pickI liked the premise of this book and loved the ending, but it ended up being a little heavier than I expected. Part of the heaviness was more personal to me, which certainly made it harder, but without fail, as I had that trigger while listening, I saw a beautiful rainbow all the way home.
3.5⭐️
TW: cancer, death
Seeing formations like this always makes me think about my high school English teacher who had us write a poem in the shape of a thing relating to the theme (shape poems). Even if this isn‘t necessarily a shape I think the scattered-ness of it brings about a theme of scattered thoughts. Shapes are all about bringing an experience of reading the poem, or in this case the novel and I think McBride executed this in a cool way when you notice
This description and personification of sorrow was super interesting to me. I had not thought about people being so engulfed with sorrow and pain that they felt like it was holding them in a grip so tight they couldn‘t move. It seems like McBride personifies sorrow throughout this novel to show the hold it has on this person, on page 172-3 “sorrow chuckles…taps its fingers…smiles.” It was neat to me to read this and acknowledge what others feel
panRound of applause for McBride tackling these issues that most people (and authors) just breeze over. She was able to bring awareness using their inner thoughts. That said I am not a fan of this style of book, I don‘t like the novel in verse writing or fantasy reads. Absolutely nothing against McBride taking on these topics and themes is super important I will absolutely keep this on my bookshelf to recommend to students it‘s just not my cup of tea
“Sometimes your own mind will unroot you.“
McBride doesn't just write about mental health, she teaches it. Through poetic metaphor, students explore how depression distorts daily life. People cast spells to hide pain. Brains “think too much,“ even when endorphines are gone. Students examine performance, masking, and the quiet toll of overthinking, all within a lyrical and accessible framework.
At the beginning of the narrative, it is unclear what reality is. The narrator exists somewhere between recovery, therapy, and fairy tales. This mix of the whimsical and reality makes you ask: Is magic a metaphor, a coping strategy, or both? This blending of fantasy and mental illness feels honest. Real pain can feel unreal, unbearable, and unrelatable.
“We can only go forward. Remember?“
This line is small on the page, but it lands with the force of a thunderclap.
We have touched pain and are no longer running from the past. Sometimes moving forward isn't brave or glamorous, it's simply what's next. And in that way, it becomes one of the most powerful lines in the book.
pickI absolutely adored this book. The interconnectedness of the characters with one another and throughout time was beautifully written. The story deals with heavy topics that are handled dignifying and show the characters development and strength. I would be lying if I said I wasn't crying by the end of the novel!
As much as I want to read these two books (not to mention that I've gotten Rise of Kyoshi twice now), Magnus Chase is kind of calling to me. We'll figure out if I get around to the books on my #bookspin or just continue binging the Riordanverse.
