| 2 stars For the most part, the book was good. In comparison to the first book, the plot is much faster as there is not as much buildup and world building needed. There is quite a bit of explanation as to what happened in the first book so this could be read as a standalone but is best read after the first book. While the plot was well done and was going for a 3 star review, I really hated how Howard was presented. It is crucial to include characters with disabilities in books, but Howard was not a great example of someone who uses crutches and wears braces on his legs. He is presented as a very pathetic character who Robert feels bad for. He often needs assistance or saving or he is presented as an obstacle for other students because he moves slowly. He is someone to be pitied or an inconvenience to others. This is a terrible representation of characters with disabilities. No progress in made in others’ views of him and he is only used as a plot device. This is why I chose to give this book a 2 star review. As with the first book, this one is not super gory but does contain some animal cruelty. Not really my thing personally. Animal cruelty is continued to be used in the series to mark the “bad” characters. Overall, the plot and story itself were good, but the representation was terrible. If you liked the first book, you’ll probably like this one, but I do think it is important to be mindful of how people with disabilities are presented in books, especially books for a young audience, and moving beyond only showing them as pathetic, an inconvenience, in need of assistance, or villains. Goodreads |
