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tina94's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
bluz19's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I love going back and reading the books of movies I loved as a kid. I think the nostalgia alone would carry me through this book and that the movie was actually a great depiction of this book. The book was easy to follow along with, it kept me interested and entranced from start to finish. Technically this is a kid book but the stories that are told in this book could be for any reader. It is written pretty elementary in its writing style but nevertheless the story is good. Although the main focus was on the character of Stanley, his ancestors, and the history of the lake, the story felt well thought out. I do wish that it was longer and delved deeper into each character and their backstories because that was one of the best parts.
I think if you want to read a book and feel compelled, this may not be the book you’re looking for. HOWEVER if you’re looking for something a bit more light hearted that still has a curse, some interesting characters, and a thought of how our past can influence our future, then this may be a perfect book for you! You won’t get deep with the characters, you won’t discover this big mystery, you probably won’t even get emotionally attached to them, BUT there will be moments of joy and laughter, banter and anger. This book is a nice little ride and I think a good cleanser book for any reader.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
skyeshark1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
mayjulyn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Bullying
Minor: Racism
caitlaird's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Fun and entertaining. The use of the backstories to round out the plot and make sense of certain things in the present was very interesting and well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, and Hate crime
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Fatphobia, Racism, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual harassment
tays_books's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Hate crime
Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, Animal death, and Vomit
clodaenn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
feline17ff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So I read Holes and the Tumblr post was right!
From a technical perspective it's so cool and perfect! Every single thing comes back somehow or other, slevery little detail which you think is just for description or a joke.
YES, ESPECIALLY THE JOKES!
The reader keeps getting rewarded for each line of text they read previously and remember.
It's an amazing and beautiful book that makes you cry. It's about love, both romantic and platonic.
It's really smart, if you didn't get it already.
It's like a Chosen One book but not but yes.
The Chosen Ones come together to work together and break the curse on a land they don't even know that was cursed because of bad people a hundred years ago.
It's about destiny and love and doing the right thing and helping others and about children being harshly punished for things that they dd or didn't do, that were in or out fo their control, that they happened to just be in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the wrong situation
It's about stupid America's stupid racism and stupid war on homeless people and poor people and stupid broken systems and stupid government punishment and and stupid lack of accountability and stupid misogyny too.
It's a happy ending and not just a bittersweet ending, a happy ending which seems less and less possible as the story goes but it is a happy ending and I am grateful.
Another thing.
From a writing perspective.
It uses short sentences and is fast-paced and a short book, which might be the definition of a middle grade book.
As an amateur writer, it's cool to see this in action. Each line packs a punch and the shortness makes sure it hits.
From a technical perspective it's so cool and perfect! Every single thing comes back somehow or other, slevery little detail which you think is just for description or a joke.
YES, ESPECIALLY THE JOKES!
The reader keeps getting rewarded for each line of text they read previously and remember.
It's an amazing and beautiful book that makes you cry. It's about love, both romantic and platonic.
It's really smart, if you didn't get it already.
It's like a Chosen One book but not but yes.
The Chosen Ones come together to work together and break the curse on a land they don't even know that was cursed because of bad people a hundred years ago.
It's about destiny and love and doing the right thing and helping others and about children being harshly punished for things that they dd or didn't do, that were in or out fo their control, that they happened to just be in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the wrong situation
It's about stupid America's stupid racism and stupid war on homeless people and poor people and stupid broken systems and stupid government punishment and and stupid lack of accountability and stupid misogyny too.
It's a happy ending and not just a bittersweet ending, a happy ending which seems less and less possible as the story goes but it is a happy ending and I am grateful.
Another thing.
From a writing perspective.
It uses short sentences and is fast-paced and a short book, which might be the definition of a middle grade book.
As an amateur writer, it's cool to see this in action. Each line packs a punch and the shortness makes sure it hits.
Content Warnings
Minor: Religious bigotry, Racism, Bullying, Abandonment, Gun violence, Child abuse, Misogyny, Blood, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Slavery, Sexism, Hate crime, and Physical abuse
queenfury's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Bullying, and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Confinement
esoreilla's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse