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yapha's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you are a James Bond fan, you are definitely going to need to read this! Sam & Nico are teenage boys growing up on opposite sides of the country and opposite ends of the wealth and privilege spectrum. Sam lives in Manhattan with his very wealthy parents. He is obsessed with James Bond and tries to emulate him in every way. He is upset about his romantic relationships and the relationship between his parents. He tries to Parent Trap them into fixing their relationship (twice), but it doesn't work out as expected. Nico has been moved from foster home to foster home, finally ending up a prisoner in an "institute" designed to "rehabilitate" gay youth. Nico manages to escape with the help of another prisoner, vowing to return for her. Nico and Sam meet up about halfway through the book. This is told in alternating perspectives. While Nico's is high action from the start, Sam's story is a little slower. It is definitely worth reading through the slow bits to get to the action-adventure. Highly recommended for grades 9 & up.
drakoulis's review
4.0
Sweet romance and a fun adventure!
A Different Kind of Brave is a thoroughly enjoyable teen adventure which brings two boys from different worlds together in the most unlikely circumstances!
As is the case with Sam's movie hero, James Bond, you have to suspend your disbelief for several parts of the plot, which are too convenient or downright unrealistic (Is Ari working for CIA at high school to be able to do all that?).
Nico's POV is the superior narrative of the book: Nico had a rough life but he has an iron determination, is quick on his feet and makes the most unlikely allies with his charm and his wit. From daring escapes to breathtaking stunts, Nico is the Bond of the story as an enamored Sam proclaims.
Sam is obsessed with the famous spy and wants to have his own happy ending in his personal life, which feels like it's going down the drain. His mindset is very cute and his meeting with Nico and all the time they spend together will make you smile. His chapters are slower at the start and feel a bit dragged on, but the outcome is totally worth it.
If Nico and Sam live their own movie, Lee Wind is a writer from who I would like to read future "scripts". Nico and Sam, like Bond, could have more than one adventure. Right?
Edit: The book is out now!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
A Different Kind of Brave is a thoroughly enjoyable teen adventure which brings two boys from different worlds together in the most unlikely circumstances!
As is the case with Sam's movie hero, James Bond, you have to suspend your disbelief for several parts of the plot, which are too convenient or downright unrealistic (Is Ari working for CIA at high school to be able to do all that?).
Nico's POV is the superior narrative of the book: Nico had a rough life but he has an iron determination, is quick on his feet and makes the most unlikely allies with his charm and his wit. From daring escapes to breathtaking stunts, Nico is the Bond of the story as an enamored Sam proclaims.
Sam is obsessed with the famous spy and wants to have his own happy ending in his personal life, which feels like it's going down the drain. His mindset is very cute and his meeting with Nico and all the time they spend together will make you smile. His chapters are slower at the start and feel a bit dragged on, but the outcome is totally worth it.
If Nico and Sam live their own movie, Lee Wind is a writer from who I would like to read future "scripts". Nico and Sam, like Bond, could have more than one adventure. Right?
Edit: The book is out now!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
dbguide2's review
It was one of those reads where I just couldn’t get into it. Those books where you start and you know that you’re either going to stop reading it or have a really bad time finishing it. I also didn’t like either point of view so I chose to stop reading early on.
linuswickworth's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A Different Kind of Brave is a split-POV, fast paced novel about two boys with very different lives. Nico is locked up in a conversion-therapy institute, a shock collar around his neck. But now he's escaping and is determined to come back to save his best friend, Bec. Sam, however, is a rich Bond-obsessed teen who is dealing with his parents failing marriage and a break up from the boy he loved.
I really enjoyed reading through Nico's chapters, they were emotional and had a good amount of tension and depth. As he digs himself deeper and deeper into a hole, I found myself wondering how he was going to find his way back to rescue his friend and the other kids in the institute. Sam's chapters, especially in the beginning, lacked the pull that Nico's had although I enjoyed his voice and personality.
I had some issues with the pacing, since some of it felt choppy and too convenient. If the characters needed to be somewhere, everyone dropped what they were doing to fly/drive to help without question. Especially when it came to Sam, who seemingly just had a lot of things on hand when they needed them, and he had virtually no parental supervision the entire novel.
There were hints of additional plots at various times that seemingly dropped once the scene was over, and the ending felt rushed and out of place. I enjoyed this book for the first ~65% percent and then started to become frustrated at how quick things were moving.
I really enjoyed reading through Nico's chapters, they were emotional and had a good amount of tension and depth. As he digs himself deeper and deeper into a hole, I found myself wondering how he was going to find his way back to rescue his friend and the other kids in the institute. Sam's chapters, especially in the beginning, lacked the pull that Nico's had although I enjoyed his voice and personality.
I had some issues with the pacing, since some of it felt choppy and too convenient. If the characters needed to be somewhere, everyone dropped what they were doing to fly/drive to help without question. Especially when it came to Sam, who seemingly just had a lot of things on hand when they needed them, and he had virtually no parental supervision the entire novel.
There were hints of additional plots at various times that seemingly dropped once the scene was over, and the ending felt rushed and out of place. I enjoyed this book for the first ~65% percent and then started to become frustrated at how quick things were moving.
srknudson's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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