Author: David Arnold
Genre: Young adult, contemporary
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
352 pages, hardcover
Check out the full synopsis on Goodreads.
Dear Mosquitoland,
Reasons are hard. Trying to put into words the reasons why I love you is hard, but I’ll try.
Reason #1: You are weird. Like, SO weird. But you’re that special kind of weird that I absolutely love. You’re unique and strange and beautiful and funny and emotional and just brilliantly weird in the best possible way.
Reason #2: David Arnold’s writing is incredible. Like, mind-blowingly incredible. I cannot believe you are his debut novel. How is that even possible? I cannot wait to see what comes from him next if YOU are his FIRST book. Parts of you felt like poetry. I was torn between racing through you and taking my time to savor David’s writing. I’ll definitely be rereading you in the future.
Reason #3: Mim. MIM! Oh my goodness. She is just an incredible character. David NAILED her voice. She’s this perfect blend of hard and vulnerable. Sassy, independent, scared, sad, smart. She is such a teenager. I can’t believe how well David wrote her. I love her so much that she’s made it onto my short list of favorite characters ever.
Reason #4: You are the definition of perfect story telling. Your characters’ voices are spot on, your writing is beautiful, but that’s not the best part. You are just a good story. Entertaining, engrossing, fascinating, exciting. I just want to list all the best adjectives to describe you.
Reason #5: This is what my book looked like when I finished. Green flags are from RachelMarie at Nerd Herd Reads; pink are from me. This is what a book looks like when you LOVED it wholeheartedly.
The bottom line: Reasons are hard. Mississippi is hard. But you? You’re beautiful and quirky and plain ol’ strange, and I love you.
Signing off,
Stefani Sloma
Reluctant Mosquitoland Resident and Mosquitoland Lover
Rating: 9 – practically perfect
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Gosh, I have heard ALL of the good things about this one. I’m going to put it on hold at the library!
DO IT! Then tell me what you think!!!
I loved your review!
I have to finally read this book. It seems like I would love it as much as you did 🙂
I hope you get to read it soon!
Just starting this one today! Can’t wait for bookclub next week!
I hope you love it!
Love love love love love. Yes to all of these reasons. This was such a special book.
YESSSS!
Great review, I love the look of this book, I think I would read it based on the cover alone!
I LOVE the cover! The bus actually continues onto the back of the book too. 🙂
This review has encouraged me to put this book on my radar! Thanks for adding another book on my TBR.
YAY!! I hope you get to read it soon!
I love this review! I agree about how hard it can be to write a review for a book you love, but I felt that coming across here. I haven’t heard too much about this, but I love the cover and I think there is an author event near where I live with David Arnold. I’ll have to check this out!
You’ll have to go! I met him at Becky Albertalli’s book launch and he is a really cool dude. I hope you get to read Mosquitoland soon!
I loved the weirdness is Mosquitoland and I loved Mim too. Loved. So glad you enjoyed this one! I enjoyed getting to see your and Rachel’s sticky notes of love. 🙂
Sticky notes of love. YES. That’s it exactly. 🙂
I LOVED how you approached this review. Not only was it fun to read but it’s compelled me to put this higher on my TBR list! xoxo
YAY! I’m so happy to hear that! I hope you get to read this one soon!
Wow! Awesome review, Stef!! I really hadn’t even noticed this book before, but you have me VERY curious now! It sounds wonderful.
It IS wonderful. I loved it so much. I hope you get to read it soon!