So I also read this when I was feeling guilty about the challenge. Took two days worth of metro rides. I love short books.
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I had high expectations. They weren't dashed. Aside from the heavy hints of homosexuality, I found the main character EXTREMELY relatable. Probably because he's a 17 year old boy who doesn't know what the hell is going on in the world and just studies hard instead. Overall, the story was crafted very tightly. Like no wasted space on annoying things I don't care about like irrelevant backstories; you just jump right in to the action and it's over as quick as it started. Loves it! I also think it was SUPER interesting to read about these kids basically isolated from the war but with it looming right there because they were totally going to get drafted in 1942 America. I mean, I'm all for patriotism and serving for your country and stuff but hooray for those kids staying kids and then missing battle. In some ways the book was about the horrors of war/battle/violent competition but (refreshingly) without the battle sequences/everyone dying you find in most books about boys in WWII.
MUSINGS: This is why I don't do reckless things like jump into shallow water or run on slippery paths or join infantry units on a whim.
SPOILER ALERTS: I won't spoil it but the foreshadowing is EPIC.
GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A+++
Pacifism: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Main Character's Likeability: A+++
Advertisement for Boarding School: C-
GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: I had high expectations. They weren't dashed. Aside from the heavy hints of homosexuality, I found the main character EXTREMELY relatable. Probably because he's a 17 year old boy who doesn't know what the hell is going on in the world and just studies hard instead. Overall, the story was crafted very tightly. Like no wasted space on annoying things I don't care about like irrelevant backstories; you just jump right in to the action and it's over as quick as it started. Loves it! I also think it was SUPER interesting to read about these kids basically isolated from the war but with it looming right there because they were totally going to get drafted in 1942 America. I mean, I'm all for patriotism and serving for your country and stuff but hooray for those kids staying kids and then missing battle. In some ways the book was about the horrors of war/battle/violent competition but (refreshingly) without the battle sequences/everyone dying you find in most books about boys in WWII.
MUSINGS: This is why I don't do reckless things like jump into shallow water or run on slippery paths or join infantry units on a whim.
SPOILER ALERTS: I won't spoil it but the foreshadowing is EPIC.
GRADESHEET:
Readability: A
Pace: A+++
Pacifism: A
Satisfying Ending: B
Main Character's Likeability: A+++
Advertisement for Boarding School: C-
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