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A review by clarereadstheworld
Paper Airplanes by Dawn O'Porter
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Set on the British Island of Guernsey, this novel follows the lives of Flo and Renée in the year leading up to their GCSE exams. Although the two girls could not be more different, when tragedy strikes, they find themselves unexpectedly becoming best friends.
In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of the Jacqueline Wilson books I loved as a child. Although aimed at a slightly older audience (there's a bit a sex and alcohol that you won't find in any Wilson books) Paper Airplanes takes on difficult family situations and big feelings that children, teenagers and even adults can often struggle to express and deal with.
Sally, who is Flo's toxic best friend, reminded me a lot of a friend I had when I was about that age. Toxic friendships are so common in teenage years, so I really enjoyed the portrayal of this destructive friendship, I hope it might help people to realise if they are also in a toxic friendship, and realise that they can have other friends.
I loved Renée's description of grief as being like a pan with it's lid on boiling over, and talking to friends or family about how you feel being like lifting off the pan lid so the water stops boiling over. It's such a powerful metaphor, and without the help of her grandparents or her sister to lift her lid, I really did feel so sad for Renée.
It was also nice to read about periods, and the pain, awkwardness and mess of learning to deal with your changing body. I wish I'd read more representations of this as a teenager.
I was also a little let down by some areas of the book. I thought Nell could have been dealt with a little better, and I was rather disappointed with Renée and Julien, I definitely thought Renée was going to be gay.
Overall it's a mainly well written book, which examines fragile teenage years with compassion and emotional depth. I felt somewhat nostalgic reading it, half wanting to go back to my teenage years where my biggest worry was my GCSEs, and who would be my first kiss, and half so so glad those messy awkward years are behind me!
In a lot of ways, this book reminded me of the Jacqueline Wilson books I loved as a child. Although aimed at a slightly older audience (there's a bit a sex and alcohol that you won't find in any Wilson books) Paper Airplanes takes on difficult family situations and big feelings that children, teenagers and even adults can often struggle to express and deal with.
Sally, who is Flo's toxic best friend, reminded me a lot of a friend I had when I was about that age. Toxic friendships are so common in teenage years, so I really enjoyed the portrayal of this destructive friendship, I hope it might help people to realise if they are also in a toxic friendship, and realise that they can have other friends.
I loved Renée's description of grief as being like a pan with it's lid on boiling over, and talking to friends or family about how you feel being like lifting off the pan lid so the water stops boiling over. It's such a powerful metaphor, and without the help of her grandparents or her sister to lift her lid, I really did feel so sad for Renée.
It was also nice to read about periods, and the pain, awkwardness and mess of learning to deal with your changing body. I wish I'd read more representations of this as a teenager.
I was also a little let down by some areas of the book. I thought Nell could have been dealt with a little better, and I was rather disappointed with Renée and Julien, I definitely thought Renée was going to be gay.
Overall it's a mainly well written book, which examines fragile teenage years with compassion and emotional depth. I felt somewhat nostalgic reading it, half wanting to go back to my teenage years where my biggest worry was my GCSEs, and who would be my first kiss, and half so so glad those messy awkward years are behind me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Vomit