Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
#YAfiction
blurb
sammiegdeas
post image

I have been captivated by the structure. Much like my students, when I open a book, I expect lines upon lines of words thrown onto the page. However, McBride's structure provides an air of whimsy, making the book itself seem like a journey. I think it would be cool to take excerpts from this book and pair them with other texts to highlight different styles of writing while bringing awareness to mental health.

blurb
haylee.roach10
This post contains spoilers
show me

I did appreciate the ending of this novel. I felt like there was a lot of buildup to the final plot point and the discovery of the siblings. The symbolism in the forest and the way they rewrote the story was very powerful and teaches readers how to take control of what is causing them stress. It wasn't all good and it wasn't all bad. Representative of real life and the struggles people go through.

blurb
haylee.roach10

McBride did a good job at positioning mental health in a digestible way that is easily understandable for younger readers. Depression was not tip-toed around nor glorified. McBride also weaved in racial identity with mental health in a powerful way that deserves recognition. Combined with the fantastical setting, this book is a classic young adult literature novel that holds moral value and entertainment for younger audiences.

blurb
haylee.roach10

I'm going to be honest- I did not connect with this book. It was well-written but it is not a book I would particularly choose to read in my own time. It was interesting considering it was written in verse and a good example at that. I think that listening to the audiobook did shape my overall experience. At some points the audiobook worked well and others I was wishing I had a physical copy. Although the book was not my speed I see the appeal.

review
Makaylaholton
Pickpick

I loveeed this book. I think the connection between Whimsy's magical world and her emotional reality was beautifully done. The way McBride uses fantasy elements like fairies, forests, and spells to explore topics like mental health, trauma, and healing made the story feel both whimsical and authentic. Whimsy‘s journey felt both very personal and poetic, and her bond with Faerry was one of the most touching parts of the book.

haylee.roach10 McBride did a good job world building in her novel. I do wish I had more contextual details to the fantasy world but for a stand-alone novel it was very effective. I agree that the symbolism with mental health ties to elements of the forest was very well done. It would be a great novel for students working on analysis skills and creating connections between what is said and unsaid. 23h
1 comment
review
jkmac9717
post image
Pickpick

A beautifully written book! I went in blind so I wasn't expecting a novel in verse at first, but I LOVED it and think it was a great medium to highlight all of the symbols, metaphors, and emotions of Whimsy and Faerry's story. I also appreciate McBride bringing in many diverse cultural allusions and practices to Whimsy's life and her healing journey that help make her HER and teach her valuable lessons. “The only way out is through.“ ❤️

haylee.roach10 I was also not expecting the novel to be written in verse but it was a good choice considering the topics of the book. Verse made it easier to discuss the topics regarding mental health in a way that ties in the fantastical world. There was a lot of symbolism in this book that moved the story along and also made it more interesting for a younger audience. It would make a great option for classroom novels for analyzing poetry and literary devices. 23h
1 comment
blurb
jkmac9717
post image

One thing I loved about this book was the attention it brought to Black mental health. Unfortunately, people of color are not as widely recognized for their mental health issues because of past (and ongoing) racial prejudice, but this book highlights their struggles and journeys navigating this complex topic. The fantastical garden allegory and inclusion of Black spirituality made this discussion unique but also digestable for younger audiences!

tatumlanders I also think that we should highlight Black mental health more in literature! I remember Faerry's father claiming that Black people, specifically Black men, don't go to therapy or take medication, as if it were a way of life rather than a choice. I am deeply aware of my ignorance about that experience, and know that I need to read more books to increase my awareness. 21h
1 comment
blurb
jkmac9717
post image

I noted an activity idea inspired by something from one of my classes that could work with this book too! Just like Whimsy calls upon fairy tale/myth/folklore characters with their own lessons that help her, students could research their own character, find a lesson they could teach or advice they could give for their IRL lives, and then write a letter or advice column “from“ that character. Maybe Whimsy's reflection strategy could help them too!

annagsears This is an AWESOME idea! I'm thinking more in the 9th-grade sphere here, but a focus on narrative would also be significant in presenting different ways to construct a story. One does not necessarily need to write in “book“ format, but in verse, art, etc, and there are a plethora of ways to do that using fairytale characters. 5h
1 comment