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susanjanette's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
gabyshedwick's review against another edition
5.0
I thought, for once in my life, I outsmarted a thriller. Nope, I was wrong, Brent Hartinger does it again - this man is just a freaking genius and this book was soooo clever and I’m still annoyed about that. Wow, just wow.
jugglingpup's review against another edition
4.0
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Brent Hartinger is one of my favorite authors, has been since I was in middle school. He is one of the authors that I actively check in on to make sure I am caught up on his books. Somehow this book passed me by. I grabbed a copy from the library the second I could and I am glad I did.
Did you ever wonder what your life would be like if you had different parents? While this question is a spoiler, it doesn’t spoil things completely. I try to keep endings a secret, this instead is a reference to the adoption plot of a secondary character. He brings up that his dad doesn’t like him being gay, but that he is also adopted so he knows his dad feels like his “real” kid wouldn’t be gay. It was a wonderful little interlude in the middle of the book. The character was mentioned by both the main boys, but in varying degrees. I was really surprised that this background character was so fleshed out. There was so much to him, but he didn’t really play a major role in the book. He was a background best friend that swam with Harlan and ate lunch with Manny once. That’s it. He just left such a big impression on me that I had to gush about him.
Another secondary character was Elsa. She was also a character that went between the two boys to varying degrees. She was Manny’s best friend, but just a girl to Harlan. There is implications that Harlan and Elsa might go on a date at the end of the book, but I don’t know where I see that going. He is the popular boy going through a hug emotional crisis, he probably isn’t ready to date anyone (read that as I love Elsa and I don’t want her hurt while Harlan figures out his stuff). Manny is clueless to how amazing she is and how much ambition she has. She is a bit of a pushover and that worries me. Again, another fleshed out secondary character. I would love a book about Elsa, but I doubt I will get one this far after this one was published.
The main plot follows two boys, Harlan and Manny, as they deal with anxiety. They have anxiety for different reasons and they manifest in different ways, but they are both experiencing anxiety for reasons they can’t figure out on their own. They turn to the secondary characters to help them. It was a wonderful look at anxiety in teenage boys, something not often discussed. The boys weren’t gay, which is huge. The only teenage male characters I have read that have depression or anxiety have been gay. This gives straight boys something to help them deal with their anxiety.
Brent Hartinger is one of my favorite authors, has been since I was in middle school. He is one of the authors that I actively check in on to make sure I am caught up on his books. Somehow this book passed me by. I grabbed a copy from the library the second I could and I am glad I did.
Did you ever wonder what your life would be like if you had different parents? While this question is a spoiler, it doesn’t spoil things completely. I try to keep endings a secret, this instead is a reference to the adoption plot of a secondary character. He brings up that his dad doesn’t like him being gay, but that he is also adopted so he knows his dad feels like his “real” kid wouldn’t be gay. It was a wonderful little interlude in the middle of the book. The character was mentioned by both the main boys, but in varying degrees. I was really surprised that this background character was so fleshed out. There was so much to him, but he didn’t really play a major role in the book. He was a background best friend that swam with Harlan and ate lunch with Manny once. That’s it. He just left such a big impression on me that I had to gush about him.
Another secondary character was Elsa. She was also a character that went between the two boys to varying degrees. She was Manny’s best friend, but just a girl to Harlan. There is implications that Harlan and Elsa might go on a date at the end of the book, but I don’t know where I see that going. He is the popular boy going through a hug emotional crisis, he probably isn’t ready to date anyone (read that as I love Elsa and I don’t want her hurt while Harlan figures out his stuff). Manny is clueless to how amazing she is and how much ambition she has. She is a bit of a pushover and that worries me. Again, another fleshed out secondary character. I would love a book about Elsa, but I doubt I will get one this far after this one was published.
The main plot follows two boys, Harlan and Manny, as they deal with anxiety. They have anxiety for different reasons and they manifest in different ways, but they are both experiencing anxiety for reasons they can’t figure out on their own. They turn to the secondary characters to help them. It was a wonderful look at anxiety in teenage boys, something not often discussed. The boys weren’t gay, which is huge. The only teenage male characters I have read that have depression or anxiety have been gay. This gives straight boys something to help them deal with their anxiety.
kandicez's review against another edition
2.0
The author’s foreword says this is a rewrite to clean it up and clear some inconsistencies in anticipation of using this as the source for a screenplay. Boy am I glad I didn’t read the original version because this was a mess. I don’t see how this could ever work as a screenplay. Maybe a Disney Teen movie, with a ton of work, but a real movie? Never.
I think he was trying to be clever and mystical, but the story just came across as silly. Two boys, having similar visions of sorts with parents who are mysterious, to say the least. That sentence right there sounds more interesting than the book ever got.
I think he was trying to be clever and mystical, but the story just came across as silly. Two boys, having similar visions of sorts with parents who are mysterious, to say the least. That sentence right there sounds more interesting than the book ever got.
teklalind's review against another edition
5.0
This book was going great and I had thought I knew how it ended and what was happening but then I read the last few pages and my mind was blown...I love this book and highly recommend it.
gingerpuff11's review against another edition
2.0
A solid cliche. Even the title is a little on the nose. There's a "big reveal" but it doesn't MEAN anything or advance anything in the plot.
funbun519's review against another edition
5.0
This book was such a quick read. It was so interesting and provokes so many thoughts. Totally unexpected ending, in the best way.
lovesbooksandtea's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 3.5 stars.
Look, I did enjoy this book, the writing was very pleasant, it was well paced...I just think the red herons were pointing to a more exciting ending than the actual ending we got. Which left me a bit disappointed. I'd read something else by this author though so that's a plus.
Look, I did enjoy this book, the writing was very pleasant, it was well paced...I just think the red herons were pointing to a more exciting ending than the actual ending we got. Which left me a bit disappointed. I'd read something else by this author though so that's a plus.