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mel_anie13's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.5
markkunen's review
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
diddy_shovel's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Really enjoyed this! The premise is super interesting, and the book does a really good job at adding nuance and intrigue to such a doom-and-gloom subject. I loved the rich visual imagery as well as the characters - it was such a set of unique personalities, and it was a joy to see them grow closer.
The book was quite fast, and had a very "find a problem, solve it immediately" vibe to it, which I guess is in keeping with YA novels. I thought the use of social media extracts as chapter breaks was really cool and built up such a wider picture of the events of the novel. Some of the fictional elements ran a bit thin at times (e.g. Edgar Warren is so obviously a Musk clone), but again not a big issues. Overall, for such a quick read there was a lot packed it, and it made climate change and environmental issues super digestible for a younger audience, which rocks.
The book was quite fast, and had a very "find a problem, solve it immediately" vibe to it, which I guess is in keeping with YA novels. I thought the use of social media extracts as chapter breaks was really cool and built up such a wider picture of the events of the novel. Some of the fictional elements ran a bit thin at times (e.g. Edgar Warren is so obviously a Musk clone), but again not a big issues. Overall, for such a quick read there was a lot packed it, and it made climate change and environmental issues super digestible for a younger audience, which rocks.
katykelly's review
5.0
'If only' environmental wake-up call/satire that educates while being decidedly entertaining.
The format of this hits home, full of social media posts, blogs, online article headlines, it's a perfect display of how news and culture travel fast around the world, at how communication speeds from person to person, how trends spread, and at how the internet is used.
Greenfingers - the name for the sudden outpouring of plants from the bodies of teenagers around the world. It starts with one, and before long adolescents around the world are finding they have green shoots of all sorts at their disposal. What seems quirky at first is seen by some as potentially malicious, dangerous, though by others it seems a perfect skill to exploit. Some of the teenagers see the potential for this to do the world a lot of good.
A world choking on the heating climate. It's our world, but one where there suddenly seems to be an opportunity, without much effort, to make huge amounts of difference and put things right. But can we?
Fisherman's son and CEO's daughter find themselves in battle as one sees his chance to better not only his family's chances but also the world. His rival sees only what she's been presented with in graphs and carefully curated, memorised speeches. Her oil company hasn't done this to the world... has it?
The obvious clash will start here, as giant oil company Dalex starts to train Greenfingers to help their PR standing and possibly their sales. The group of teens train their powers, and teach the reader a fair amount about climate change at the same time. There's even an Elon Musk-type character and Dalex could be Buy 'N' Large from Wall-E, but more sinister.
Watching the teens flex their stems makes for excellent reading, the idea is intoxicating (in a non-Deadly Nightshade way). The insertion of regular social media updates show the world's insights into the Greenfingers phenomenon and how we all see trends and memes and respond to them. It's really well done.
And on top of that, it's quite an exciting drama, with romance and envinronmental issues mixed in. Gabrielle is a Greta-Jesus combo as progenitor and inspirational head of the Greenfingers movement, Theo is the most likeable of the leads, as the everyboy voice of reason. Hester grew on me, she's rather insufferable to start with, unrealistically so, but I enjoyed her transformation, as well as seeing young people connect with nature and release their powers.
It really was an 'if only' by the end... sigh. Would be lovely if this could get people talking. And thinking.
For ages 12 and above. With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
The format of this hits home, full of social media posts, blogs, online article headlines, it's a perfect display of how news and culture travel fast around the world, at how communication speeds from person to person, how trends spread, and at how the internet is used.
Greenfingers - the name for the sudden outpouring of plants from the bodies of teenagers around the world. It starts with one, and before long adolescents around the world are finding they have green shoots of all sorts at their disposal. What seems quirky at first is seen by some as potentially malicious, dangerous, though by others it seems a perfect skill to exploit. Some of the teenagers see the potential for this to do the world a lot of good.
A world choking on the heating climate. It's our world, but one where there suddenly seems to be an opportunity, without much effort, to make huge amounts of difference and put things right. But can we?
Fisherman's son and CEO's daughter find themselves in battle as one sees his chance to better not only his family's chances but also the world. His rival sees only what she's been presented with in graphs and carefully curated, memorised speeches. Her oil company hasn't done this to the world... has it?
The obvious clash will start here, as giant oil company Dalex starts to train Greenfingers to help their PR standing and possibly their sales. The group of teens train their powers, and teach the reader a fair amount about climate change at the same time. There's even an Elon Musk-type character and Dalex could be Buy 'N' Large from Wall-E, but more sinister.
Watching the teens flex their stems makes for excellent reading, the idea is intoxicating (in a non-Deadly Nightshade way). The insertion of regular social media updates show the world's insights into the Greenfingers phenomenon and how we all see trends and memes and respond to them. It's really well done.
And on top of that, it's quite an exciting drama, with romance and envinronmental issues mixed in. Gabrielle is a Greta-Jesus combo as progenitor and inspirational head of the Greenfingers movement, Theo is the most likeable of the leads, as the everyboy voice of reason. Hester grew on me, she's rather insufferable to start with, unrealistically so, but I enjoyed her transformation, as well as seeing young people connect with nature and release their powers.
It really was an 'if only' by the end... sigh. Would be lovely if this could get people talking. And thinking.
For ages 12 and above. With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
queltynoedd's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
animelanie's review
4.0
Read for PRC
Really interesting dystopian focusing on the current climate change issues - enjoyed reading it.
Review for ReadPlus
Written by author Lauren James, founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League, this novel is part of the effort to raise climate change activism awareness. This science fiction dystopian is told from the perspectives of Theo and Hester, with articles, tweets, blogs and other media snippets intermingled throughout. Readers will recognise the influence of Greta Thunberg in this extremely relevant novel regarding climate change and activism. The story is well paced, moving between the two main characters seamlessly. Ideal for readers of other dystopian stories where teenagers are impacted by some environmental or viral factor, and develop powers, such as 'The Darkest Minds' series by Alexandra Bracken.
Themes: Dystopian; Science Fiction; Climate Change; Global Warming; LGBTQIA+; Activism.
Really interesting dystopian focusing on the current climate change issues - enjoyed reading it.
Review for ReadPlus
Written by author Lauren James, founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League, this novel is part of the effort to raise climate change activism awareness. This science fiction dystopian is told from the perspectives of Theo and Hester, with articles, tweets, blogs and other media snippets intermingled throughout. Readers will recognise the influence of Greta Thunberg in this extremely relevant novel regarding climate change and activism. The story is well paced, moving between the two main characters seamlessly. Ideal for readers of other dystopian stories where teenagers are impacted by some environmental or viral factor, and develop powers, such as 'The Darkest Minds' series by Alexandra Bracken.
Themes: Dystopian; Science Fiction; Climate Change; Global Warming; LGBTQIA+; Activism.
ellathescarletwitch's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
rosy57's review
2.0
Interesting concept but not very interesting language, I found that we were spending time with the duller characters to be honest.