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jesse_5's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death
Minor: Vomit and Sexual assault
alongreader's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing, heartbreaking book. Ro's pain and frustration are palpable, and while it makes her unlikeable in spots it never makes her less than understandable. I have no idea how she dealt with things for as long as she did. She's a hero in my eyes.
I'll be recommending this to everyone I can and putting Lisa Williamson on my must read list. Fantastic.
I'll be recommending this to everyone I can and putting Lisa Williamson on my must read list. Fantastic.
goblinamelia's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
powisamy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I had been interested to read one of Lisa Williamson's novels a long time before but when I was asked to join the Blog Avalanche I was super excited as this one seemed super interesting to me. I was completely in love with the story and fully related to the character's journeys especially Ro's.
I have to admit that I had no idea what the story was when I first started it but when I read that it was about hoarding and the daughter's reaction to this I was definitely interested in this as this was something that I had no idea about. Although I don't know about hoarding I think that it was dealt with correctly but it might be good to check other reviews to see if this is the case. In fairness, I had not really thought of the effects that hoarding can have on children so I think that I enjoyed reading this. Enjoying is probably the wrong word but I did find it interesting reading about something that I didn't know about before.
With the hoarding comes the relationship with Ro and her Mum, Bonnie. This was definitely the best part of the book for me. Seeing the complexities of the relationship throughout and seeing it grow and change was just so good. I think that it is the most emotional part of the story for me as Lisa Williamson conveys the emotions of Ro so much and this just pulled on my heartstrings. By the end, this is so developed and I just loved it.
In response to the plot, I definitely did not see the final twist coming but I would be lying if I didn't predict some hardships coming Ro's way but this is the case of all books that follow the three-act structure so I can't really criticise this that much.
Another of the strong points of the book was definitely Tanvi. I love her as a character and this definitely fleshed and pulled out traits from Ro which I really loved. I just loved all of her and she was just so good. I also liked the relationship with Noah but I would really love to see more of this throughout but this was just because of the character's story which I also enjoyed.
Basically I loved a lot about Paper Avalanche and I'm a bit sad that many of you won't read it until January but trust me it is worth the wait.
The Verdict:
Paper Avalanche is a moving and touching storying detailing a teenager's struggle through adolescence and her Mum's hoarding disorder. It is a must read when released and I could not put it down.
I had been interested to read one of Lisa Williamson's novels a long time before but when I was asked to join the Blog Avalanche I was super excited as this one seemed super interesting to me. I was completely in love with the story and fully related to the character's journeys especially Ro's.
I have to admit that I had no idea what the story was when I first started it but when I read that it was about hoarding and the daughter's reaction to this I was definitely interested in this as this was something that I had no idea about. Although I don't know about hoarding I think that it was dealt with correctly but it might be good to check other reviews to see if this is the case. In fairness, I had not really thought of the effects that hoarding can have on children so I think that I enjoyed reading this. Enjoying is probably the wrong word but I did find it interesting reading about something that I didn't know about before.
With the hoarding comes the relationship with Ro and her Mum, Bonnie. This was definitely the best part of the book for me. Seeing the complexities of the relationship throughout and seeing it grow and change was just so good. I think that it is the most emotional part of the story for me as Lisa Williamson conveys the emotions of Ro so much and this just pulled on my heartstrings. By the end, this is so developed and I just loved it.
In response to the plot, I definitely did not see the final twist coming but I would be lying if I didn't predict some hardships coming Ro's way but this is the case of all books that follow the three-act structure so I can't really criticise this that much.
Another of the strong points of the book was definitely Tanvi. I love her as a character and this definitely fleshed and pulled out traits from Ro which I really loved. I just loved all of her and she was just so good. I also liked the relationship with Noah but I would really love to see more of this throughout but this was just because of the character's story which I also enjoyed.
Basically I loved a lot about Paper Avalanche and I'm a bit sad that many of you won't read it until January but trust me it is worth the wait.
The Verdict:
Paper Avalanche is a moving and touching storying detailing a teenager's struggle through adolescence and her Mum's hoarding disorder. It is a must read when released and I could not put it down.
katiebookqueen's review against another edition
4.0
THE PLOT
I’m always looking for YA that tackles topics I don’t often see in fiction, so Paper Avalanche immediately called out to me. Ro Snow wants to be invisible to the world, resigning herself to the fact that she can’t have a normal life. She won’t allow anyone to get close to her for fear they’ll discover the truth about her mum and the home they live in. Bonnie is a compulsive hoarder, and Ro does everything she can to keep social services off their back. But then she meets Tanvi, and her whole world changes.
THE CHARACTERS
There’s nothing I love more than a story that focuses on the importance of friendship. The friends we make throughout our lives and the experiences we share with them all play a part in shaping who we are. Tanvi doesn’t force Ro to change anything about her life. She simply helps her to see what she should be doing, as a teenager making her way through high school. She’s been caring for her mum for so long that she’s become more like the parent than the child.
REASONS TO LOVE
⭐ Tanvi. Ro’s growing friendship with Tanvi is the most heart-warming part of this story. They’ve led completely different lives and have such contrasting personalities, yet they still manage to share a bond.
⭐ Eye-opening. Hoarding is a word that people throw around without understanding what it’s truly like to experience. What I loved about this story is that instead of focusing on the person who hoards, it shows us what it’s like to be a person who needs to live alongside it. Ro doesn’t have anywhere else she can call home, and she feels responsible for looking after her mum. There are so many young people who might not have the same home environment as Ro, but are in a situation where they feel trapped by their own home life. This story gives us a glimpse into that world.
⭐ Ro Snow. Everything about her growth throughout the book is inspiring to read.
⭐ Fast paced. Paper Avalanche manages to cover so much without feeling rushed. We get a good feel for what Ro’s life is like day-to-day whilst seeing how she deals with things long-term.
THE FINAL WORD
Stories like this are an important tool for shedding light on things we don’t often understand. Ro might be fictional, but young people like her deserve to know that there are people to support them and that their voices should always be heard.
Reviewed @ The Queen of Teen Fiction
I’m always looking for YA that tackles topics I don’t often see in fiction, so Paper Avalanche immediately called out to me. Ro Snow wants to be invisible to the world, resigning herself to the fact that she can’t have a normal life. She won’t allow anyone to get close to her for fear they’ll discover the truth about her mum and the home they live in. Bonnie is a compulsive hoarder, and Ro does everything she can to keep social services off their back. But then she meets Tanvi, and her whole world changes.
THE CHARACTERS
There’s nothing I love more than a story that focuses on the importance of friendship. The friends we make throughout our lives and the experiences we share with them all play a part in shaping who we are. Tanvi doesn’t force Ro to change anything about her life. She simply helps her to see what she should be doing, as a teenager making her way through high school. She’s been caring for her mum for so long that she’s become more like the parent than the child.
REASONS TO LOVE
⭐ Tanvi. Ro’s growing friendship with Tanvi is the most heart-warming part of this story. They’ve led completely different lives and have such contrasting personalities, yet they still manage to share a bond.
⭐ Eye-opening. Hoarding is a word that people throw around without understanding what it’s truly like to experience. What I loved about this story is that instead of focusing on the person who hoards, it shows us what it’s like to be a person who needs to live alongside it. Ro doesn’t have anywhere else she can call home, and she feels responsible for looking after her mum. There are so many young people who might not have the same home environment as Ro, but are in a situation where they feel trapped by their own home life. This story gives us a glimpse into that world.
⭐ Ro Snow. Everything about her growth throughout the book is inspiring to read.
⭐ Fast paced. Paper Avalanche manages to cover so much without feeling rushed. We get a good feel for what Ro’s life is like day-to-day whilst seeing how she deals with things long-term.
THE FINAL WORD
Stories like this are an important tool for shedding light on things we don’t often understand. Ro might be fictional, but young people like her deserve to know that there are people to support them and that their voices should always be heard.
Reviewed @ The Queen of Teen Fiction
ashleighmacro's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read all year.
Paper Avalanche is actually the first of Lisa Williamson’s books I’ve read, so I had no idea what to expect from it or whether it would be my cup of tea. I turned to the first page with an open mind and was met with one of the most heartwarming and enlightening YA contemporaries I’ve ever come across.
Our narrator is Ro Snow, a brave, strong and inspiring character that carries a huge weight on her shoulders at such a young age. She is so incredibly lonely, but she believes that’s the only way to be to stop her world from falling apart (I’m not going to give too much away about what’s going on in Ro’s life – you’ll just have to pick up a copy and find out for yourself). Her voice is smooth and flowing, meaning you’ll get sucked straight in and find yourself absorbed by her story within minutes.
Somehow, even with all of the traits that should make Ro an unlikeable character, Lisa has managed to instill an understanding as to why she acts the way she does into the reader, even though Ro herself doesn’t realise it. That’s a pretty impressive feat considering Ro is the narrator of the entire book.
It’s a chirpy and hopeful novel with so many moments that will make you smile, despite the serious and terribly sad story beneath it.
Tanvi is one of my favourite characters ever. She is the friend everyone deserves. The contrast between Ro and Tanvi makes them such a great pair to read about – I couldn’t get enough of them.
It snuck in there right at the end, but Paper Avalanche is, without doubt, one of my favourite books of the year. It’ll be available to buy from 3 January 2019 (I was lucky enough to get my hands on a preview copy) but you can pre-order it now from Amazon.
Paper Avalanche is actually the first of Lisa Williamson’s books I’ve read, so I had no idea what to expect from it or whether it would be my cup of tea. I turned to the first page with an open mind and was met with one of the most heartwarming and enlightening YA contemporaries I’ve ever come across.
Our narrator is Ro Snow, a brave, strong and inspiring character that carries a huge weight on her shoulders at such a young age. She is so incredibly lonely, but she believes that’s the only way to be to stop her world from falling apart (I’m not going to give too much away about what’s going on in Ro’s life – you’ll just have to pick up a copy and find out for yourself). Her voice is smooth and flowing, meaning you’ll get sucked straight in and find yourself absorbed by her story within minutes.
Somehow, even with all of the traits that should make Ro an unlikeable character, Lisa has managed to instill an understanding as to why she acts the way she does into the reader, even though Ro herself doesn’t realise it. That’s a pretty impressive feat considering Ro is the narrator of the entire book.
It’s a chirpy and hopeful novel with so many moments that will make you smile, despite the serious and terribly sad story beneath it.
Tanvi is one of my favourite characters ever. She is the friend everyone deserves. The contrast between Ro and Tanvi makes them such a great pair to read about – I couldn’t get enough of them.
It snuck in there right at the end, but Paper Avalanche is, without doubt, one of my favourite books of the year. It’ll be available to buy from 3 January 2019 (I was lucky enough to get my hands on a preview copy) but you can pre-order it now from Amazon.
btpbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved Ros character. Ro is the main character and her mum is an extreme hoarder, all Ro wants is a normal life, a normal clean house and a good relationship with her mother. She doesn’t even call her mum, she calls her Bonnie which just shows what their relationship is like. Ro is the adult and Bonnie is the child. It is an eye opening read to what I suspect a lot of children have to live like even now.
No friends coming round. Wanting noone to know where you live. Scared Social Services will turn up. But in the end a disaster happens which may have been just the wake up call Bonnie needed. However, Ro soon finds herself a few unexpected friends and the relationship Ro had with Tanvi is amazing I loved them both. Stuck together. True best friends. Throughout all this Ro find herself stuck into singing, school and choir which may just be the escape she needs. Brilliant story. A positive ending.
Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
No friends coming round. Wanting noone to know where you live. Scared Social Services will turn up. But in the end a disaster happens which may have been just the wake up call Bonnie needed. However, Ro soon finds herself a few unexpected friends and the relationship Ro had with Tanvi is amazing I loved them both. Stuck together. True best friends. Throughout all this Ro find herself stuck into singing, school and choir which may just be the escape she needs. Brilliant story. A positive ending.
Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
george1636's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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? N/A
4.0
Very solid book.
Definitely eye opening and discusses hoarding in a sensitive and caring manner.
Would definitely recommend 🖤
Definitely eye opening and discusses hoarding in a sensitive and caring manner.
Would definitely recommend 🖤
sixcubes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0