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sharpiemyshoe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sapphic_in_the_stacks's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ree87's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
jnishi's review against another edition
4.0
This was a quick but entertaining adventure. Loved the setting and the characters. I would’ve loved some more world building and character development but for how short the length of the book was it was pretty good. I can see my students loving this one
lorenbehold's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
tamunra's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I received an advanced listening copy of this novel, and we listened to it on our long spring break drive.
My daughter is 9 and loves fantasy. She enjoyed this. She liked the touch of mystery that it had.
I also love fantasy. I still feel a little mixed about this one. I still don't quite get the radio messages, where they came from and why.
However, where this book does shine is in its depiction of disability, race, and identity. Jerry is flirting with being non-binary; she's still she, but hates being stereotyped by her pink wheelchair, and prefers gender-neutral or boyish haircuts and clothes. That's nice to see for a change. Her neurodegenerative disease puts her as a disadvantage, but she doesn't let it define her in this book. You see characters often overcome hurdles, but not like Jerry does. And magic isn't what helps her; she takes her wheelchair off-roading. And importantly, she has to accept help from friends for things that are beyond her abilities.
Quite honestly, I really liked the depiction of race in this novel. Chapel, a Black girl, becomes Jerry's friend. She does not pity Jerry, or ignore her disability, but accepts her as she is. Chapel discusses her own issues with friends who wanted to ignore her differences due to her race (like her Black hair), and so she doesn't ignore Jerry's differences. We could all use a reminder of how this acceptance should work, and not as "color blindness" or any other kind of blindness. Differences exist and are worth admitting. It was refreshing to see this addressed in a book aimed at my daughter's age range.
My summary: wasn't thrilled about the plot, but loved the characters and what they did. Definitely worth a read.
My daughter is 9 and loves fantasy. She enjoyed this. She liked the touch of mystery that it had.
I also love fantasy. I still feel a little mixed about this one. I still don't quite get the radio messages, where they came from and why.
However, where this book does shine is in its depiction of disability, race, and identity. Jerry is flirting with being non-binary; she's still she, but hates being stereotyped by her pink wheelchair, and prefers gender-neutral or boyish haircuts and clothes. That's nice to see for a change. Her neurodegenerative disease puts her as a disadvantage, but she doesn't let it define her in this book. You see characters often overcome hurdles, but not like Jerry does. And magic isn't what helps her; she takes her wheelchair off-roading. And importantly, she has to accept help from friends for things that are beyond her abilities.
Quite honestly, I really liked the depiction of race in this novel. Chapel, a Black girl, becomes Jerry's friend. She does not pity Jerry, or ignore her disability, but accepts her as she is. Chapel discusses her own issues with friends who wanted to ignore her differences due to her race (like her Black hair), and so she doesn't ignore Jerry's differences. We could all use a reminder of how this acceptance should work, and not as "color blindness" or any other kind of blindness. Differences exist and are worth admitting. It was refreshing to see this addressed in a book aimed at my daughter's age range.
My summary: wasn't thrilled about the plot, but loved the characters and what they did. Definitely worth a read.
briannethebookworm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
clenk's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0