ellemnope's Reviews (2.4k)

I didn't like the finale as much as the other two books in the series, but it was still a good read. Although it was necessary for the story line, I was frequently thrown off by the use of two narrators (something not present in the other two novels). The story still made for a good book, but somehow the plot seemed both rushed and too slow at the same time. To be honest, it probably wouldn't have rated so high for me if I hadn't loved the other two books so much.

I enjoy NPH very much. He's a funny guy with a pretty down-to-earth attitude. His stories in this hodgepodge novel are entertaining. I really wanted to rate it higher. But...ultimately, the method by which it is delivered (which, oddly enough is what drew me to this book in the first place) is what caused me to enjoy it less than I imagined. Told in the traditional "Choose Your Own Adventure" style, the plot moves based on what options you "choose" at the end of each chapter. I discovered that (like my elementary school self was with the original style stories) my brain works far too linearly for this concept to work for me. Thus, I had to read it cover to cover, start to finish, rather than playing along with the game. I didn't want to miss anything. Unfortunately, this approach led things to be far too disjointed and left me occasionally questioning which stories were for comedic relief and which ones were true. (I think I was able to figure out the grand majority correctly, but really...who knows?) So while the creative approach was what initially gave me interest in this book, it turns out I'm just not that kind of reader. I still find NPH smart, witty, and entertaining though. So it wasn't a complete loss.

I was given this book by a fellow book blogger. I had heard a few things about it and was mildly intrigued. Turns out, it was better than I expected. It's the story of a trans teen and her struggle with gaining acceptance of her own identity, both from without and within. It's well-written and geared easily toward readers of the same age as the primary character. Though it obviously tackles a rather controversial subject, it is done with fantastic grace and taste. The author herself is trans and states that she modeled the protagonist after herself and her friends to some degree, but admits that Amanda is very much a fictional character that must be taken as such. Regardless, Amanda is very well constructed. The story is believable, the characters are not flat or overly stereotypical. I read the whole book in one quick sitting without feeling like the story was overly contrived or trying to hard to make a political/moral point. It's a very good book that blends nicely with the catalog of young adult fiction available.

Extremely short and quick read that is not nearly as controversial as it is made out to be. A good story of prejudice and racial tension from the perspective of a Native American. Definitely geared for the middle school crowd and admittedly quite appropriate for that age set. I think this book has a lot to offer in lessons for kids in that age range and adults have absolutely blown the potential offensiveness or perceived inappropriateness of the book out of the water. I would have no problem letting my own kid read this. He's 14. I wouldn't have had an issue with him reading at age 12 or 13 either. It's just not that big of a deal guys...it offers more in potential learning and personal growth for these readers than it could ever cause them detriment.

One of these days, Goodreads will allow 1/2 stars... To be fair, this one is a 3 1/2 for me. I knew going into this that I could either love it or hate it. Thankfully, I didn't hate it. I knew it wasn't written fully by J.K. Rowling, but rather that she was consulted on it and more or less approved it. I knew that it was a script for a play and wouldn't read like a normal novel. I wasn't not surprised by either of those things. I've sat on my opinion for a couple of days to give myself a chance to really rate it fairly. Here are my conclusions...

1. The play format did not bother me as much as I thought it would. This was actually my primary reservation prior to reading. I was afraid that the script outline would put me off. But it worked. I was able to read it and hear/see the script in my head just as I would have with any other book. There was nothing in that approach that detracted from the rating for me.

2. It was very clear that J.K. Rowling was not the sole author. The writing style was different, not quite as magical as the original series. The level of detail that had been present in prior books really was a bit lacking. That bothered me. The fact that she hadn't written it alone...not an issue. The fact that it felt so obviously "off"? That did. I tried not to let it affect my view, but let's face it...if it's just not as magical, it's just not as good.

3. The book condenses far too much into one plot. This made some things seem overly rushed and mildly irritated me. I get it...it's a play and it has to be done all at once, but it just felt awkward in some places.

4. The female characters were overly disappointing. I'm frustrated greatly by this. Rowling has always been very good at keeping equality in her novels, both with heroes and villains. That didn't happen here. Hermione and Ginny were notably less...themselves and seemed far too much at the whim of the primary male characters. They were not the powerful and independent female characters that were so lauded in the original books. I really wish this had been different. It is a large portion of the reason for my discounted rating. It could have been done better. I'm disappointed in Rowling for this one...she should have spoken up for her characters and kept them true to themselves.

5. The relationship between Harry and Dumbledore was wildly tainted in this plot. This not only disappointed me, it angered me. Harry came off as far too bitter and resentful -- not the Harry I've come to know and love over the years. And Dumbledore...I don't even know who this character was. He felt nothing like the headmaster present in Rowling's wonderful series. This made me angry and nearly caused me to stop reading the book.

6. I'm not sad or regretful at having read it. It was nice to have a little addition to the story and to relive a little bit of the Potterverse. It definitely reads more like fan fiction than authentic Rowling, but I'm not sure I could have expected much more unless Rowling herself had taken the reins solo once again. It was worth the read...I just wish she had pushed for more for her characters and the legend of The Boy Who Lived.

Meh. It was alright, but I wasn't really a fan of the style. I thought I would like something less formal, but the narrative just kind of annoyed me. The information wasn't nearly as helpful as I'd hoped and most of it was either stuff I already knew (because I'm flipping old and I've been around for a while) or just wasn't useful.

Very cute autobiography that was a breeze as a read. Lindsey holds up her reputation for being both sweet and funny in her well-written narrative and remains down-to-Earth despite her rising fame. She is both honest and private, able to share her life while still remaining real, genuine, and humble. Well worth the read.

Slow to get started, but does have some good historical context for those with an interest in Japanese history. LOTS of footnotes that help clarify some otherwise potentially obscure information.