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Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid
3.0
adventurous reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

What an unusual trip of a book. I would say it's very existential in nature, reminding me of something like an early Shaun David Hutchinson novel or something maybe from David Arnold. Am I 100% sure what actually happened there at the end? No, not really. But it was a wild ride to get here.

This is a book I'd probably struggle to recommend to teens just because it's so niche. It would take a specific kind of teen to recommend this book to. But, the comparison to a combination of Jumaji and The Sun is Also a Star is accurate, and you're sure to be invested as Alsaid takes you on this wild ride. It wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but I think there is an audience out there for it!

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