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Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly by Stephen Graham Jones, P.T. Jones, Paul Tremblay
katiemichellereads's review
3.0
My posts can also be found on my blog: http://kittensandbooks.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/review-floating-boy-and-the-girl-who-couldnt-fly-by-stephen-graham-jones/
I received this book for an honest review through Netgalley.
2.5 stars
This one wasn’t for me. I kept going because I wanted to see how it would end, and because it’s a review copy.
The characters were alright. I did like Mary and the “Floating Boy,” but this was so plot-driven that it didn’t show too much about the characters. Mary did a bit of developing through the story, but I didn’t really believe it – things changed too fast for her to suddenly be okay at the end.
Also, the characters felt way younger to me than fifteen. While reading I kept thinking they were in middle school, both due to their actions and the writing style. It seemed written towards a younger narrator and a younger audience as well.
The plot did save this book, though. Some parts just weren’t believable to me, but otherwise I really liked the main concept. I believe a younger reader would enjoy this much more than myself, as well.
I received this book for an honest review through Netgalley.
2.5 stars
This one wasn’t for me. I kept going because I wanted to see how it would end, and because it’s a review copy.
The characters were alright. I did like Mary and the “Floating Boy,” but this was so plot-driven that it didn’t show too much about the characters. Mary did a bit of developing through the story, but I didn’t really believe it – things changed too fast for her to suddenly be okay at the end.
Also, the characters felt way younger to me than fifteen. While reading I kept thinking they were in middle school, both due to their actions and the writing style. It seemed written towards a younger narrator and a younger audience as well.
The plot did save this book, though. Some parts just weren’t believable to me, but otherwise I really liked the main concept. I believe a younger reader would enjoy this much more than myself, as well.
caitcoy's review against another edition
3.0
Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly is a young adult story with dystopian and sci-fi elements and follows a teen girl named Mary who’s struggling with anxiety and general mental health and how her friends and family are dealing with things in their lives. At a kid’s birthday party, she witnesses a strange kid start floating into the air like a balloon and then everyone in town starts getting sick and other kids start floating but not Mary. When her little brother starts floating, it’s up to Mary to find the Floating Boy who started it all and figure out what’s happening before she loses her brother.
I'm a little mixed on this one. As far as Mary herself, she’s got some issues but ultimately I liked her snark, attitude and determination. I also really liked the relationship between Mary and her little brother, who she works hard to protect and I also liked the awkwardness between Mary and the strange boy, which felt more accurate to what I remember of being a teen.
What didn't work for me as well was more related to the plot. The pacing felt a little uneven and I really didn't like the ultimate explanation for the floating mystery and I wish it had been left more vague because I just couldn't suspend disbelief for that. I also didn't love that the themes around medication and religion felt a bit heavy handed but that could also just be a me thing since I really don't like heavy themes.
Overall, this was a middle of the road book for me. I liked elements, particularly related to the main character but the plot and worldbuilding elements just didn't work for me.
If you want more details, I have a dedicated review for this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gzHI9_adYIY
I'm a little mixed on this one. As far as Mary herself, she’s got some issues but ultimately I liked her snark, attitude and determination. I also really liked the relationship between Mary and her little brother, who she works hard to protect and I also liked the awkwardness between Mary and the strange boy, which felt more accurate to what I remember of being a teen.
What didn't work for me as well was more related to the plot. The pacing felt a little uneven and I really didn't like the ultimate explanation for the floating mystery and I wish it had been left more vague because I just couldn't suspend disbelief for that. I also didn't love that the themes around medication and religion felt a bit heavy handed but that could also just be a me thing since I really don't like heavy themes.
Overall, this was a middle of the road book for me. I liked elements, particularly related to the main character but the plot and worldbuilding elements just didn't work for me.
If you want more details, I have a dedicated review for this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gzHI9_adYIY
bluebeereads's review
Not for me, can't get into this. Maybe I'll return to it later.
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
2.0
Great cover and a really intriguing title. And, to be honest, even a really interesting synopsis. I don't think flying or floating is often a topic that an average author tries to tackle and bring to the YA reading audience. So I was really excited to read this one.
And even now that I'm done, I'm having a tough time really pinning down what I didn't love about it. I mean, the idea was still creative written down. But someone how I was just never pulled into the story. I think I struggled with the writing style - it wasn't flowerly.....it was just...it used words in odd ways. Mary - Mares to at least someone in the book - used typical teenage lingo but it was brought another level in this one, where slang was used as both adjectives and verbs. I think that made it harder for me to enjoy the story too much or really connect to the characters.
and, although everyone was shocked by what was going on, I thought the town as a whole had odd reactions to what happened. Most towns have at least one conspiracy nut or two that will keep something going. This one just seemed to lack that little spark of believable situations or characters. Mary just seemed to roll right along with all the craziness.
And even now that I'm done, I'm having a tough time really pinning down what I didn't love about it. I mean, the idea was still creative written down. But someone how I was just never pulled into the story. I think I struggled with the writing style - it wasn't flowerly.....it was just...it used words in odd ways. Mary - Mares to at least someone in the book - used typical teenage lingo but it was brought another level in this one, where slang was used as both adjectives and verbs. I think that made it harder for me to enjoy the story too much or really connect to the characters.
and, although everyone was shocked by what was going on, I thought the town as a whole had odd reactions to what happened. Most towns have at least one conspiracy nut or two that will keep something going. This one just seemed to lack that little spark of believable situations or characters. Mary just seemed to roll right along with all the craziness.
hereisenough's review against another edition
3.0
On a sunny day of a cousin's birthday, Mary witnesses something every person attempted to believe was fake- a boy who climbed a tree and floated away. But when Mary's brother- and cousins and best friend and every other kid in the area- begins to float, she begins to discover what exactly is happening and why.
That was weird. You know, I kind of thought that the title was metaphorical (which I now realize could always mean The Boy Who Was High and the Girl Who Could Never Get High Enough. which it wasn't. Thank goodness.) but NO. Literally, there is a boy who flies and a girl who cannot. Also a crazy man in a brown car, a kidnapped three year old, cult "Christians'' who scare the crap out of me, Cheetos, a footballl captain with a shotgun AND MUCH MORE. It was weird.
I didn't always know where this one was going- it was unpredictable. The characters were unique and somewhat fun... I enjoyed reading it but I can't really explain why I liked or disliked anything at all. See what an un-informative review this is?!
The voice was somewhat off. I didn't really connect with her. She had a distinct voice, but less feelings which was odd because she supposedly has anxiety and panic attacks.
Overall it was somewhat weird and disappointing, I can't really explain WHY. There were things I could [not] explain like...
she chucks a burning torch (that she just picked up from a burning mill) into a forest which does nothing bad.
A few other things I did not understand- she is running barefoot around a mill and is concerned about thorns but not about the broken glass mentioned in another scene. Also, she permanently loses her phone in a dark woods but has it later?
ALSO THE FREAKY "CHRISTIANS" THAT WERE THE CREEPIEST PART OF THE THEORETICALLY CREEPY BOOK. I honestly didn't get any creepy/scared/off feelings the entire time, even when people are screaming and being kidnapped. Only the so called Christians did, which a) really insulted me and b) were just a freaky butt cult.
YA readers who like quirky sci-fi would probably enjoy this. Maybe I mean.
Really nice cover, but I'm not digging the photo shopped dead cow ring.
That was weird. You know, I kind of thought that the title was metaphorical (which I now realize could always mean The Boy Who Was High and the Girl Who Could Never Get High Enough. which it wasn't. Thank goodness.) but NO. Literally, there is a boy who flies and a girl who cannot. Also a crazy man in a brown car, a kidnapped three year old, cult "Christians'' who scare the crap out of me, Cheetos, a footballl captain with a shotgun AND MUCH MORE. It was weird.
I didn't always know where this one was going- it was unpredictable. The characters were unique and somewhat fun... I enjoyed reading it but I can't really explain why I liked or disliked anything at all. See what an un-informative review this is?!
The voice was somewhat off. I didn't really connect with her. She had a distinct voice, but less feelings which was odd because she supposedly has anxiety and panic attacks.
Overall it was somewhat weird and disappointing, I can't really explain WHY. There were things I could [not] explain like...
she chucks a burning torch (that she just picked up from a burning mill) into a forest which does nothing bad.
A few other things I did not understand- she is running barefoot around a mill and is concerned about thorns but not about the broken glass mentioned in another scene. Also, she permanently loses her phone in a dark woods but has it later?
ALSO THE FREAKY "CHRISTIANS" THAT WERE THE CREEPIEST PART OF THE THEORETICALLY CREEPY BOOK. I honestly didn't get any creepy/scared/off feelings the entire time, even when people are screaming and being kidnapped. Only the so called Christians did, which a) really insulted me and b) were just a freaky butt cult.
YA readers who like quirky sci-fi would probably enjoy this. Maybe I mean.
Really nice cover, but I'm not digging the photo shopped dead cow ring.
marielaiko99's review
2.0
I got this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is seriously not what I expected. I wasn't displeased by that, but it out me off at first. The first thing I really noticed was Mary's character. I liked her as the protagonist, but I felt like her personality traits kind of contradicted each other. I was able to relate a little to her anxiety, but it wasn't mentioned enough to really have added anything to the story. Also, Mary likes to call people muggles, but she definitely does not seem nerdy. She uses an extremely abbreviated and annoying version of text speak, hates reading, and spends all of her time hanging out and disregarding her parents. Just. What.
The book started off pretty well. I got a feel for the tone of the story. It kind of fell short for me, though. It just monotonous. The whole book was people chasing each other, and it was kind of predictable.
I did like some of the descriptions of various small things the author gave, though. I could relate to the usage of proper nouns to describe little things. It's kind of hard to explain, and I'm too lazy to go find quotes, so I'll just leave it at that.
I love the cover and the title.
This book is seriously not what I expected. I wasn't displeased by that, but it out me off at first. The first thing I really noticed was Mary's character. I liked her as the protagonist, but I felt like her personality traits kind of contradicted each other. I was able to relate a little to her anxiety, but it wasn't mentioned enough to really have added anything to the story. Also, Mary likes to call people muggles, but she definitely does not seem nerdy. She uses an extremely abbreviated and annoying version of text speak, hates reading, and spends all of her time hanging out and disregarding her parents. Just. What.
The book started off pretty well. I got a feel for the tone of the story. It kind of fell short for me, though. It just monotonous. The whole book was people chasing each other, and it was kind of predictable.
I did like some of the descriptions of various small things the author gave, though. I could relate to the usage of proper nouns to describe little things. It's kind of hard to explain, and I'm too lazy to go find quotes, so I'll just leave it at that.
I love the cover and the title.
ellieroth's review against another edition
3.0
Publicado originalmente: El Extraño Gato del Cuento
Creo que ya quedó claro que mientras más raro y desconocido el libro es bastante probable que yo lo lea. A veces ver los mismos títulos una y otra y otra vez en los blogs tiende abrumarme un poco, no está mal verlos, es sólo que siento todo ya está dicho, no hay nada más que aportar, bueno o malo, y además es que hay tantos libros allí afuera ¿Por qué no darle una oportunidad?
Un libro peculiar
Si van a GoodReads verán que en la página de Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly que las reseñas no son del todo favorables o encontrar gente amando y obsesionada con el libro. Es de estos libros que a mí me gustan, de esos sencillos para pasar una tarde riéndote de las improbabilidades y de las inocentadas de una historia rara.
La historia es simple: de la nada, todos los niños y adolescentes en la ciudad empiezan a volar, y los adultos extrañamente empiezan enfermarse por lo que no hay alguien quién trate de arreglar esta anomalía. Hasta que llega el ejercito, y todo el mundo sabe que cuando el ejercito llega o es bien para investigar y encubrir o, más drásticamente, eliminar. ¿Qué pasa si eres la única que no puede volar? ¿Y encima tu hermano pequeñito sí puede y no tienes idea de como bajarlo del techo? O sea, no solo desarrollas un complejo por ser la única "normal" en todo el caos, sino que Mary no puede recurrir a nadie para cuidar de su hermano. Con la llegada del ejercito las cosas no se ven muy prometedoras.
Una protagonista peculiar.
Quizá esté exagerando en mi uso del peculiar, es solo que no se me ocurre otra manera de definir al libro o su historia o sus personajes. Me gustó mucho Mary, es una narradora divertidísima, aunque me hubiera gustado saber más de ella, al inicio del libro nos dan un dato sobre su personalidad que me interesó mucho, solo que luego de eso no se volvió a tocar hasta casi al final. La única manera en que puedo describirles el libro es: ¿han visto esas películas familiares, generalmente alemanas o británicas, medias tontorronas pero aún igual la vemos toda completa? Algo así es el libro, como para limpiar tu tarde de domingo de todo el drama y angustia de los libros actuales.
Científicos locos, el ejercito, poder volar, o en el caso de Mary, llevarse demasiado bien con la gravedad, muchas cosas interesantes en este libro... peculiar, Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly. Además con el nombre que es una mini sinopsis, era difícil que no lo escogiera para leer: "El chico que flota y la chica que no podía volar" xD Es lindo
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Creo que ya quedó claro que mientras más raro y desconocido el libro es bastante probable que yo lo lea. A veces ver los mismos títulos una y otra y otra vez en los blogs tiende abrumarme un poco, no está mal verlos, es sólo que siento todo ya está dicho, no hay nada más que aportar, bueno o malo, y además es que hay tantos libros allí afuera ¿Por qué no darle una oportunidad?
Un libro peculiar
Si van a GoodReads verán que en la página de Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly que las reseñas no son del todo favorables o encontrar gente amando y obsesionada con el libro. Es de estos libros que a mí me gustan, de esos sencillos para pasar una tarde riéndote de las improbabilidades y de las inocentadas de una historia rara.
La historia es simple: de la nada, todos los niños y adolescentes en la ciudad empiezan a volar, y los adultos extrañamente empiezan enfermarse por lo que no hay alguien quién trate de arreglar esta anomalía. Hasta que llega el ejercito, y todo el mundo sabe que cuando el ejercito llega o es bien para investigar y encubrir o, más drásticamente, eliminar. ¿Qué pasa si eres la única que no puede volar? ¿Y encima tu hermano pequeñito sí puede y no tienes idea de como bajarlo del techo? O sea, no solo desarrollas un complejo por ser la única "normal" en todo el caos, sino que Mary no puede recurrir a nadie para cuidar de su hermano. Con la llegada del ejercito las cosas no se ven muy prometedoras.
Una protagonista peculiar.
Quizá esté exagerando en mi uso del peculiar, es solo que no se me ocurre otra manera de definir al libro o su historia o sus personajes. Me gustó mucho Mary, es una narradora divertidísima, aunque me hubiera gustado saber más de ella, al inicio del libro nos dan un dato sobre su personalidad que me interesó mucho, solo que luego de eso no se volvió a tocar hasta casi al final. La única manera en que puedo describirles el libro es: ¿han visto esas películas familiares, generalmente alemanas o británicas, medias tontorronas pero aún igual la vemos toda completa? Algo así es el libro, como para limpiar tu tarde de domingo de todo el drama y angustia de los libros actuales.
Científicos locos, el ejercito, poder volar, o en el caso de Mary, llevarse demasiado bien con la gravedad, muchas cosas interesantes en este libro... peculiar, Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn't Fly. Además con el nombre que es una mini sinopsis, era difícil que no lo escogiera para leer: "El chico que flota y la chica que no podía volar" xD Es lindo
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thepaperreels's review
MINI REVIEW:
This book is so.. strange and not in a good way.
The truth is, this book has a lot of potential! I mean look at that cover! Look at that title! And that blurb! Everything looks exciting so it's not really the readers fault to have a high expectation!
Everything just fell flat. From the characters to the story pacing to the way the author ended the story. First of all, it's too short. So yeah, the explanation about the Floating Boy is unbelievable and so head scratching. Second, the characters are boring. Nothing interesting about them at all.I can't connect to them at all and the author didn't even introduced them to the readers properly. And lastly, everything is too fast. I was lost. I'm like, HOW? WHAT? WHYYYY? And I didn't even get some answers.
The oddness of this book is something to like though. I like the idea of flying. Who doesn't?
I feel a little sad writing this mini review since I really want to like this. Thanks Netgalley!
This book is so.. strange and not in a good way.
The truth is, this book has a lot of potential! I mean look at that cover! Look at that title! And that blurb! Everything looks exciting so it's not really the readers fault to have a high expectation!
Everything just fell flat. From the characters to the story pacing to the way the author ended the story. First of all, it's too short. So yeah, the explanation about the Floating Boy is unbelievable and so head scratching. Second, the characters are boring. Nothing interesting about them at all.I can't connect to them at all and the author didn't even introduced them to the readers properly. And lastly, everything is too fast. I was lost. I'm like, HOW? WHAT? WHYYYY? And I didn't even get some answers.
The oddness of this book is something to like though. I like the idea of flying. Who doesn't?
I feel a little sad writing this mini review since I really want to like this. Thanks Netgalley!
hayley_mariep's review
4.0
An absolutely addictive book. I finished it in a few hours and don't think I took a single break. The plot was well thought out and like nothing I've ever read before, and the characters, although very stereotyped, were people that any reader can relate to.
I recommend this book to people who love YA but are sick of the dystopian genre that seems to have taken over.
I recommend this book to people who love YA but are sick of the dystopian genre that seems to have taken over.