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justinekorson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
This book was a rollercoaster. I was torn between hating all of the character to loving them and the journey's they were going on. (I don't think I ever really hated Grace/Tommy though). There was a lot in here to be upset about, from all the dumb mistakes I felt Antonio was making, to how people have treated him in the past, etc. The ending with the boat ride and the crab cage was the most unrealistic part of the whole thing in my opinion. It was also one of the most interesting parts too though. I thought I would see more of Maya in the story, especially since the synopsis talked about how she was one of the people Antonio wanted to apologize to the most. She wasn't in the story much at all though and when she was, I didn't like her. Especially after learning how she supplied a lot of the alcohol that Antonio was drinking. Proud of her for setting her boundaries though and trying to enforce them to the best of her ability despite what Antonio was doing. An unexpected character I ended up liking by the end of the story was Gary Jr. He really was trying to be a good friend and apologize to Antonio and I really think he made up for it in the end though the boys still have a long way to go. The story kind of leaves off on a cliff hanger though and I'm not sure if that's because this advanced copy is meant to end like that or if the final copy has a longer final chapter. Either way it was a very inspiring coming of age story about grief and acceptance and forgiveness that I enjoyed.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
This book was a rollercoaster. I was torn between hating all of the character to loving them and the journey's they were going on. (I don't think I ever really hated Grace/Tommy though). There was a lot in here to be upset about, from all the dumb mistakes I felt Antonio was making, to how people have treated him in the past, etc. The ending with the boat ride and the crab cage was the most unrealistic part of the whole thing in my opinion. It was also one of the most interesting parts too though. I thought I would see more of Maya in the story, especially since the synopsis talked about how she was one of the people Antonio wanted to apologize to the most. She wasn't in the story much at all though and when she was, I didn't like her. Especially after learning how she supplied a lot of the alcohol that Antonio was drinking. Proud of her for setting her boundaries though and trying to enforce them to the best of her ability despite what Antonio was doing. An unexpected character I ended up liking by the end of the story was Gary Jr. He really was trying to be a good friend and apologize to Antonio and I really think he made up for it in the end though the boys still have a long way to go. The story kind of leaves off on a cliff hanger though and I'm not sure if that's because this advanced copy is meant to end like that or if the final copy has a longer final chapter. Either way it was a very inspiring coming of age story about grief and acceptance and forgiveness that I enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Cancer, and Toxic friendship
zoepagereader's review
The author has a thing for exclamation points and all caps that just doesn’t fly in a serious novel about the incarceration system and teen addiction. The poetry was bad. The rhyming and rhythm was so off and the author needed to be told that you can’t rhyme high with high. I didn’t want to read 300 more pages of this.
pwbalto's review
5.0
Antonio is just getting out of juvenile jail (not juvie, he has been convicted of a felony) after 2 years and he is determined to follow the fairly simple terms of his parole. However, he breaks about 7 of them in 48 hours. How does that happen?
Well, as Antonio learns, getting out doesn't solve your problems. There are pressures waiting for him - the internal pressure he feels to make amends, as well as pressures from friends and family members. What I love about this book is that despite bad circumstances, bad decisions, it doesn't FEEL bad. It doesn't feel like wallowing or despair, although there are plenty of tears. There is love, and care, and there are second chances.
There's also action! Wildlife! Poetry! Just so skillful all around.
And not for nothing - I used to do a monthly book group with a bunch of boys at a juvenile detention center, and those boys tended to be very picky. No Going Back ticks every damn box on my mental 'books for boys in lockup' list: realistically stupid crime, bad parent/impossible circumstances, drug slinging, violence, sensory detail, a girl, self-expression, poetry, supportive mentor, forgiveness, redemption.
Merged review:
Antonio is just getting out of juvenile jail (not juvie, he has been convicted of a felony) after 2 years and he is determined to follow the fairly simple terms of his parole. However, he breaks about 7 of them in 48 hours. How does that happen?
Well, as Antonio learns, getting out doesn't solve your problems. There are pressures waiting for him - the internal pressure he feels to make amends, as well as pressures from friends and family members. What I love about this book is that despite bad circumstances, bad decisions, it doesn't FEEL bad. It doesn't feel like wallowing or despair, although there are plenty of tears. There is love, and care, and there are second chances.
There's also action! Wildlife! Poetry! Just so skillful all around.
And not for nothing - I used to do a monthly book group with a bunch of boys at a juvenile detention center, and those boys tended to be very picky. No Going Back ticks every damn box on my mental 'books for boys in lockup' list: realistically stupid crime, bad parent/impossible circumstances, drug slinging, violence, sensory detail, a girl, self-expression, poetry, supportive mentor, forgiveness, redemption.
Well, as Antonio learns, getting out doesn't solve your problems. There are pressures waiting for him - the internal pressure he feels to make amends, as well as pressures from friends and family members. What I love about this book is that despite bad circumstances, bad decisions, it doesn't FEEL bad. It doesn't feel like wallowing or despair, although there are plenty of tears. There is love, and care, and there are second chances.
There's also action! Wildlife! Poetry! Just so skillful all around.
And not for nothing - I used to do a monthly book group with a bunch of boys at a juvenile detention center, and those boys tended to be very picky. No Going Back ticks every damn box on my mental 'books for boys in lockup' list: realistically stupid crime, bad parent/impossible circumstances, drug slinging, violence, sensory detail, a girl, self-expression, poetry, supportive mentor, forgiveness, redemption.
Merged review:
Antonio is just getting out of juvenile jail (not juvie, he has been convicted of a felony) after 2 years and he is determined to follow the fairly simple terms of his parole. However, he breaks about 7 of them in 48 hours. How does that happen?
Well, as Antonio learns, getting out doesn't solve your problems. There are pressures waiting for him - the internal pressure he feels to make amends, as well as pressures from friends and family members. What I love about this book is that despite bad circumstances, bad decisions, it doesn't FEEL bad. It doesn't feel like wallowing or despair, although there are plenty of tears. There is love, and care, and there are second chances.
There's also action! Wildlife! Poetry! Just so skillful all around.
And not for nothing - I used to do a monthly book group with a bunch of boys at a juvenile detention center, and those boys tended to be very picky. No Going Back ticks every damn box on my mental 'books for boys in lockup' list: realistically stupid crime, bad parent/impossible circumstances, drug slinging, violence, sensory detail, a girl, self-expression, poetry, supportive mentor, forgiveness, redemption.
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