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keeganrb's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Homophobia
robinks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
It must have been a while since I’ve read middle grade, but the adults and Hector really frustrated me at times. That being said, Oshiro accurately depicted some real life situations for young folks. I also appreciated how colorful and detailed Oshiro’s descriptions were.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Islamophobia, Outing, and Xenophobia
Minor: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Bullying
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
Minor: Car accident, Classism, Violence, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Islamophobia
foreverinastory's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Harper Collins & Harper Kids for sending me a finished copy in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
This was a delightful middle grade! The Insiders is a middle grade contemporary about young Héctor Muñoz, who is moving to a new school when his mom gets a new job. Héctor wants to fit in and find where he belongs, but a school bully and doubtful authority figure make that task feel almost impossible. Then Héctor stumbles on a janitor's closet one day. No one can find him in there, and it becomes his own refuge. One early morning Héctor enters it, only to find someone else in the room! And they don't even go to his school. And with that a long distance friendship and a year of adventures starts.
Mark Oshiro is definitely one of my fave authors. I will read anything written by them, whatever the genre. This was a really heartwarming book that also dealt with some hard topics. The bullying Héctor goes through is not light and it triggers a lot of trauma for him. I liked how he processes what he goes through and does the best he can with his options.
The friendships that Héctor makes in this book were so sweet. Especially his friendship with Juliana and Sal, the other kids he meets through the Janitor's room. I really loved seeing these three bond and grow closer. They all are dealing with something at school and I loved how they could rely on each other.
I really loved Héctor's family too. He has such a sweet and supportive network and I'm so glad we get to see that in this novel. This book is great, I highly recommend it.
Rep: Mexican gay male MC with anxiety, biracial Black-Chinese sapphic female side character, biracial Filipinx-white nonbinary side character, BIPOC queer Hijabi female side character, Black gay male side character.
CWs: Bullying, homophobia/homomisia, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, racism. Moderate: xenophobia, islamophobia, outing, mental illness (anxiety). Minor: injury of side character.
This was a delightful middle grade! The Insiders is a middle grade contemporary about young Héctor Muñoz, who is moving to a new school when his mom gets a new job. Héctor wants to fit in and find where he belongs, but a school bully and doubtful authority figure make that task feel almost impossible. Then Héctor stumbles on a janitor's closet one day. No one can find him in there, and it becomes his own refuge. One early morning Héctor enters it, only to find someone else in the room! And they don't even go to his school. And with that a long distance friendship and a year of adventures starts.
Mark Oshiro is definitely one of my fave authors. I will read anything written by them, whatever the genre. This was a really heartwarming book that also dealt with some hard topics. The bullying Héctor goes through is not light and it triggers a lot of trauma for him. I liked how he processes what he goes through and does the best he can with his options.
The friendships that Héctor makes in this book were so sweet. Especially his friendship with Juliana and Sal, the other kids he meets through the Janitor's room. I really loved seeing these three bond and grow closer. They all are dealing with something at school and I loved how they could rely on each other.
I really loved Héctor's family too. He has such a sweet and supportive network and I'm so glad we get to see that in this novel. This book is great, I highly recommend it.
Rep: Mexican gay male MC with anxiety, biracial Black-Chinese sapphic female side character, biracial Filipinx-white nonbinary side character, BIPOC queer Hijabi female side character, Black gay male side character.
CWs: Bullying, homophobia/homomisia, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, racism. Moderate: xenophobia, islamophobia, outing, mental illness (anxiety). Minor: injury of side character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Islamophobia, Mental illness, Outing, and Xenophobia
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
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