Take a photo of a barcode or cover
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
I just couldn’t push through. Though I feel like the point of it was the author wanting non POC readers to feel like that, but overall it just wasn’t my vibe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
fraeyalise's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Edit: Unfortunately, I read the digital copy as that was the only copy at my library and from reading other reviews I really missed out. Apparently, in print it's a book you read half and then flip over. I would have LOVED to experience that reading it the first time. :c
Original review: What a beautiful, weird piece of Southern sci-fi. Really glad I picked this up.
At some points, I'd feel confused, but not in a bad way, or a frustrating way, but in an intriguing that-was-not-what-I-expected way. I loved the main characters constant "random" questions that were never really random. I loved the layers in this book. I'm absolutely positive it will give up more secrets on a re-read.
The part where Shalaya gives up Baize to change the future, though, that was super hard to read. I couldn't have done it. I couldn't look my son in the face and then choose a different path to where he doesn't exist.
I wish the book had been more explicit in the end about what happens to them and their family. And I wish I had a more concrete why on how the two Citys were connected.
Original review: What a beautiful, weird piece of Southern sci-fi. Really glad I picked this up.
At some points, I'd feel confused, but not in a bad way, or a frustrating way, but in an intriguing that-was-not-what-I-expected way. I loved the main characters constant "random" questions that were never really random. I loved the layers in this book. I'm absolutely positive it will give up more secrets on a re-read.
I wish the book had been more explicit in the end about what happens to them and their family. And I wish I had a more concrete why on how the two Citys were connected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcoholism and Antisemitism
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I knew this was gonna be clever but i was still not expecting most of what happened here and im also pretty sure i missed quite a lot also
‘I bet no one else knows how truth can change except the sky’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
sarah984's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fascinating time travel novel with great characters, use of place and language, and mind bending meta elements. Dark and sad and funny and hopeful all at once, and full of characters I'd love to meet. Some parts were a bit confusing to me (what was up with the cat??) but if you can handle that I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
nadia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a fantastic, unique, funny, clever book!
It has a theme I often struggle with — time travel — but I got it enough to appreciate the quality of what Kiese has put together. I did spend some time trying to piece together exactly what happened when afterwards, and whether I missed something that was meant to make it all click, before realising that that's not really the important part. I got the overall gist and it was a brilliant backdrop for such important conversations.
Probably one I'd wanna reread in a couple years and I'm also excited to read more of Laymon's work.
P.S. I hear a more recent edition of this book has the book in a different structure? I've got an edition from 2013.
P.P.S. This was one of the first ever recommendations Rob's first StoryGraph rec algorithm gave to me! The model has come on a very long way since then but it's very cool to see that it was getting a lot right back then.
It has a theme I often struggle with — time travel — but I got it enough to appreciate the quality of what Kiese has put together. I did spend some time trying to piece together exactly what happened when afterwards, and whether I missed something that was meant to make it all click, before realising that that's not really the important part. I got the overall gist and it was a brilliant backdrop for such important conversations.
Probably one I'd wanna reread in a couple years and I'm also excited to read more of Laymon's work.
P.S. I hear a more recent edition of this book has the book in a different structure? I've got an edition from 2013.
P.P.S. This was one of the first ever recommendations Rob's first StoryGraph rec algorithm gave to me! The model has come on a very long way since then but it's very cool to see that it was getting a lot right back then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
imofmw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs
ukponge's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Violence
cassielaj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book is… confusing, funny, smart, and intricate. I started confused and ended even more confused, but I was intrigued throughout. The writing is great and it definitely makes you think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism
meemawreads's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I picked this book up because I was intrigued by reading half a book, flipping it over, and reading the book-within-the-book next. I’ll admit I’m not smart enough for time travel stories, but I still LOVED this book despite my confusion.
In the first book City Coldson, a Mississippi teen in 2013, comes across a strange book with no author in which a kid named City Coldson is the main character… but in 1985. I read that this was initially published with the books in alternating chapters but the author intended it to be read this way, so even though I was confused I’m glad I experienced it as intended. I adore City and the voice of this whole book, I love the playful language, I admire the ability to write kids who don’t understand everything without coming off as adults playing ignorant. If you have the patience and are comfortable not knowing everything, this book is a fun ride. Four and a half taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔🍠/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
In the first book City Coldson, a Mississippi teen in 2013, comes across a strange book with no author in which a kid named City Coldson is the main character… but in 1985. I read that this was initially published with the books in alternating chapters but the author intended it to be read this way, so even though I was confused I’m glad I experienced it as intended. I adore City and the voice of this whole book, I love the playful language, I admire the ability to write kids who don’t understand everything without coming off as adults playing ignorant. If you have the patience and are comfortable not knowing everything, this book is a fun ride. Four and a half taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔🍠/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
cviii's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Classism