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Green Valentine
When Astrid and Hiro meet they give each other superhero names. She's Lobster Girl and he's Shopping Trolley Boy. Not an auspicious beginning. But it gets better. Then it gets worse. Much worse. Classic romantic comedy: girl-meets-boy, love blossoms, and is derailed. Incredibly engaging, upbeat, funny and smart.
Astrid Katy Smythe is beautiful, smart and popular. She's a straight-A student and a committed environmental activist. She's basically perfect.
Hiro is the opposite of perfect. He's slouchy, rude and resentful. Despite his brains, he doesn't see the point of school.
But when Astrid meets Hiro at the shopping centre where he's wrangling shopping trolleys, he doesn't recognise her because she's in disguise - as a lobster. And she doesn't set him straight.
Astrid wants to change the world, Hiro wants to survive it. But ultimately both believe that the world needs to be saved from itself. Can they find enough in common to right all the wrongs between them?
A romantic comedy about life and love and trying to make the planet a better place, with a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of hilarity.
Astrid Katy Smythe is beautiful, smart and popular. She's a straight-A student and a committed environmental activist. She's basically perfect.
Hiro is the opposite of perfect. He's slouchy, rude and resentful. Despite his brains, he doesn't see the point of school.
But when Astrid meets Hiro at the shopping centre where he's wrangling shopping trolleys, he doesn't recognise her because she's in disguise - as a lobster. And she doesn't set him straight.
Astrid wants to change the world, Hiro wants to survive it. But ultimately both believe that the world needs to be saved from itself. Can they find enough in common to right all the wrongs between them?
A romantic comedy about life and love and trying to make the planet a better place, with a little heartbreak, and a whole lot of hilarity.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
14 people are currently reading
1071 people want to read
About the author
Lili Wilkinson
32 books373 followersLili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
September 8, 2015
I mostly enjoyed this cute, light environmentally-conscious YA romance. But there was something wrong about the story's pacing - romantic tension was developed in all the wrong places, the climax came sort of out of nowhere. Not the best Lili Wilkinson book.
April 19, 2016
I borrowed this book from work nearly two months ago, and then put off reading it because seriously? A young adult book about guerrilla gardening? Why on earth would I be interested in that?! Yeah, I just read this sucker cover to cover in a couple of hours because I was so engrossed in the story.
At first, Astrid's a really easy character to dislike. She's sanctimonious and abrasive and looks down her nose at EVERYONE who doesn't do the things she deems necessary to save the planet. And we're supposed to believe that despite all of this, she's somehow one of the most popular girls in school? Uh, okay. And yet, at the story progressed and Astrid's character grew and changed, I found myself warming to her.
Even as someone who hates gardening with a fiery passion (something my mother despairs of), I actually really liked the guerrilla gardening aspect of the story, and the sense of community that develops in the local community as a result.
Basically, I was expecting something kind of meh, and I got something thoroughly enjoyable.
At first, Astrid's a really easy character to dislike. She's sanctimonious and abrasive and looks down her nose at EVERYONE who doesn't do the things she deems necessary to save the planet. And we're supposed to believe that despite all of this, she's somehow one of the most popular girls in school? Uh, okay. And yet, at the story progressed and Astrid's character grew and changed, I found myself warming to her.
Even as someone who hates gardening with a fiery passion (something my mother despairs of), I actually really liked the guerrilla gardening aspect of the story, and the sense of community that develops in the local community as a result.
Basically, I was expecting something kind of meh, and I got something thoroughly enjoyable.
August 6, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/08/g...
This is what Aussie YA is all about. Green Valentine is positively lovely. A wonderful coming of age with a strong environmental conscious, that proves that friendship and falling in love really knows no bounds. Astrid is a perfect student, her peers see her as part of the popular group, thanks to best friends Dev and Paige, with teachers hanging on her every word. But behind the popular facade of the environmental activist lies a girl who's life is falling apart. Her parents have separated after her father's affair, and her mother is too busy to notice her daughter's late night guerrilla gardening rendezvous. Hiro is the opposite, his family are close knit, too close. He feels pressured to make more of his life, but takes little interest in school. He's labelled as a bad boy, drug dependent and hopeless, when nothing could be further from the truth.
I love world's collide type romances, where the storyline feeds the differences in characters and joins them through a common goal. In this case, the beautification of their suburb in Valentine. Hiro is a reluctant participant, but can't deny that even knowing Astrid and Lobster Girl are one in the same, he still feels the same attraction towards her and her fiery defiance to make the world a better place.
Throughout the storyline, the readers are treated to environmental footnotes every few pages, relating to the storyline in which Astrid shares her knowledge of carbon emission, polluting our earth and our environmental footprints. It allows readers to enjoy the storyline, while providing explanations without her character becoming too tedious. The romantic aspect really is lovely, with Hiro teaching Astrid about the plants and seeds that was passed down from his Nonna.
Green Valentine was absolutely lovely. There was something so gentle about Hiro and Astrid's story, their connection and working long into the night to make Valentine beautiful. Wonderfully written with a fresh twist to contemporary young adult. I adored it.
This is what Aussie YA is all about. Green Valentine is positively lovely. A wonderful coming of age with a strong environmental conscious, that proves that friendship and falling in love really knows no bounds. Astrid is a perfect student, her peers see her as part of the popular group, thanks to best friends Dev and Paige, with teachers hanging on her every word. But behind the popular facade of the environmental activist lies a girl who's life is falling apart. Her parents have separated after her father's affair, and her mother is too busy to notice her daughter's late night guerrilla gardening rendezvous. Hiro is the opposite, his family are close knit, too close. He feels pressured to make more of his life, but takes little interest in school. He's labelled as a bad boy, drug dependent and hopeless, when nothing could be further from the truth.
I love world's collide type romances, where the storyline feeds the differences in characters and joins them through a common goal. In this case, the beautification of their suburb in Valentine. Hiro is a reluctant participant, but can't deny that even knowing Astrid and Lobster Girl are one in the same, he still feels the same attraction towards her and her fiery defiance to make the world a better place.
Throughout the storyline, the readers are treated to environmental footnotes every few pages, relating to the storyline in which Astrid shares her knowledge of carbon emission, polluting our earth and our environmental footprints. It allows readers to enjoy the storyline, while providing explanations without her character becoming too tedious. The romantic aspect really is lovely, with Hiro teaching Astrid about the plants and seeds that was passed down from his Nonna.
Green Valentine was absolutely lovely. There was something so gentle about Hiro and Astrid's story, their connection and working long into the night to make Valentine beautiful. Wonderfully written with a fresh twist to contemporary young adult. I adored it.
August 23, 2015
SO despite Astrid being a little annoying, and there being a little too much angst for my liking, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. It was so cute and I loved all the environmental themes and the footnotes and just...it was lovely. And so unique.
I'll be reviewing it on my blog next week :D
________________________________________
WELL, this book was a breath of fresh air.
Kind of literally.
It’s so DIFFERENT and lovely and just nothing like I’ve read in YA before.
Basically, we’ve got Astrid who really cares about the environment.
She kind of reminds me of Lisa Simpson.
Astrid can get a little annoying at times, but she really cares about her world, and about people, and her passion is really inspiring. She’s driven and maybe a little TOO pushy and stubborn at times, but she’s got a lot of heart.
Then we’ve got Hiro.
Hiro got on my nerves a few times as well, because he acts so differently around Astrid when he thinks she’s someone else. He’s like Mr Darcy in that he thinks she’s snobby and rude just because she’s popular. But I loved how they overcame that. He’s still really frustrating towards the end of the book when a lot of angst came into it, but I did like him as a character.
And then there’s the really unique part: the environment aspect of it.
I LOVED the footnotes – reminiscent of An Abundance of Katherines, except much shorter and more understandable. Plus, they’re so interesting.
AND ALL THE GARDENING STUFF. I learnt about companion planting and pollination and crop rotation and HEAPS of other stuff.
I loved that.
Then there’s the main event between Hiro and Astrid: bewildering.
Bewildering is what they call the process that other people call “eco-terrorism.” It’s also known as “guerilla gardening.” Basically, in the middle of the night they go through the town of Valentine and plant things – fruit and veggies and all sorts of things. AND IT’S A REAL LIFE THING AS WELL.
IT WAS SO COOL. And just imagining all the plants in run-down industrial areas was incredible. It was definitely my favourite part of the book.
OH OH and also Hiro’s nonna!
He’s half-Italian, half-Japanese and his first kind of “date” with Astrid is bringing her to his grandmother’s place. She has this AMAZING garden and they have dinner together and it’s just…ahhh, it’s so lovely. Like, sharing in a meal together as a family, and a meal that’s home-grown from the garden.
It made me want to move to Tuscany or something and start a farm.
I must admit it got a LITTLE melodramatic towards the end.
It was hard to suspend belief because the “evil corporations” just seemed so…evil, and not realistic. You know, they’re trying to ruin the environment and they only care about money, that type of thing. And I know there ARE a lot of people like that, but it didn’t feel real.
Then there’s the weird sub-plot of the hippies who aren’t actually hippies and actually want to destroy the planet.
That was a little strange.
My only other complaint is that Astrid’s friends Dev and Paige seemed a little under-developed. And also it annoyed me how Astrid constantly didn’t seem to care about them. But Hiro was definitely enough
But overall, I really, really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed how funny it was, I enjoyed the unique environmental message. I LOVED the bewildering and the comedy and Astrid as a character. Despite some angst and some unbelievable moments, it’s definitely an excellent book.
I'll be reviewing it on my blog next week :D
________________________________________
WELL, this book was a breath of fresh air.
Kind of literally.
It’s so DIFFERENT and lovely and just nothing like I’ve read in YA before.
Basically, we’ve got Astrid who really cares about the environment.
She kind of reminds me of Lisa Simpson.
Astrid can get a little annoying at times, but she really cares about her world, and about people, and her passion is really inspiring. She’s driven and maybe a little TOO pushy and stubborn at times, but she’s got a lot of heart.
Then we’ve got Hiro.
Hiro got on my nerves a few times as well, because he acts so differently around Astrid when he thinks she’s someone else. He’s like Mr Darcy in that he thinks she’s snobby and rude just because she’s popular. But I loved how they overcame that. He’s still really frustrating towards the end of the book when a lot of angst came into it, but I did like him as a character.
And then there’s the really unique part: the environment aspect of it.
I LOVED the footnotes – reminiscent of An Abundance of Katherines, except much shorter and more understandable. Plus, they’re so interesting.
AND ALL THE GARDENING STUFF. I learnt about companion planting and pollination and crop rotation and HEAPS of other stuff.
I loved that.
Then there’s the main event between Hiro and Astrid: bewildering.
Bewildering is what they call the process that other people call “eco-terrorism.” It’s also known as “guerilla gardening.” Basically, in the middle of the night they go through the town of Valentine and plant things – fruit and veggies and all sorts of things. AND IT’S A REAL LIFE THING AS WELL.
IT WAS SO COOL. And just imagining all the plants in run-down industrial areas was incredible. It was definitely my favourite part of the book.
OH OH and also Hiro’s nonna!
He’s half-Italian, half-Japanese and his first kind of “date” with Astrid is bringing her to his grandmother’s place. She has this AMAZING garden and they have dinner together and it’s just…ahhh, it’s so lovely. Like, sharing in a meal together as a family, and a meal that’s home-grown from the garden.
It made me want to move to Tuscany or something and start a farm.
I must admit it got a LITTLE melodramatic towards the end.
It was hard to suspend belief because the “evil corporations” just seemed so…evil, and not realistic. You know, they’re trying to ruin the environment and they only care about money, that type of thing. And I know there ARE a lot of people like that, but it didn’t feel real.
Then there’s the weird sub-plot of the hippies who aren’t actually hippies and actually want to destroy the planet.
That was a little strange.
My only other complaint is that Astrid’s friends Dev and Paige seemed a little under-developed. And also it annoyed me how Astrid constantly didn’t seem to care about them. But Hiro was definitely enough
But overall, I really, really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed how funny it was, I enjoyed the unique environmental message. I LOVED the bewildering and the comedy and Astrid as a character. Despite some angst and some unbelievable moments, it’s definitely an excellent book.
August 24, 2015
So so very good - loved this.
Readers of contemporary Australian YA will be very familiar with Lili Wilkinson who has had success with her previous novels such as Pink and The Zigzag Effect. Although the blurb makes this out to be a romantic comedy, and it is romantic and funny, this novel is so much more than that. It tackles some environmental issues that are of great concern to many in our community but it also shows that you can have a sense of humour about yourself and the beliefs that you hold passionately dear. Both Astrid and Hiro hold strong beliefs but both are also flawed: Astrid is passionate about consumerism and packaging and gardening and making a difference, but she is also sometimes judgemental and preachy. Hiro, on the other hand, is rebellious and recalcitrant but somehow they become friends as they undertake midnight Guerrilla Gardening. Filled with humorous footnotes about serious environmental issues both of them learn that sometimes you just have to give a little to get a lot.
Themes: environment, consumerism, family breakdown, romance, friendship, passive resistance, positive action, community, gardening.
Readers of contemporary Australian YA will be very familiar with Lili Wilkinson who has had success with her previous novels such as Pink and The Zigzag Effect. Although the blurb makes this out to be a romantic comedy, and it is romantic and funny, this novel is so much more than that. It tackles some environmental issues that are of great concern to many in our community but it also shows that you can have a sense of humour about yourself and the beliefs that you hold passionately dear. Both Astrid and Hiro hold strong beliefs but both are also flawed: Astrid is passionate about consumerism and packaging and gardening and making a difference, but she is also sometimes judgemental and preachy. Hiro, on the other hand, is rebellious and recalcitrant but somehow they become friends as they undertake midnight Guerrilla Gardening. Filled with humorous footnotes about serious environmental issues both of them learn that sometimes you just have to give a little to get a lot.
Themes: environment, consumerism, family breakdown, romance, friendship, passive resistance, positive action, community, gardening.
June 28, 2017
I feel so divided about this book, it calls for lists:
Things I liked:
* The writing was just so READABLE. I wasn’t buying the story, but I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN.
* The gardening scenes in particular were like magic.
* SUPERHEROES! COMIC BOOKS! YESSSS!!
* The footnotes.
Things I didn't like
* The dodgy stats in the footnotes.
* I totally don’t buy that what happened in this book could happen IRL. There would have been a massive public outcry if this happened here!
* TERRIBLE YA PARENTS.
* Astrid pretending to be Katy. *facepalms*
* Is this book taking place in Australia or America??? I literally cannot tell.
* Astrid is such a hypocrite about the environment.
* Oh, and . I saw that plot twist coming from a mile away.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, but every time I put it down I asked myself why I was reading it.
Recommended for people who are superhero fans! Also keen gardeners.
Things I liked:
* The writing was just so READABLE. I wasn’t buying the story, but I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN.
* The gardening scenes in particular were like magic.
* SUPERHEROES! COMIC BOOKS! YESSSS!!
* The footnotes.
Things I didn't like
* The dodgy stats in the footnotes.
* I totally don’t buy that what happened in this book could happen IRL. There would have been a massive public outcry if this happened here!
* TERRIBLE YA PARENTS.
* Astrid pretending to be Katy. *facepalms*
* Is this book taking place in Australia or America??? I literally cannot tell.
* Astrid is such a hypocrite about the environment.
* Oh, and . I saw that plot twist coming from a mile away.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, but every time I put it down I asked myself why I was reading it.
Recommended for people who are superhero fans! Also keen gardeners.
February 2, 2016
'Green Valentine' was such a sweet and lovely novel! I really liked it and it seemed like the timing for me to read it was just right. Strangely, if I pick up a novel at the wrong time I may give it a worse/better review depending on my mood. Not this little fella! I loved the way the author approached the novel and her writing style as well as the characters which were diverse in personality, appearance AND nationality! This novel reminded me slightly of Pride and Prejudice in its romance and Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett were actually referenced by the author at one point! If you're up for a small and romantic read or in the mood for something light-hearted and up-lifting, this one is for you!
Congratulations to Lili Wilkinson on publishing such a greeny-valentiney novel!
Congratulations to Lili Wilkinson on publishing such a greeny-valentiney novel!
December 3, 2015
Imagine reading about a 16-year-old Leslie Knope. Yes! It's that awesome. Definitely treat yo shelf.
February 12, 2026
2016
Green Valentine was longlisted for the Inky Award 2016. I borrowed it from the library and while reading, the shortlist was announced. It's in the final five in contention for the Gold Inky. (Lili Wilkinson founded the Inky Awards a decade ago)
Astrid is priceless. I laughed and laughed at her efforts to make the world a better place. Annoying, entitled, and oh so sure she has the answer to everything. She has a few things to learn along the way and we have fun on her journey to realising there's more than one way to change the world.
I love that Astrid and Hiro stay up all night guerilla gardening. Obviously they need the cover of darkness for their nefarious purposes, but any story set at night has my insomniac's seal of approval. And like any good insomniac, her day time life suffers.
Then Astrid mentions Tom's Midnight Garden. I read that on repeat as a kid.
Astrid’s so lucky she has a hot boyfriend teaching her all about sex! Yes, Lili Wilkinson managed to make a book about gardening not totally boring.
I used to be the adult version of Astrid (now I know how annoying I was). I even made my own museli, not because of sugar content but because I had WA grown oats and every packaged cereal was made in the eastern states.
Back then I blogged about my green adventures and my blogosphere was full of like-minded carers of our planet. I had to wind back my personal crusade because as my mental health worsened many of my sustainable behaviours became too much like compulsions. I still care to the same extent, I just drive my car more and waste more water, etc. I’m starting a house build that has a solar passive design and water and energy saving features, so I guess I just changed the direction of my activism. My plans for a wicking bed for vegie gardening are put on hold until I move. When I start my garden again I’ll use some of the ideas Lili Wilkinson has in her garden.
While reading Green Valentine and thinking about my environmental footprint, I read this article about the dichotomy between knowing there’s problems and doing something about it.
We need to do more for our planet and Green Valentine shows the small things we can do to make a difference, while having fun!
This is from my blog https://ofceilingwax.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/green-valentine/
"And that's what you want to do, right? Make the world better. Well this is how I think we should do it. We'll be like superheroes - sneaking around at night bringing Valentine to life. You were right about changing things. We should be doing everything we can."
Green Valentine was longlisted for the Inky Award 2016. I borrowed it from the library and while reading, the shortlist was announced. It's in the final five in contention for the Gold Inky. (Lili Wilkinson founded the Inky Awards a decade ago)
Astrid is priceless. I laughed and laughed at her efforts to make the world a better place. Annoying, entitled, and oh so sure she has the answer to everything. She has a few things to learn along the way and we have fun on her journey to realising there's more than one way to change the world.
"I had to get out, back out into the darkness, the soft velvety night where adventures could be had and things could grow."
I love that Astrid and Hiro stay up all night guerilla gardening. Obviously they need the cover of darkness for their nefarious purposes, but any story set at night has my insomniac's seal of approval. And like any good insomniac, her day time life suffers.
Then Astrid mentions Tom's Midnight Garden. I read that on repeat as a kid.
"How did you help a flower have sex? Wouldn't the flowers feel weird that we were there watching them?"
Astrid’s so lucky she has a hot boyfriend teaching her all about sex! Yes, Lili Wilkinson managed to make a book about gardening not totally boring.
"If you’re interested in living and seeing things differently, then you don’t fit anywhere. You can’t exist."
I used to be the adult version of Astrid (now I know how annoying I was). I even made my own museli, not because of sugar content but because I had WA grown oats and every packaged cereal was made in the eastern states.
Back then I blogged about my green adventures and my blogosphere was full of like-minded carers of our planet. I had to wind back my personal crusade because as my mental health worsened many of my sustainable behaviours became too much like compulsions. I still care to the same extent, I just drive my car more and waste more water, etc. I’m starting a house build that has a solar passive design and water and energy saving features, so I guess I just changed the direction of my activism. My plans for a wicking bed for vegie gardening are put on hold until I move. When I start my garden again I’ll use some of the ideas Lili Wilkinson has in her garden.
While reading Green Valentine and thinking about my environmental footprint, I read this article about the dichotomy between knowing there’s problems and doing something about it.
"Why, when we have so much scientific information about how our natural environment is deteriorating and more importantly what we can do to reverse it, does so little change?"
We need to do more for our planet and Green Valentine shows the small things we can do to make a difference, while having fun!
This is from my blog https://ofceilingwax.wordpress.com/2016/09/11/green-valentine/
September 25, 2015
This book had a lot of strengths and some weaknesses, but was still really fun to read. I'm going to do a like and dislike review because I can.
But let's start with it's primary strength: it was excellent writing. The dialogue was snappy and gave me lots of feelings, the superhero element wasn't overworked, it was often hilarious. I never felt confused. The entire experience of reading it was pretty enjoyable, really. The kissing scenes were very sweet. The writing was as good as in Lili Wilkinsons' other books that I've read (Love Shy, A Pocket full of Eyes, Angel Fish) and I really liked that aspect of it.
Likes
-The environmental message. Even in dystopia's, mature discussion of current environmental issues is pretty unusual in YA. I adore the idea of guerilla gardening. Astrid's quest was realistic, and practical ways of changing the world. I also care about the environment and it helped me to connect with this book more.
-Astrid Astrid had her faults, and I think that that was shown. But we're similar in a a lot of ways (apart from the popularity and her parents) so I felt like I could understand her. Also, she did her homework. You have to appreciate that.
- The diversity I liked how diverse this was, without trying hard. It really reflected Australia's reality. There was more than one gay character, and people of different socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicites. I liked that the diversity was present without making itself obvious. Also, the parents were important.
- The relationships Sure people fought, but I liked that it was pretty realistic. I felt like the friendships were amazing, too. Astrid's friends were willing to fight for her (if not vice versa) And of course Hiro and Astrid were pretty adorable most of the time.
Dislikes
- The pacing It took way too long for the villain to be revealed, then after all the angst and moaning, everything wrapped up pretty quickly. That really bothered me.
- The gay best friend It's such a trope. At least there wasn't someone called Rowan (I've read three books with Rowans over the last two weeks)
- The hot-an-coldness Astrid kept changing her mind. For the mayor, against the mayor. For Green Valentine, against Green Valentine. For joining Storm &co, against joining Storm&co. The decisions were fast and not that well thought out, which was annoying.
- Astrid There were a lot of things that I liked about Astrid, but I found her complete obliviousness rather jarring. And the fact that she kept dumb secrets, and ignored her friends. She took a lot of things for granted that I would not have taken for granted. She was too used to the popularity. And there are times when it is a BAD IDEA to get drunk.I actually think that the story would have been just as appealing, if not more appealing, from Hiro's point of view, as I would have liked to understand Astrid aside from her own self centredness.
- The ending It was a little TOO perfect and TOO fast, you know?
I enjoyed this book for the snappy dialogue. It had it's weaknesses, but who doesn't. If you really like Lili Wilkinson's snappy writing style, or the sound of some of the things I've mentioned above, then read Green Valentine.
But let's start with it's primary strength: it was excellent writing. The dialogue was snappy and gave me lots of feelings, the superhero element wasn't overworked, it was often hilarious. I never felt confused. The entire experience of reading it was pretty enjoyable, really. The kissing scenes were very sweet. The writing was as good as in Lili Wilkinsons' other books that I've read (Love Shy, A Pocket full of Eyes, Angel Fish) and I really liked that aspect of it.
Likes
-The environmental message. Even in dystopia's, mature discussion of current environmental issues is pretty unusual in YA. I adore the idea of guerilla gardening. Astrid's quest was realistic, and practical ways of changing the world. I also care about the environment and it helped me to connect with this book more.
-Astrid Astrid had her faults, and I think that that was shown. But we're similar in a a lot of ways (apart from the popularity and her parents) so I felt like I could understand her. Also, she did her homework. You have to appreciate that.
- The diversity I liked how diverse this was, without trying hard. It really reflected Australia's reality. There was more than one gay character, and people of different socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicites. I liked that the diversity was present without making itself obvious. Also, the parents were important.
- The relationships Sure people fought, but I liked that it was pretty realistic. I felt like the friendships were amazing, too. Astrid's friends were willing to fight for her (if not vice versa) And of course Hiro and Astrid were pretty adorable most of the time.
Dislikes
- The pacing It took way too long for the villain to be revealed, then after all the angst and moaning, everything wrapped up pretty quickly. That really bothered me.
- The gay best friend It's such a trope. At least there wasn't someone called Rowan (I've read three books with Rowans over the last two weeks)
- The hot-an-coldness Astrid kept changing her mind. For the mayor, against the mayor. For Green Valentine, against Green Valentine. For joining Storm &co, against joining Storm&co. The decisions were fast and not that well thought out, which was annoying.
- Astrid There were a lot of things that I liked about Astrid, but I found her complete obliviousness rather jarring. And the fact that she kept dumb secrets, and ignored her friends. She took a lot of things for granted that I would not have taken for granted. She was too used to the popularity. And there are times when it is a BAD IDEA to get drunk.I actually think that the story would have been just as appealing, if not more appealing, from Hiro's point of view, as I would have liked to understand Astrid aside from her own self centredness.
- The ending It was a little TOO perfect and TOO fast, you know?
I enjoyed this book for the snappy dialogue. It had it's weaknesses, but who doesn't. If you really like Lili Wilkinson's snappy writing style, or the sound of some of the things I've mentioned above, then read Green Valentine.
November 24, 2019
4.5/5 stars
READ ON FOR NON-SPOILER REVIEW:
Firstly, I loved the themes explored in this book. Guerrilla gardening + change + school + romance + family and friends = awesome plot. The setting was interesting and unique, although sometimes a bit overly gloomified (is that even a word?).
Secondly, I enjoyed the diversity of the characters, however, I felt like some were not explored to as much depth as others, and it was up to the reader to fill in the empty slots.
Thirdly, the pacing and narrative arc were quite well-executed, and the shocking reveals were placed very well in the story.
The ending made me feel good. However, one drawback: at times the story felt a bit rushed and did not meet a solid end like it should have.
All in all, it was an inspiring and educational read that I highly recommend.
READ ON FOR NON-SPOILER REVIEW:
Firstly, I loved the themes explored in this book. Guerrilla gardening + change + school + romance + family and friends = awesome plot. The setting was interesting and unique, although sometimes a bit overly gloomified (is that even a word?).
Secondly, I enjoyed the diversity of the characters, however, I felt like some were not explored to as much depth as others, and it was up to the reader to fill in the empty slots.
Thirdly, the pacing and narrative arc were quite well-executed, and the shocking reveals were placed very well in the story.
The ending made me feel good. However, one drawback: at times the story felt a bit rushed and did not meet a solid end like it should have.
All in all, it was an inspiring and educational read that I highly recommend.
June 13, 2017
3.5 Stars
This was such a cute little story with an imperative message outlining the importance of saving the environment. It upheld my eco-friendly values through incorporating them into a fun, lighthearted story. An entertaining read.
This was such a cute little story with an imperative message outlining the importance of saving the environment. It upheld my eco-friendly values through incorporating them into a fun, lighthearted story. An entertaining read.
December 25, 2015
There’s something seriously refreshing about sitting down and reading an entire book in the space of an afternoon after you’ve been in a reading slump. Having read only one book in its entirety in December so far (a reread of Persuasion), I was well and truly bogged down in a reading slump, and Green Valentine was exactly what I needed.
There’s something really charming about the premise of this book. Or I think so, anyway. Astrid is a straight-A student intent on saving the world from ecological doom. Hiro is a slouchy delinquent who resents the perfect, popular students like Astrid. When Astrid’s petitioning to save the Margaret River Hairy Marron at the supermarket where Hiro works, they quickly connect. She dubs him Shopping Trolley Guy, he calls her Lobstergirl (due to her being dressed as a lobster). Together, they embark on a quest to “bewilder” their grey, concrete suburb of Valentine, and make it beautiful.
I should really start quoting the Goodreads synopses in my reviews or something, because I really do struggle to summarise. Particularly because there’s so many details I feel like I NEED to mention to be able to accurately explain a novel like Green Valentine. ANYWAY.
One of this book’s strongest points was its character development. All of the characters were complex and had multiple dimensions – no one was perfect, nor was anyone entirely horrible. Every character was well- developed and briliantly written, even the more minor characters. The more I think about it, the more blown away I am by how brilliantly these characters were crafted.
Astrid in particular was a really interesting protagonist, who really grew as a person as the story progressed. Her voice was strong and vibrant throughout, and her passion for saving the environment was super evident and authentic-feeling. It was an intrinsic part of her personality and her interaction with the world, and consistently a part of the story. I also really liked how she became more self-aware at the end of the story, and comes to realise the mistakes she’s made. Astrid is passionate, intelligent and imperfect, and I loved seeing her grow and mature throughout Green Valentine.
I’d be missing a pretty major point if I didn’t touch on the magnificence that is “resistence is fertile”. That, and the environmental aspect of this book. For me, it’s one of those topics that I care about, and think is important, but also feel a bit disengaged by. It’s a topic I find a bit dry (as soon as I wrote this I had to resist the urge to make some really bad and probably distasteful pun), and disillusioning. Which is kinda bad. But I really liked how Green Valentine dealt with the topic. Sure there was a ‘save the environment!’ message to this book, but it wasn’t preachy about it, and it wasn’t about sending the reader on a massive guilt trip. I think this was the result of having a character like Astrid who was really enthusiastic, but also other characters like eco-warrior Storm, disintersted friends Paige and Dev and also Hiro to contrast with. The sense of humour helped a lot too.What this book also did very successfully was look at different aspects and sides of looking after the environment.
Like I said at the beginning, I read this book in one afternoon. It’s unputdownable in a gentle way – there aren’t many crazy plot twists or of suspense, but there’s a sense of fun, despite dealing with some more serious ideas, that made Green Valentine impossible to put down. It wasn’t a fluffy read, but it was a lot of fun. I suppose the romantic comedy label is pretty accurate.
Speaking of romance, I liked the way that the relationship between Astrid and Hiro developed. It’s not my favourite romance ever, but it was still very well-written. It was very believable, and the conflicts all served a purpose (aka did more than create angst. Not that I have a problem with a bit of angst) and aided in the development of Astrid and Hiro’s characters.
I’ve read a lot of really awesome Aussie YA this year, and that includes Green Valentine. Clever, fun and optimistic, this is a book I can’t wait to reread and enjoy all over again. Easily a five-star read.
There’s something really charming about the premise of this book. Or I think so, anyway. Astrid is a straight-A student intent on saving the world from ecological doom. Hiro is a slouchy delinquent who resents the perfect, popular students like Astrid. When Astrid’s petitioning to save the Margaret River Hairy Marron at the supermarket where Hiro works, they quickly connect. She dubs him Shopping Trolley Guy, he calls her Lobstergirl (due to her being dressed as a lobster). Together, they embark on a quest to “bewilder” their grey, concrete suburb of Valentine, and make it beautiful.
I should really start quoting the Goodreads synopses in my reviews or something, because I really do struggle to summarise. Particularly because there’s so many details I feel like I NEED to mention to be able to accurately explain a novel like Green Valentine. ANYWAY.
One of this book’s strongest points was its character development. All of the characters were complex and had multiple dimensions – no one was perfect, nor was anyone entirely horrible. Every character was well- developed and briliantly written, even the more minor characters. The more I think about it, the more blown away I am by how brilliantly these characters were crafted.
Astrid in particular was a really interesting protagonist, who really grew as a person as the story progressed. Her voice was strong and vibrant throughout, and her passion for saving the environment was super evident and authentic-feeling. It was an intrinsic part of her personality and her interaction with the world, and consistently a part of the story. I also really liked how she became more self-aware at the end of the story, and comes to realise the mistakes she’s made. Astrid is passionate, intelligent and imperfect, and I loved seeing her grow and mature throughout Green Valentine.
I’d be missing a pretty major point if I didn’t touch on the magnificence that is “resistence is fertile”. That, and the environmental aspect of this book. For me, it’s one of those topics that I care about, and think is important, but also feel a bit disengaged by. It’s a topic I find a bit dry (as soon as I wrote this I had to resist the urge to make some really bad and probably distasteful pun), and disillusioning. Which is kinda bad. But I really liked how Green Valentine dealt with the topic. Sure there was a ‘save the environment!’ message to this book, but it wasn’t preachy about it, and it wasn’t about sending the reader on a massive guilt trip. I think this was the result of having a character like Astrid who was really enthusiastic, but also other characters like eco-warrior Storm, disintersted friends Paige and Dev and also Hiro to contrast with. The sense of humour helped a lot too.What this book also did very successfully was look at different aspects and sides of looking after the environment.
Like I said at the beginning, I read this book in one afternoon. It’s unputdownable in a gentle way – there aren’t many crazy plot twists or of suspense, but there’s a sense of fun, despite dealing with some more serious ideas, that made Green Valentine impossible to put down. It wasn’t a fluffy read, but it was a lot of fun. I suppose the romantic comedy label is pretty accurate.
Speaking of romance, I liked the way that the relationship between Astrid and Hiro developed. It’s not my favourite romance ever, but it was still very well-written. It was very believable, and the conflicts all served a purpose (aka did more than create angst. Not that I have a problem with a bit of angst) and aided in the development of Astrid and Hiro’s characters.
I’ve read a lot of really awesome Aussie YA this year, and that includes Green Valentine. Clever, fun and optimistic, this is a book I can’t wait to reread and enjoy all over again. Easily a five-star read.
April 17, 2016
"I thought you didn't believe in changing the world."
"I didn't," said Hiro, with a smile that made me melt inside. "But then I saw your face. And now I do believe."
It's been quite a while since I've come across a book that has impacted me as much as Green Valentine has. I regret not reading it earlier, but this book is amazingly amazing. Lili Wilkinson manages to intertwine together romance, high school, being a teenager, life, and current social issues all into one great book.
Green Valentine is about a girl named Astrid and a guy named Hiro who couldn't be more contrasting. Astrid's smart, popular, passionate about the environment, and super determined. She holds petitions, tries to create a garden within her school, sends e-mails to the local council in her spare time in an attempt to save their town, and hasn't gotten into a car in a long time to try and reduce her carbon footprint. On the other end of the spectrum, Hiro is the total opposite of her. He's slack, rude, and doesn't care about school, or anything to be honest. They completely oppose eachother!
The story follows their environmental escapades under the cover of darkness, and their romance for eachother as they try to change and improve their town.
I love love love this book so much, and it's definitely now one of my favourites. Astrid and Hiro are both likeable characters, with flaws and issues that make me feel 'real.' The book isn't over-powered by their romance. Social issues are addressed and I believe this book is so powerful. It makes me want to go out there and save the world and plant trees and just do all of the environmental stuff that Astrid and Hiro do. Maybe I'll get into guerrilla gardening too... Hmm...
But what elevated my eternal love and admiration and affinity for this book is how the seriousness of the issues addressed were accompanied with humour. Can we please discuss the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages? Because they made my entire day. This book was filled with hints and traces of sarcasm and humour and it made me laugh out loud!
And it wouldn't be right to just make this WHOLE book about gardening and the environment only, so Lili Wilkinson goes and adds in the romance and the teenage awkwardness, which too elevates my love for it. Yes, Astrid is a bit snobby throughout the book, and she's passionate and she's determined, but we also get that teenage awkwardness and worry and anxiety from her. She worries, she frets, and her experiences with Hiro in the beginning just make her seem that much more 'real' and relatable. My favourite was when she confronted Hiro on their first date and told him who she was and his reaction... I hid my face during that entire scene. I felt second-hand embarrassment, but at the same time, I loved it.
Enough of my rambling and talking, all I have to say is: GO READ THIS BOOK IT'S WORTH IT (:
"I didn't," said Hiro, with a smile that made me melt inside. "But then I saw your face. And now I do believe."
It's been quite a while since I've come across a book that has impacted me as much as Green Valentine has. I regret not reading it earlier, but this book is amazingly amazing. Lili Wilkinson manages to intertwine together romance, high school, being a teenager, life, and current social issues all into one great book.
Green Valentine is about a girl named Astrid and a guy named Hiro who couldn't be more contrasting. Astrid's smart, popular, passionate about the environment, and super determined. She holds petitions, tries to create a garden within her school, sends e-mails to the local council in her spare time in an attempt to save their town, and hasn't gotten into a car in a long time to try and reduce her carbon footprint. On the other end of the spectrum, Hiro is the total opposite of her. He's slack, rude, and doesn't care about school, or anything to be honest. They completely oppose eachother!
The story follows their environmental escapades under the cover of darkness, and their romance for eachother as they try to change and improve their town.
I love love love this book so much, and it's definitely now one of my favourites. Astrid and Hiro are both likeable characters, with flaws and issues that make me feel 'real.' The book isn't over-powered by their romance. Social issues are addressed and I believe this book is so powerful. It makes me want to go out there and save the world and plant trees and just do all of the environmental stuff that Astrid and Hiro do. Maybe I'll get into guerrilla gardening too... Hmm...
But what elevated my eternal love and admiration and affinity for this book is how the seriousness of the issues addressed were accompanied with humour. Can we please discuss the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages? Because they made my entire day. This book was filled with hints and traces of sarcasm and humour and it made me laugh out loud!
And it wouldn't be right to just make this WHOLE book about gardening and the environment only, so Lili Wilkinson goes and adds in the romance and the teenage awkwardness, which too elevates my love for it. Yes, Astrid is a bit snobby throughout the book, and she's passionate and she's determined, but we also get that teenage awkwardness and worry and anxiety from her. She worries, she frets, and her experiences with Hiro in the beginning just make her seem that much more 'real' and relatable. My favourite was when she confronted Hiro on their first date and told him who she was and his reaction... I hid my face during that entire scene. I felt second-hand embarrassment, but at the same time, I loved it.
Enough of my rambling and talking, all I have to say is: GO READ THIS BOOK IT'S WORTH IT (:
August 18, 2015
::Thank you Allen & Unwin New Zealand for giving me a review copy!::
This is not my favourite Lili Wilkinson book, sadly. GREEN VALENTINE didn't pack the punch that Lili Wilkinson's other books had which is unfortunate considering what a GREAT author she is. I really love Lili's writing which is always sharp and dry but still light enough that it makes it really easy reading but sadly in here it just wasn't enough to smooth out the other problems I had with it.
It's definitely Aussie YA through and through which is a part I thoroughly enjoyed! Aussie YA always seems to have this freshness and skip to it that America and everywhere else just can't manage and so I really enjoyed reading it in here.
Normally I adore Lili's casts of characters but here they all felt a bit lifeless and flat in GREEN VALENTINE. I think Astrid was one of those characters who you either immediately connect to and love to bits...or just feel meh and annoyed by her so you shouldn't judge her for yourself until you read the book! Astrid got on my nerves THE WHOLE BOOK. I didn't like her attitude towards people that weren't 10000000% eco-friendly as she would make out they were the most despicable disgusting things on the planet, which is all very well if ASTRID was 10000000% eco-friendly but she wasn't, so what right did she have to judge other people so harshly? Add to the fact that was incredibly irrattating at times and acted like and idiot whenever Hiro was around and that she was also a pretty rubbish friend and well...I didn't have the upmost love for Astrid.
If Astrid got on my nerves, Hiro DESTROYED THEM. *gnashes teeth* He was such a dickhead at times and made Astrid upset on purpose multiple times and EVERY TIME something went the way he didn't want it, he'd throw a massive tantrum and sulk for ages. He judged people WAAAAY to quickly and *hated* so many people but then he'd lash out at Astrid if he thought she was being the tiniest bit judgy and it was so FRUSTRATING!!
I thought the ending was much to rushed, partly I think because there was so much drama and angst between Astrid and Hiro that the ending kind of leapt out of nowhere, tied everything up in a big pink happily ever after bow that wasn't very believable and then that was the end of the book. COLOUR ME DISAPPOINTED.
It's not all bad though! I did enjoy this book and for all of GREEN VALENTINE'S pesky little problems I didn't regret reading it at all.
And if you liked this you'll LOVE Lili's other books...and if you DIDN'T like this book I'm pretty sure you'll love her other books anyway! *sly wink*
This is not my favourite Lili Wilkinson book, sadly. GREEN VALENTINE didn't pack the punch that Lili Wilkinson's other books had which is unfortunate considering what a GREAT author she is. I really love Lili's writing which is always sharp and dry but still light enough that it makes it really easy reading but sadly in here it just wasn't enough to smooth out the other problems I had with it.
It's definitely Aussie YA through and through which is a part I thoroughly enjoyed! Aussie YA always seems to have this freshness and skip to it that America and everywhere else just can't manage and so I really enjoyed reading it in here.
Normally I adore Lili's casts of characters but here they all felt a bit lifeless and flat in GREEN VALENTINE. I think Astrid was one of those characters who you either immediately connect to and love to bits...or just feel meh and annoyed by her so you shouldn't judge her for yourself until you read the book! Astrid got on my nerves THE WHOLE BOOK. I didn't like her attitude towards people that weren't 10000000% eco-friendly as she would make out they were the most despicable disgusting things on the planet, which is all very well if ASTRID was 10000000% eco-friendly but she wasn't, so what right did she have to judge other people so harshly? Add to the fact that was incredibly irrattating at times and acted like and idiot whenever Hiro was around and that she was also a pretty rubbish friend and well...I didn't have the upmost love for Astrid.
If Astrid got on my nerves, Hiro DESTROYED THEM. *gnashes teeth* He was such a dickhead at times and made Astrid upset on purpose multiple times and EVERY TIME something went the way he didn't want it, he'd throw a massive tantrum and sulk for ages. He judged people WAAAAY to quickly and *hated* so many people but then he'd lash out at Astrid if he thought she was being the tiniest bit judgy and it was so FRUSTRATING!!
I thought the ending was much to rushed, partly I think because there was so much drama and angst between Astrid and Hiro that the ending kind of leapt out of nowhere, tied everything up in a big pink happily ever after bow that wasn't very believable and then that was the end of the book. COLOUR ME DISAPPOINTED.
It's not all bad though! I did enjoy this book and for all of GREEN VALENTINE'S pesky little problems I didn't regret reading it at all.
And if you liked this you'll LOVE Lili's other books...and if you DIDN'T like this book I'm pretty sure you'll love her other books anyway! *sly wink*
November 25, 2015
I was sent a copy of Green Valentine from Allen and Unwin New Zealand to review. I've never read a book by Lili Wilkinson before but I might have to see if the library has any of her other books.
From the sounds of the synopsis Green Valentine is a girl meets boy, from different
worlds, break up kind of story, but it's so much more than that. It's funny, enlightening and kind if empowering all at the same time.
I really liked all the superhero references through the book. I'm like Astrid, I don't really read the graphic novels, but I love the movies and TV shows. I also liked all the facts about the environment scattered throughout Green Valentine. They've been written in a way that's not shoved down your throat but not only fits in the story, I also learned a lot from Astrid's facts.
Astrid was a little annoying at the start of the book, the way she always thought she was better than everyone else, but she's just as flawed as the rest of us. Astrid had a huge awakening and saw the error of her ways. Hiro never pretended to be something he wasn't but he had a lot of prejudice that he hid behind as a way out of actually getting to know people. That is, until Hiro met Astrid and they bought the best out in each other without even reaslising it.
In the end, Green Valentine isn't about a girl and a boy falling for each other, although that's part of it. It's about fighting for what you believe in, coming together with all your different passions and ideas to make the world a better place instead of telling people what they're doing is wrong and expecting them to see the world the way you do. At least, that's what I got out of the book.
I really liked Green Valentine. If you haven't read this yet, please find a copy. It's worth it.
From the sounds of the synopsis Green Valentine is a girl meets boy, from different
worlds, break up kind of story, but it's so much more than that. It's funny, enlightening and kind if empowering all at the same time.
I really liked all the superhero references through the book. I'm like Astrid, I don't really read the graphic novels, but I love the movies and TV shows. I also liked all the facts about the environment scattered throughout Green Valentine. They've been written in a way that's not shoved down your throat but not only fits in the story, I also learned a lot from Astrid's facts.
Astrid was a little annoying at the start of the book, the way she always thought she was better than everyone else, but she's just as flawed as the rest of us. Astrid had a huge awakening and saw the error of her ways. Hiro never pretended to be something he wasn't but he had a lot of prejudice that he hid behind as a way out of actually getting to know people. That is, until Hiro met Astrid and they bought the best out in each other without even reaslising it.
In the end, Green Valentine isn't about a girl and a boy falling for each other, although that's part of it. It's about fighting for what you believe in, coming together with all your different passions and ideas to make the world a better place instead of telling people what they're doing is wrong and expecting them to see the world the way you do. At least, that's what I got out of the book.
I really liked Green Valentine. If you haven't read this yet, please find a copy. It's worth it.
December 14, 2016
Trying to read some YA for work. This was fun and written brightly with warmth and humour. A few niggles in the plot/character development but loved the themes of empowerment and activism in this book.
Astrid Katy Smyth is popular, pretty and capable. She is also an environmental activist wanting to green the suburb where she lives, Valentine. While canvassing a petition to save the Margaret River Hairy Marron at the local supermarket dressed as a lobster (near enough to a yabby!) she makes a connection with 'Trolley Boy' or Hiro.
He expresses his dislike for the popular gang at school - her gang - who he calls the 'Missilinis'. And with that she realises he doesn’t recognise her! When he asks for her number, she hands it over - but keeps her true identity under the face paint. They develop a romantic phone relationship while at school they remain enemies. Now Astrid is leading a double life like a super hero - what could go wrong? And is Hiro telling her the full truth?
Told in the voice of popular girl Astrid we see her struggle with truth, friendship, parents, gardening and growing up - all while remaining popular but grounded and her feet firmly planted (pun intended!).
Astrid Katy Smyth is popular, pretty and capable. She is also an environmental activist wanting to green the suburb where she lives, Valentine. While canvassing a petition to save the Margaret River Hairy Marron at the local supermarket dressed as a lobster (near enough to a yabby!) she makes a connection with 'Trolley Boy' or Hiro.
He expresses his dislike for the popular gang at school - her gang - who he calls the 'Missilinis'. And with that she realises he doesn’t recognise her! When he asks for her number, she hands it over - but keeps her true identity under the face paint. They develop a romantic phone relationship while at school they remain enemies. Now Astrid is leading a double life like a super hero - what could go wrong? And is Hiro telling her the full truth?
Told in the voice of popular girl Astrid we see her struggle with truth, friendship, parents, gardening and growing up - all while remaining popular but grounded and her feet firmly planted (pun intended!).
June 12, 2016
Gosh, I was really getting ready to totally scrap this book. But I got through to the end and I- begrudgingly- am obliged to say that it wasn't terrible. There are a few plot holes that I can address out of spite but who am I to find minute criticisms in a book that I actually had come to like in the end.
It taught me the importance of listening, of seeing the world and other people beyond yourself and also about one's capacity to change the world (in this case, their community) one step/seed at a time.
Having real friends is also something I had come to appreciate after reading this book. Friends who, even after you've wronged them or haven't been a 'friend' at all, still find it in their hearts to understand and get you out of your bed of misery when you need them the most- regardless of whether you admitted it or not.
YA books have never really been my favourite genre of books and this novel still hasn't changed that, but I had managed to get some enjoyment out of it and obtained some important messages from it which I highly value in a novel.
Thank you.
It taught me the importance of listening, of seeing the world and other people beyond yourself and also about one's capacity to change the world (in this case, their community) one step/seed at a time.
Having real friends is also something I had come to appreciate after reading this book. Friends who, even after you've wronged them or haven't been a 'friend' at all, still find it in their hearts to understand and get you out of your bed of misery when you need them the most- regardless of whether you admitted it or not.
YA books have never really been my favourite genre of books and this novel still hasn't changed that, but I had managed to get some enjoyment out of it and obtained some important messages from it which I highly value in a novel.
Thank you.
Read
November 11, 2015did not finish, and not because it was bad; it was cute and fun but i was really not in mood for this. so no stars and off to a fantasy book and i would probably would avoid cute and fun ya for a while
September 29, 2015
Sweet, funny and chocablock with interesting facts.
August 8, 2016
hmmmmmmmmmm it was ok
August 1, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Lili Wilkinson has done it again. She produced a well-written, all-round enjoyable text. And I did enjoy it - I just enjoyed some of her other works more. Not that this one is lacking in any way, the topics of other novels Wilkinson wrote are just more appealing to me. This was still quite a good, quick and easy read.
There were a number of important issues raised within this book, and with varying levels of radicalism regarding the care and maintenance of the environment. Wilkinson accentuated the importance of caring for the environment, using strong facts to further promote the cause - it was clearly evident that this author had conducted significant amounts of research before beginning to author this text.
Perhaps my favourite thing about Wilkinson's works is that she applies many layers to her works - individual problems, friendship problems, family problems, community issues and global issues. There are so many layers in her writing, and it is all accounted for, explored and resolved efficiently while following a clear, distinct plot.
With the impact of global warming, and general lack of consideration from humans, the earth is suffering. Wilkinson highlights this issue in a manner that is empowering for the youth, inspires change and brings a sudden desire to start your own vegetable garden! The concept of the phrasing in the text about 'one seed is all it takes' is so important and incredibly accurate. Starting your own garden definitely isn't going to save the entire world, but it helps. If we each do our part to help, that is many people working towards saving the planet, and maybe then there will be some real change. So go out there and plant your one seed!
The only real complaint I have about this book is the inclusion of side notes in the text through the use of an asterisk (*). Any time there was an asterisk, there was additional information at the bottom of the page to read. Personally, I found this to be distracting. I would be happily reading, and then there would be additional information that I had to jump to - or on occasion I didn't even see the asterisk and had to search for it to find where the information fit into the paragraph! It was so distracting - it interrupted the flow of the text, jumping around the page, and altered the format of the page itself which I wasn't overly fond of either.
The message that community involvement and support promotes change was such an important argument to raise, it was an informative text with detailed facts and statistics, and was just written so well that I was able to read it quickly and easily. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more of Wilkinson's works - all that I have read, I have enjoyed, and I look forward to discovering what else she has to offer her novels and readers.
Lili Wilkinson has done it again. She produced a well-written, all-round enjoyable text. And I did enjoy it - I just enjoyed some of her other works more. Not that this one is lacking in any way, the topics of other novels Wilkinson wrote are just more appealing to me. This was still quite a good, quick and easy read.
There were a number of important issues raised within this book, and with varying levels of radicalism regarding the care and maintenance of the environment. Wilkinson accentuated the importance of caring for the environment, using strong facts to further promote the cause - it was clearly evident that this author had conducted significant amounts of research before beginning to author this text.
Perhaps my favourite thing about Wilkinson's works is that she applies many layers to her works - individual problems, friendship problems, family problems, community issues and global issues. There are so many layers in her writing, and it is all accounted for, explored and resolved efficiently while following a clear, distinct plot.
With the impact of global warming, and general lack of consideration from humans, the earth is suffering. Wilkinson highlights this issue in a manner that is empowering for the youth, inspires change and brings a sudden desire to start your own vegetable garden! The concept of the phrasing in the text about 'one seed is all it takes' is so important and incredibly accurate. Starting your own garden definitely isn't going to save the entire world, but it helps. If we each do our part to help, that is many people working towards saving the planet, and maybe then there will be some real change. So go out there and plant your one seed!
The only real complaint I have about this book is the inclusion of side notes in the text through the use of an asterisk (*). Any time there was an asterisk, there was additional information at the bottom of the page to read. Personally, I found this to be distracting. I would be happily reading, and then there would be additional information that I had to jump to - or on occasion I didn't even see the asterisk and had to search for it to find where the information fit into the paragraph! It was so distracting - it interrupted the flow of the text, jumping around the page, and altered the format of the page itself which I wasn't overly fond of either.
The message that community involvement and support promotes change was such an important argument to raise, it was an informative text with detailed facts and statistics, and was just written so well that I was able to read it quickly and easily. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more of Wilkinson's works - all that I have read, I have enjoyed, and I look forward to discovering what else she has to offer her novels and readers.
April 12, 2016
I must confess. I have done the unthinkable...
I've hit rock bottom and I know I deserve no forgiveness.
I skipped to the end of the book.
Oh, what blasphemy.
Ok so this was more of a 3.5 stars book for me. It started out really cute and interesting. I was very tense for this first part, but I really enjoyed how we got see an example of the different masks people wear depending on who they're with. Exhibit A: Hiro. With hints of Pride and Prejudice.
I also have to say I really enjoyed the overall theme of environmentalism. Recently, I've discovered how passionate I am about this topic and having it at the forefront of this book was awesome. And I found a lot of the facts to be really cool and informative.
The relationship between Hiro and Astrid was definitely sizzling hot. They had such chemistry <3 I do have to say there was a bit of angst here, especially towards the latter part of the book where everything starting metaphorically hitting the fan.
Now, I've avoided talking about my indiscretion, but I guess I must address it. While I was very much enjoying this book and it's pacing, when I got halfway I realized that it was going a little slowly and I NEEDED to know what happened and how things unraveled. So, yes, I skipped to the end of the book and started reading backwards. In hindsight, I do regret it because after reading back up to the point I had left off, I realized everything spiced up in the following chapter. So I guess I got what I deserved.
But overall, this book deals with very important topics ranging from different methods of environmentalism to family issues. I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky and cute book. I especially loved the main character, Astrid, because she was so different from me. I loved her spark and her bravery and her ability to stand up for what she believed in, even in front of very large crowds. This definitely was not a case where the guy called all the shots and made all the moves. She acted the way she wanted because she knew she could.
I recommend this book to anyone even slightly interested in the environment and to anyone not even slightly interested in the environment. I think there is a lot to be learned. Also, would suggest this to anyone interested in messy make out sessions that involve dirt and seeds!
Thank you to NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've hit rock bottom and I know I deserve no forgiveness.
I skipped to the end of the book.
Oh, what blasphemy.
Ok so this was more of a 3.5 stars book for me. It started out really cute and interesting. I was very tense for this first part, but I really enjoyed how we got see an example of the different masks people wear depending on who they're with. Exhibit A: Hiro. With hints of Pride and Prejudice.
I also have to say I really enjoyed the overall theme of environmentalism. Recently, I've discovered how passionate I am about this topic and having it at the forefront of this book was awesome. And I found a lot of the facts to be really cool and informative.
The relationship between Hiro and Astrid was definitely sizzling hot. They had such chemistry <3 I do have to say there was a bit of angst here, especially towards the latter part of the book where everything starting metaphorically hitting the fan.
Now, I've avoided talking about my indiscretion, but I guess I must address it. While I was very much enjoying this book and it's pacing, when I got halfway I realized that it was going a little slowly and I NEEDED to know what happened and how things unraveled. So, yes, I skipped to the end of the book and started reading backwards. In hindsight, I do regret it because after reading back up to the point I had left off, I realized everything spiced up in the following chapter. So I guess I got what I deserved.
But overall, this book deals with very important topics ranging from different methods of environmentalism to family issues. I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky and cute book. I especially loved the main character, Astrid, because she was so different from me. I loved her spark and her bravery and her ability to stand up for what she believed in, even in front of very large crowds. This definitely was not a case where the guy called all the shots and made all the moves. She acted the way she wanted because she knew she could.
I recommend this book to anyone even slightly interested in the environment and to anyone not even slightly interested in the environment. I think there is a lot to be learned. Also, would suggest this to anyone interested in messy make out sessions that involve dirt and seeds!
Thank you to NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing for providing this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2016
I feel as if this book started off really strong, but then it just sort of withered away...
As a huge contemporary fan, I feel obliged to say that I really appreciate the cultivation (I'm trying to use terms related to gardening, hahaha) and creation of such an original idea, but I believe that what let down the story was the characterisation and character development.
I was overjoyed in the beginning of the novel, when I was introduced to a bright young girl, Astrid who was a environmental activist - that's such a brillant idea! I was also digging the idea that she was paired with Hiro, a boy who disliked school, and was prejudice against Missolinis. Which, goes to show that this was a warped re-telling of the classic, Pride & Prejudice, with Astrid as Mr Darcy, and Hiro as Elisabeth Bennett. ANYWAY, I felt like as the storyline progressed the characters...lost character! Hiro became irratible...kind of like Mr Darcy, however I definitely wasn't charmed at all! I'm not sure what it is with kids, but everyone is so obsessed with this idea of popularity, and although I know that this just goes to prove that it's realistic, it wasn't something I could relate to, or agree with. Astrid was OWNING her quirkiness, but Hiro just seemed jealous and a little bitter.
I read 'Green Valentine' as one of the nominees for the 2016 Gold Inky Book Awards, but knowing that Lili Wilkinson has a new book out, 'The Boundless Sublime' and I've heard her speak about it before, I think it will be more suited to my liking.
As a huge contemporary fan, I feel obliged to say that I really appreciate the cultivation (I'm trying to use terms related to gardening, hahaha) and creation of such an original idea, but I believe that what let down the story was the characterisation and character development.
I was overjoyed in the beginning of the novel, when I was introduced to a bright young girl, Astrid who was a environmental activist - that's such a brillant idea! I was also digging the idea that she was paired with Hiro, a boy who disliked school, and was prejudice against Missolinis. Which, goes to show that this was a warped re-telling of the classic, Pride & Prejudice, with Astrid as Mr Darcy, and Hiro as Elisabeth Bennett. ANYWAY, I felt like as the storyline progressed the characters...lost character! Hiro became irratible...kind of like Mr Darcy, however I definitely wasn't charmed at all! I'm not sure what it is with kids, but everyone is so obsessed with this idea of popularity, and although I know that this just goes to prove that it's realistic, it wasn't something I could relate to, or agree with. Astrid was OWNING her quirkiness, but Hiro just seemed jealous and a little bitter.
I read 'Green Valentine' as one of the nominees for the 2016 Gold Inky Book Awards, but knowing that Lili Wilkinson has a new book out, 'The Boundless Sublime' and I've heard her speak about it before, I think it will be more suited to my liking.
June 12, 2016
I’m glad other people seem to like this book, because I had soooo many problems with it. From the very beginning I just didn’t get why Astrid was so interested in Hiro. He could be so horrible, and his nicer side mainly came out when he was flirting. Who would trust a guy like that? I know he turned out to be great, but she shouldn’t have hung around to find that out.
Astrid’s double identity at the beginning made me cringe too; why would anyone sane think that could end well? I just did not understand so many of her thought processes; she could see what was wrong with situations, yet never did the most logical thing, just whatever would be most exciting for the plot. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her as a character, it’s more that she seemed incredibly stupid, which is completely at odds with the idea she’s the perfect student (one that could go through classes in a sleep-deprived daze without any issues, apparently)
Other characters were problematic too; so many were one-dimensional. I mean, why did her principal randomly not like her? And why did the mayor want to implement such a ridiculous plan for Valentine? Because that book needed a villain? I just could not believe that anyone would want that for their suburb. And where would the money have come from? And why did no-one do anything until Astrid decided to act?
These and so many other questions really stopped me enjoying this book.
Astrid’s double identity at the beginning made me cringe too; why would anyone sane think that could end well? I just did not understand so many of her thought processes; she could see what was wrong with situations, yet never did the most logical thing, just whatever would be most exciting for the plot. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her as a character, it’s more that she seemed incredibly stupid, which is completely at odds with the idea she’s the perfect student (one that could go through classes in a sleep-deprived daze without any issues, apparently)
Other characters were problematic too; so many were one-dimensional. I mean, why did her principal randomly not like her? And why did the mayor want to implement such a ridiculous plan for Valentine? Because that book needed a villain? I just could not believe that anyone would want that for their suburb. And where would the money have come from? And why did no-one do anything until Astrid decided to act?
These and so many other questions really stopped me enjoying this book.
September 25, 2016
Actual rating 3.5
While nothing special, Green Valentine is a cutesy read with some educational stuff splashed in. I wasn't the biggest fan of the relationship that developed but it was understandable and really evoked the teen angst it was supposed to. While it may be aimed at girls (largely due to the cover) I think some of the more sensitive young boys out there may enjoy it as well. It does seem slightly younger than some of the stuff I usually read, and despite the ages of the characters, but it was cute, quirky and enjoyable nonetheless!
Personally I plan on using it as a companion novel to my Year 9 science classes as we talk about biology, biodiversity, recycling and energy.
Age: 13+
Warnings: Breasts are mentioned. Literally nothing else.
While nothing special, Green Valentine is a cutesy read with some educational stuff splashed in. I wasn't the biggest fan of the relationship that developed but it was understandable and really evoked the teen angst it was supposed to. While it may be aimed at girls (largely due to the cover) I think some of the more sensitive young boys out there may enjoy it as well. It does seem slightly younger than some of the stuff I usually read, and despite the ages of the characters, but it was cute, quirky and enjoyable nonetheless!
Personally I plan on using it as a companion novel to my Year 9 science classes as we talk about biology, biodiversity, recycling and energy.
Age: 13+
Warnings: Breasts are mentioned. Literally nothing else.
November 13, 2015
This is a great YA novel with a little difference; it's environmentally conscious! The author has used this book to relay a strong message of effecting change and it mostly works. The teen characters are written well; they're from opposite sides of the tracks and you get a serious sense their future will be ultimately doomed. There's a lot of back story into other characters that play into the story and add layers. I really enjoyed it but you need to keep in context that this is written for teens so not as multilayered as it could be
September 12, 2015
Some very sweet moments (as well as some amazing fake reality TV show ideas) but it did lose its pace 3/4 of the way through. The superhero subtext was a little laboured at times and the villains far too one-dimensional. Writing was a little over the top at key moments of love, angst or drama which let the book down. Enjoyed the book's evironmental messages.
December 20, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I found it very fast to read and was able to relate the main character to someone that I know in real life. I did find Astrid annoying at times when she ignored/forgot about important things, but I was able to look past that again. It was a really quick read and I did thoroughly enjoy it.
August 16, 2017
Will write a review to be posted at Reading Time. I had loads of fun with this, as it has a great blend of humour and warmth.
Update 17/08 My (very long) review is now available at Reading Time.
Go read it.
Update 17/08 My (very long) review is now available at Reading Time.
Go read it.
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