Take a photo of a barcode or cover
elisebian's review against another edition
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
3.0
coco_lolo's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
While the story of Ziggy, Stardust and Me was solid, I had a difficult time connecting with the characters in large part due to the writing. This is a YA book, but the prose style felt very young and relied too heavily on ellipses, em dashes, and sound effects that didn't really work for me. I liked that we got a novel looking at things like the moon landing, the Watergate scandal, conversion therapy, and bringing awareness to the struggles of indigenous Americans, but the characters fell pretty flat for me. Beyond Jonathan, we don't get a good look inside characters like Starla or Web, or at least to the extent I was hoping for. I read a review where someone mentioned they thought this would have been a great graphic novel, and I'd have to agree: the visuals this novel offers would have translated better in a different medium.
Not so much a case of a bad book, more an issue of personal taste.
While the story of Ziggy, Stardust and Me was solid, I had a difficult time connecting with the characters in large part due to the writing. This is a YA book, but the prose style felt very young and relied too heavily on ellipses, em dashes, and sound effects that didn't really work for me. I liked that we got a novel looking at things like the moon landing, the Watergate scandal, conversion therapy, and bringing awareness to the struggles of indigenous Americans, but the characters fell pretty flat for me. Beyond Jonathan, we don't get a good look inside characters like Starla or Web, or at least to the extent I was hoping for. I read a review where someone mentioned they thought this would have been a great graphic novel, and I'd have to agree: the visuals this novel offers would have translated better in a different medium.
Not so much a case of a bad book, more an issue of personal taste.
mercurial_rosie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexual violence
homoashell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual assault
coralinejones's review against another edition
2.0
The writing style in this book is abysmal.
I also feel uncomfortable that a white author wrote this, given the slurs and heavy racism explored in this novel.
I also feel uncomfortable that a white author wrote this, given the slurs and heavy racism explored in this novel.
izzyozeki's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
aerinxo's review against another edition
4.0
this book was moving and so so beautiful but the writing style slightly put me off (hence the 4 stars) - the overuse of ellipses was annoying and i didn't see why the author felt the need to add so many in
evanroberts's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing and heartbreaking and just the constant imagination and music was incredible. I loved the fact that a Native man was a love interest and the Native family in the midst of AIM era activism was done so well it was great to read. Highly recommend
tiakiwi's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
This was a good YA story about first love and finding yourself, set in the 70s at the time psychology said being gay was a mental illness and the struggles and treatments they did. I wouldn't say the ending leaves you fulfilled, there are a lot of open peices.
definitely_human's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75