katiemack's reviews
1404 reviews

This was a little too cutesy and fairly generic, but it ended up being sweet (as I anticipated). Nothing special, but it was an enjoyable read for the holidays.

Meh. Now that Mikey’s ethical complexity has been resolved, the story is much less compelling. Also, it seems like less happened in this volume compared to other volumes (aside from the last few pages).

4.5 stars.

I was wholly unprepared for how darkly funny this book would be--I expected it to be more intense, but I actually liked the direction it took. Wilson's phrasing is hilarious (who knew the phrase "fire children" could make me laugh out loud so many times?), while effectively conveying the importance of belonging and love.

I also found Lillian to be extremely likable in her sarcastic, awkward way.

It’s always satisfying to read a YA book written for YA audiences. The authors not only do a terrific job of world-building and incorporating sci-fi tropes, but also include realistically snarky dialogue. I loved the diversity of the characters and how natural it felt to have a multi-ethnic human while also showcasing multiple humanoid species with their own fully formed traits.

Maybe I would have liked it less had I read The Illuminae Files first, but as it stands I can’t wait for the sequel.

This was a quick read, and I think it's an important story to tell and message to impart. The "soulmate" friendship between Sue and Missippi was heartwarming, as was the fellowship of the girls in Chicago.

Unfortunately, I don't think this book reads like a YA novel; as other reviewers have suggested, the dialogue is bland, and some of the storylines felt rushed--for example, Ola and Izella were not featured much and were not as compelling as a result. I would have liked to see more of them so I could better connect with them, especially considering the enduring friendship at the end of the novel. (I'd say more, but I don't want to give away the ending. Speaking of the ending, though...that also felt rushed and glossed over.)

This started off more slowly than I expected, but it quickly zoomed along. While the premise may seem rather silly (a town council that decides to eliminate the use of certain letters as they fall from a statue in a town square), it devolves into a dark dystopian hellscape of totalitarianism and death. I felt myself cringe as I noticed people using the forbidden letters in their correspondence, risking punishment.

It's not perfect but, my goodness, was it an enjoyable journey to read this book!

Sigh. I really wanted to like this book. It touches on some important issues like privacy (especially with regard to the internet), double standards, women’s rights, and sexuality. Ultimately, though, I found the characters to be one-dimensional tropes much of the time; I know it’s a YA novel, but (or because because of this), I expected more depth from the characters. Plus, their motivations and actions were often unrealistic and/or hyperbolic. It was also frustrating to read the ending, which didn’t resolve many of the plot points.