I hated the writing with a passion, and the romance was not great seeing as the whole book was literally based around it. ...more
As much I appreciate the idea of this book, it kind of...didn't work for me. Well, hey, it was just really boring a2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 11/20
As much I appreciate the idea of this book, it kind of...didn't work for me. Well, hey, it was just really boring and didn't really go anywhere. I napped. And then I kind of didn't absorb half of it because when a book gets boring you just kind of skim, you know? I stopped caring on page 3 or something and reading this whole book was a bit of a drag.
So I liked the idea of this book. Kind of. I mean, I have read other books before about heart transplants that I have really liked (e.g. Instructions for a Second Hand Heart) and I think it is an interesting and important topic to tackle. It can be done very well, and the premise of this one sounded pretty interesting. However, no. I was just not interested. Also, the whole time, this seems to talk in circles. It is kind of hard to explain, but you get these random chapters which just kind of ramble and don't go anywhere. It will start off being about one thing and then kind of ramble about random uninteresting things and end up being about something else and you think "well what was the point in that?" And everything just seemed to happen so quickly. Too quickly. The characters became attatched to each other too quickly, and because this book is pretty short, the important moments seemed rushed and then therefore unrealisitc.
Sadly, most of the characters were pretty flat as well. I liked the fact that Adam was an artist, but he didn't really have much other personality beside that. The book was just really not not not long enough to develop these characters properly, and that is sad, because it had the potential to be really emotional and sad. But I just didn't care about any of the characters enough to be shocked or saddened by the ending. Everything in this book just felt really flat and blugh because I DID NOT CARE. Sorry. But I was basically just counting down pages until the end and felt nothing when I got there.
I guess this was really not the book for me. I mean, personally I thought it was too short and underdeveloped and boring. There were some interesting ideas, but not executed very well, sooo. Not one that I would recommend, but I am not stopping you from reading it if you are interested. Everyone has different opinions, but I personally don't think that this one should win the award. ...more
I'm really not very impressed with this, but that may be just me, as I have never really enjoyed Elizbeth Laird's2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 14/20
1.5
I'm really not very impressed with this, but that may be just me, as I have never really enjoyed Elizbeth Laird's books. I find them very flat and boring, and this one didn't feel any different from any of her other works. I think it is her writing style that I don't like, because I do appreciate the importance of the stories she tells, and I just think the execution of them is the thing that lets me down.
So this book follows the story of Omar, who lives in Syria. When war breaks out, he and his family are forced to flee their home town. This could have been relatively interesting and enjoyable to read, if it wasn't for the fact that we have ended up with such an insufferable narrator. Honestly, Omar is selfish and rude and shallow and ungrateful and so boring to read about. I hated the way he treated his brother Musa, who has cerebal palsey. He was unnecessarily unkind and had no respect. I don't think the author meant it to read that way, but for me it did. Also, at the end of the book I was shocked to find that he was supposed to have aged about three years, because his character did not develop or mature in any way at all! The plot is not too bad, but Elizabeth Laird glosses over many of the most traumatic/exciting parts. I don't know whether this is to keep her books light enough for children, but I feel like this story had the potential to pack a really emotional punch, and yet the author glazes over scenes that could have been raw and emotional. (view spoiler)[ A part where Musa is in hospital for months is summarised in three quarters of a page. (hide spoiler)] She spends most of her time writing about Omar bragging about how good he is at selling stuff.
I think another problem I had with this book is the fact that there was just too much unresolved sexism. We do have the strong female character Eman - I wish the book had been told from her point of view - but she seems to be denied everything throughout the book and her problems are never really adressed. Omar does promise to try and help her but nothing comes of this either, as most of the time he is too busy gloating about his own talents and talking about how school is a waste of time (yet another reason why he is selfish and ungrateful). I understand that perhaps this society is like this, but it is not a pleasant reading experience when a narrator who is younger than you begins to express concern that his mother may embarrass his father by disobeying him in public, and acting surprised and shocked when his mother begins to stand up to his father. (view spoiler)[ Even when their father dies, Musa isn't slow to take up the position of being the domineering male of the family. (hide spoiler)]
Over all, I found this very flat and emotionless, which is a shame. I wish the author had a more emotive writing style or way of telling the story, because I was unable to enjoy it. The book was too sexist for me to comfortably read and enjoy, and the main character was slap worthy at the best of times. This would not be my choice for winner, or to be shortlisted....more
Okay, so with the last book I am going to be reading on this list, I have changed my mind - THIS is now the book th2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 19/20
Okay, so with the last book I am going to be reading on this list, I have changed my mind - THIS is now the book that I think should win the Carnegie Award 2018. And, unlike Encounters, this one has made it onto the shortlist. So, I have high hopes. I just had such a great time reading this which I can't say for many of the books on this longlist. It was a really riveting story and I think it had a lot to say for itself. It was also really different from what I was expecting!
I LOVE how this switched back and forth with Before and After chapters. I think this was such a great way to keep the reader interesting in the book. If it had been just a straight line, chronological story, I would have grown pretty bored - I mean, the story wasn't exactly unpredictable. But with the switching between time, the story unravelled in a very satisfying way. I do have one teensy complaint though, which is this: both the Before and After chapters were written in present tense. And my brain just kept telling me the whole time that surely Before should be in the past tense. Right? It isn't a grammatical error, just something that slightly confused me. I could never tell whether Moonbeam was actually living the moment or just recounting it. But aside from that, the way the book was told was flawless. I also really liked the characters. Moonbeam is strong and independent but she also is really relatable. And I thought it was really important that the author didn't present the people living inside the base as "bad" because they followed Father John. I also really, really liked Agent Carlyle - there was a lot of depth to him that maybe I wasn't expecting.
I think this book did a great job dealing with Moonbeam's feelings and the effects that her experiences had on her. Because of this, I really liked the ending. (view spoiler)[ By leaving it open, I think it really created this sense that not everything was fully healed but they were getting there. (hide spoiler)]. It was interesting that story of After was really just a series of conversations between her and her doctor. I don't know how this kept me interested, but it did!
This was a phenomenal story with a powerful punch. I really wasn't expecting such big things from this book. I think it is definitely the best book on this list, with good writing, and interesting story and concept, and great characters. I recommend this! I think any reader who likes a intriguing story will enjoy it. ...more
This is definitely one of the better books on this list. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was my favourite, but it2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 12/20
This is definitely one of the better books on this list. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was my favourite, but it was different from what I thought it would be, and I did enjoy reading it. The illustrations really made the book that much more magical - they are so gorgeous, all in black and white and haunting. They suit the tone and atmosphere of the book perfectly.
This book follows the story of Frank. So, I will make the embarrassing confession that I thought Frank was a boy. For the first page! Then I got myself sorted out. Everything is fine, okay?
*nervous laughter*
Moving swiftly on, as I was saying, this book is about Frank, who is victimised by the bullies of her town. I’m not sure how old she is, but I think somewhere about 12? Possibly. That is how I imagined her anyway. The bullying she experiences is horrific and awfully realistic. I think this was a very big part of the book and focuses a lot on that. One day, she is rescued by this boy named Nick, who is the strange boy in the class and relatably, Frank doesn’t want to be associated with him, for fear of further bullying. But they end up becoming friends. I feel like the character of Nick wasn’t terribly fleshed out, and the things that Frank found in his house were far more interesting than him. There was a bit of magic in this book, which isn’t very well explained or shown in the blurb. If you are interested in a heart warming story of friendship and all that, go check this out.
The writing is very nice. It has a beautiful flow, and the whole book is one smooth read. Probably one of those that you can read in one sitting. The story is simple but effective, the characters fit it well. There were some humourous moments, such as the times when Frank seems to have long conversations with her stomach, who doesn’t really like doing anything dangerous or intimidating. There are also sad moments as well, and I think this book carries lots of important messages about fitting in and family and friendships, and not caring about what other people think about you. People of all ages would enjoy it.
I think this book deserves at least a place on the shortlist. It is on the better end of the scale out of the books that I have read so far. And I love the illustrations! It is very simple but not forgettable, and the story is unique and carries beautiful undertones. Definitely recommend to anyone who likes a heartwarming story, with a small touch of magic. ...more
This was really fun. One of the better books that I have read on this longlist so far, I think. But I do find it2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 7/20
3.75
This was really fun. One of the better books that I have read on this longlist so far, I think. But I do find it very interesting that two books on this list are about leper colonies - this one, and Beyond The Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk. And if we are comparing them, I'm going to have to say that I preferred this one. They are not really similar in any way - they are set in completely different places, and the only thing that ties them together is this idea, so I'm NOT going to use this review to compare them (but I think this one was better....).
Okay, so fine, the plot of this one is very simple, but still fast paced and enjoyable. It is more of an adventure story, and is definitely for younger teens/children. It follows our main character, Amihan, who lives on the island of Cuilion (please correct me if this is wrong, I don't have the book at hand) with her Nanay, who suffers from leprosy. At the beginning of the book, a government official name Mr Zamora tells them that the lepers, though in this book they refer to them as Touched, are going to be separated from the rest of the Islanders. Their children are taken to an orphanage on a neighbouring island, and this story is about Amihan trying to find her way back to her mother. It was very simple and straight forward, but it was fun and I really liked the writing style. It was pretty and delicate and was good at describing the setting, which was also really pretty. I also think that author did a really good job with the characters. I think that Amihan had a good balance of flaws, and Mari was really interesting to read about. But I think the most successful character in this book was Mr Zamora. He is extremely complex, especially as most other aspects of this book are pretty simple. You both pity him and hate him with a passion at the same time, and I think he was just really well written. He has some kind of illness, but it's never fully explained, and I would be interested to have been able to read more about him. I liked the theme of butterflies. I think it is clever how the butterflies are associated with both the good and bad parts of Amihan's life - her mother, the island, her father, but also Mr Zamora. I think it also tries to reflect the complexity of the character relationships, and though the two girls are pretty flat to begin with, we get this short bit at the end titled 30 years later which gives us even more insight into their characters. I really enjoyed this part of the book.
So all in all, this one was a success for me. It was enjoyable, and seemingly simple, but there is some complexity beneath the surface, and I think that this author could really go far with books aimed at older people. I am excited to see where she goes. I could definitely appreciate the possibility of this one getting onto the shortlist....more
Let's face it, I never thought I would love this book. However, I did not expect to be so intensely irritated by a 2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 10/20
Let's face it, I never thought I would love this book. However, I did not expect to be so intensely irritated by a book that I wanted to throw it against a wall and start pounding my head on the ground. Literally the moment I finished this I took big gulps of relieved breaths because I was so glad to get out. That irritation has literally masked my whole opinion of this book and I could literally not rate it higher, even if I wanted to.
Looking past the horrible cover (they need to change that, it isn't very appealing), this book is about a girl called Fidge who has an annoying younger sister who reads this book called the Land of the Wimbley Woos. She also has lots of toys, inclduing a purple elephant and a "wed wabbit". When the younger sister is involved in a car accident, Fidge has to go and stay with her horrible cousin, Graham, and ends up getting stuck in a world which is a weird combination of her sister's favourite book, her cuddley toys, with Wed Wabbit as an evil dictator. In this world, there are colourful dustbin shaped creatures called wimbleys and - and I just can't do it anymore. As you have probably noticed, this book is complete and utter nonsense. I hated it. The world was babyish and so silly. But Eleanor, you say, this is a children's book. It's supposed to be like that. Ah no, no, no, no, no, no, here is my problem. It was written well enough for older kids BUT I feel like older kids would have lost patience with this just like me, and younger children would not be able to read it. I feel like this is one of those books which is aimed at critics who will then praise it for children. I think some authors need to think about what audience they are aiming at, and when writing children's books, we need to think about what children will really enjoy.
I cannot rate this any higher, for reasons that you have read already, but there were SOME things that I would have liked about it had it not been set in the most annoying world ever. I liked some of the things Ella said, they were funny but positive, and I kind of liked how Graham became nicer. But it was just against such a nonsense and annoying background that all the good things just sort of...paled. Which is sad, because there were some elements buried in here that I think people would enjoy.
So, despite the good reviews, this was a no from me. I just don't like to read about creatures that can't pronounce their w and I cannot deal with talking dustbins. This didn't really have an audience who would fully appreciate it either - the writing style was too complex for really young children who would like the genre, I think. And I just don't know why anyone would want to read about something this intensely annoying. ...more
* Looking back, I'm changing my rating to two stars, because this book realy was not exceptional, and there were a l2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 15/20
* Looking back, I'm changing my rating to two stars, because this book realy was not exceptional, and there were a load of things that annoyed me about it.
I do think that this was an interesting idea. But I could kind of tell it was a debut novel? It felt like there was more to give, more to come, and that's okay, because first novels aren't always perfect. I feel like this was maybe not as powerful as it could have been. And I found it hard to separate the sciency stuff from the magicy stuff? It didn't really work for me personally.
The story is definitely quite dark. Pip is a black boy in America at the highest point of racial tension. This book covers topics such as racism, and the KKK. I don't really know enough about this subject to comment on it, but I do think this book does a good job enlightening people to it and its horrors. The book wasn't problematic in any way, and I really liked the themes of hope and the fact that not all the characters are horrible. It made the book a more pleasant experience. I do have mixed opinions on the characters, though. I really love Lilabelle - or is it Lilybelle? - and her unending positivity. She is a very inspirational character. I also really liked Hannah. The short chapter/poem things from her POV are a really nice addition to the book. They were both sweet and sad. I found Pip a bit flat, but the character who really rubbed me off the wrong way was Jack Morrow. I don't know why - I think it was maybe just the way his voice spoke in his first person narrative, but he was just really annoying. Sorry, Jack.
Also, I wasn't enamoured with the fact that the book kept changing POV. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had it just been in the third person all the way through. Maybe that is just because I prefer third person, or maybe because I really disliked the way that Jack came across in his chapters, but it would have honestly improved the book so much for me, personally. I find it irritating when a book changes POV because there always seems to be one you dislike (in most cases) which can dampen your enjoyment of the story. And I wasn't 100% keen on the hypnotism thing? Yes, I hear you saying, THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK, but I guess it is just personal taste. And I lost my taste for it through the ever irritating Jack Morrow (or doctor jack morrow to use his full moniker <-- yes this is very annoying after he has said it about 10 times)
So yeah, this was interesting, but not exceptional. But I feel like this is a case of me, not the book. So no hard feelings. This is a heavy book that some readers might find disturbing, so I will give you that warning before you go into it. But if this sounds like your kind of thing, go for it!...more
The reason I am not rating this is because I don't think I could give it a fair rating. It is obviously for young ch2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 6/20
The reason I am not rating this is because I don't think I could give it a fair rating. It is obviously for young children, and it very silly and nonsensical. I'm sure they would adore it - it is cute and funny (ish) and easy to read. Me? Hey, I'm not really that into books like this. I would never have picked this up if it hadn't been on the Longlist I am reading. But I think this book is good for the audience it is aimed at, and that is the main thing.
So obviously this is very silly. Not really my thing. I didn't really find it funny, but I think that young children would, what with farting angels and all that crazy other stuff. The humour is delightfully immature, of course aimed at children who like a little giggle when they find out that a particular character can fart We Three Kings in tune. The writing style annoyed me a bit. It is present tense, 3rd person, which I usually like, but in this case I found it a little irritating. However, I think it would sound much better if read aloud, and with small children that it likely to be the case. The book has a simple overcoat of humour and silliness and fun, and at a first glance it doesn't look like much more than that. However, underneath this slightly irritating exterior, there are actually some incredibly moving themes that older readers can appreciate. Themes such as the way a child looks up to their parents, and how that can affect them if they are neglected, the stress and fear that many adults have to face, and (view spoiler)[ the death of a child, as in Bert and Betty's case. (hide spoiler)] It also addresses some ideas about religion in the modern day world, and I was surprised at how deep this book went. It is much more layered than it first appears.
And the illustrations are so cute. They are a great way of enhancing this story, and they do a really great job of balancing out the book. They are funny and cute and I think they were one of the reasons that I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. They were little gems on the pages, and I enjoyed finding them here and there. (the illustrations of Angelino are all adorable). There was only one thing that I truly disliked, and that was the use of a "heart attack" to try and make the book funny. When Bert feels Angelino wriggling around in his pocket, he thinks he is having a heart attack, and the way that this scene is written primarily suggests that it is being used for humour. I did not appreciate this, as heart attacks are serious, and it was a slightly sour note to begin the book on.
This was definitely not my type of book, but I do think that the people that it should be for will love it. As a longlisted book? I think it is a little too young to be on the Carnegie longlist, to be perfectly honest, and I would not choose it as my winner. However, this book is much deeper than it first appears, and it did pleasantly surprise me. I was not enthralled, but it was an enjoyable read. Just not the book I would choose to be shortlisted or to win the award. ...more
Well, this was a little disappointing. This was a highly anticipated read for me, after all the good reviews and rati2018 CARNEGIE LOGLIST BOOK 3/20
Well, this was a little disappointing. This was a highly anticipated read for me, after all the good reviews and ratings. I borrowed it as soon as it came into the library, so excited and then... It wasn't awful, and I have no issues at all with the topic or what it was about. None at all. But, for me, as a book, it fell rather flat.
+ So, on a positive side, the topics and messages it addressed and presented are so important. Angie Thomas does this so well - this book is so good for the world. I think everyone should read it just to become nicer human beings. I mean, the messages and ideas spread by this book should definitely be appreciated. The injustice and prejudice that Khalil faced is shocking and it is so important that people understand these issues. Everyone needs to read this book just for this.
+ I also loved all the family scenes. Starr has such a nice relationship with her parents and siblings and it is so nice to see a family that is actually working out in a book like this. Her Momma and Daddy are so nice and cute together, and they are so supportive of Starr. I also love Seven and the way he protects his sisters. (view spoiler)[ I love the moment where he gets in a fight because someone tried to attack Starr. (hide spoiler)] And I love Chris and Starr's relationship - he was just so willing to get everything right and I love him for it.
- However, I really just did not like the writing style at all. It was very simplistic, and there was nothing special or memorable about it. It just couldn't support the hugeness of this book. Also, there was a lot of swearing outside of speech. I don't mind reading swear words in books, but when they are used in the general writing, I find it a bit...I don't know. It just seems a bit boring, especially as there is literally at least one swear word on every page.
- I also didn't think much of the main character, Starr. Maybe it was the simplicity of the writing, but she didn't feel like a complex character to me, and I just couldn't get inside her head as much as I wanted to. The author was much better at developing secondary characters, such as Chris, the family, and Maya (pls don't kill me if that isn't her name).
- Finally, this book was far too long. As much as I loved the family scenes, they grew a little repetitive after a while, and often it dragged and there wasn't much happening. Even the ending didn't seem satisfactory enough to sum up this extremely long book (for a contemporary, anyway). I just often found myself calculating how many pages I had left, and then dragging myself through pages.
I think this book faces extremely important subjects, and that Angie Thomas did a brilliant job with this. But I also think that it was buoyed up by this - because as a book itself, it wasn't very good. It needed better writing and a more concise plot, and Starr was not a real enough character for me. I have nothing whatsoever against the topic of this book, I just didn't like it as a written work, because the writing style was just too simplistic and there wasn't very much substance....more
Such a raw and primal story. It was awful, but I loved it.
I liked the writing style and the concept and basically eve2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 2/20
Such a raw and primal story. It was awful, but I loved it.
I liked the writing style and the concept and basically everything. I just don't feel it gave quite enough to be to be a five star read.
This feels like something gruesome I would write. The fairies were so cool and evil and gah. It made me have shivers whilst reading this. Although we didn't explore the characters very much I did think that these were relatively good characters. I loved Megan and Aoife and Nessa. And Conor was such and interesting person to read about.
Such a weird but good book and I would definitely recommend it....more
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