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bjkatcher's review against another edition
4.0
Very engaging read, and surprisingly non-political. Though I did wince when I read the part where Obama was elected and the characters had such hope. They have no idea how low we'll sink, eight years later.
jessicavk91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tishreads's review against another edition
5.0
This story combines first love, academic challenges, war and PTSD, unemployment and family struggles, and friendship into a compelling, emotional, and heartwarming novel. Their is so much growth in all three of the Avila siblings as they go on a road trip that will change all of their lives as well as the reader's.
mandyist's review against another edition
3.0
This book has been on my TBR-list for the longest time, and it is only that which made me plough through it to the end.
I thought I'd love a story about a road trip but I hated the way the road trip was executed by T's sister. That and her lies and complete lack of respect for T's future enraged me. (I say this as someone who lives in a family bound together by trauma. PTS, and living with those with PTS, means a greater need for honesty, respect and boundaries, not less).
I also disliked how selfish Wendy was and how she somehow managed to make another family's crisis about her.
And then the end. The characters act in an incredibly problematic and manipulative manner throughout the novel and the author shows character development by having the protagonist act in the same way, and somehow that's explained as love?
The story is sweet, hence three stars, but I haven't disliked characters this much in a while. I've mentioned before that I'm on a journey of accepting flawed characters and actions but we have to hold YA novels to a greater standard.
Essentially, the message here to the YA audience is that it's okay to lie, manipulate, and hijack family members (literally and figuratively) to achieve your own agenda and that (to misquote Whitney) is not right nor is it okay.
I thought I'd love a story about a road trip but I hated the way the road trip was executed by T's sister. That and her lies and complete lack of respect for T's future enraged me. (I say this as someone who lives in a family bound together by trauma. PTS, and living with those with PTS, means a greater need for honesty, respect and boundaries, not less).
I also disliked how selfish Wendy was and how she somehow managed to make another family's crisis about her.
And then the end. The characters act in an incredibly problematic and manipulative manner throughout the novel and the author shows character development by having the protagonist act in the same way, and somehow that's explained as love?
The story is sweet, hence three stars, but I haven't disliked characters this much in a while. I've mentioned before that I'm on a journey of accepting flawed characters and actions but we have to hold YA novels to a greater standard.
Essentially, the message here to the YA audience is that it's okay to lie, manipulate, and hijack family members (literally and figuratively) to achieve your own agenda and that (to misquote Whitney) is not right nor is it okay.
misterintensity's review against another edition
5.0
Teodora and Xochitl Avila are excited that their brother Manny is finally coming home from Afghanistan. However when they learn Manny has PTSD, Xochitl decides to take her brothers on a road trip in order to help Manny deal with it. This book is one big emotional journey for the Avila siblings. Teodora is conflicted between helping his brother and improving himself in order to get the grades needed to get into college. Flores-Scott captures the love as well as the conflicts between the siblings. Loyalty among family comes off very strong. There is even a little romance between Teodora and a girl named Wendy Martinez that is very cute. Readers see the seriousness of PTSD through Manny's struggles and the toil it takes on Teodora and Xochitl. Must read for readers of realistic fiction.
biblioemily's review against another edition
4.0
Things I loved: Mexican-American representation, green chile cheeseburgers!!, supportive family, T's determination to change his life. The realities of PTSD and how this can affect family members, too.
Things I didn't love: The dialogue is pretty unnatural. Wendy & T's conversation doesn't sound the way teens talk. (it reminded me of The Inexplicable Logic of My Life in this regard) I also hated that Xoch and T felt responsible for "fixing" Manny, and that T's parents are portrayed as kind of helpless and not responsible enough. It's also upsetting that Xochitl doesn't tell her parents about the suicide note.
SLJ recommends this for 7th & up. I'm more inclined to recommend it to 8th & up because of the attempted suicide and scenes where Manny is dealing with flashbacks. This book is gorgeous and also tragic.
Things I didn't love: The dialogue is pretty unnatural. Wendy & T's conversation doesn't sound the way teens talk. (it reminded me of The Inexplicable Logic of My Life in this regard) I also hated that Xoch and T felt responsible for "fixing" Manny, and that T's parents are portrayed as kind of helpless and not responsible enough. It's also upsetting that Xochitl doesn't tell her parents about the suicide note.
SLJ recommends this for 7th & up. I'm more inclined to recommend it to 8th & up because of the attempted suicide and scenes where Manny is dealing with flashbacks. This book is gorgeous and also tragic.
mediocrem's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
msethna's review against another edition
4.0
In this heartbreaking novel, Flores-Scott tells the story of how a young man and his sister drop everything in their fight to help their brother who is battling PTSD after returning from Afganistan. This is the story of true sacrifice. While there were some slow parts, this book opened my eyes to how families are affected by PTSD. It is not rainbows and sunshine for many of our military when they try to return home after their stints in the military.
meks17's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
blondelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
T is starting to reach for a dream when his older brother, Manny, returns from duty with crippling PTSD. Sister X drags them all on a road trip from Seattle to New Mexico in the hopes of saving them all.
Couldn’t put it down. Cried my eyes out.
It is online as a graphic novel. Beautiful.
Couldn’t put it down. Cried my eyes out.
It is online as a graphic novel. Beautiful.