I used to hate the Kindle app, but now I have a newfound respect for it.

When I used to download books from NetGalley, I’ve always resented downloading to Kindle because:
1. The formatting on certain books goes out of place.
2. The text on graphic novels are ridiculously tiny.
3. I only have the Kindle app on my phone. Reading from my phone makes me easily distracted.

But now that my NetGalley feedback score is lower than preferred, I’m glad that the Kindle app saved my previous downloads of books that I didn’t get the chance to read (expired before I could read it, or just wasn’t in the mood). I’ve found a total of 6 books there, and by reviewing at least 3 of it can help me improve my score.

This is one of them.

tl;dr: Over requesting books on NetGalley is a thing. The Kindle app is your best friend. Orson Scott Card is a great writer.

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Lost and Found
by Orson Scott Card

get it here

BOOK SUMMARY

“Are you really a thief?”

That’s the question that has haunted fourteen-year-old Ezekiel Blast all his life. But he’s not a thief, he just has a talent for finding things. Not a superpower–a micropower. Because what good is finding lost bicycles and hair scrunchies, especially when you return them to their owners and everyone thinks you must have stolen them in the first place? If only there were some way to use Ezekiel’s micropower for good, to turn a curse into a blessing. His friend Beth thinks there must be, and so does a police detective investigating the disappearance of a little girl. When tragedy strikes, it’s up to Ezekiel to use his talent to find what matters most.

Master storyteller Orson Scott Card delivers a touching and funny, compelling and smart novel about growing up, harnessing your potential, and finding your place in the world, no matter how old you are.

BOOK REVIEW

*An e-copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

t/w: death, bullying, profanities, kidnapping, child trafficking, child-p*rn (mentions only)

Note: This book deals with the problem of kidnapping, human trafficking and child p*rnography. It is a serious matter, and it happens anywhere and everywhere in the world. As I am writing the review now, I do not know if I want to keep it up on my blog, or be associated with any kind of books relating to this. I would classify this as a novel for maybe children around the age of 14 onwards, and I think regardless of the harsh and sensitive topic, it is difficult to shy away from the cruel reality of this world. Otherwise, this is a very good book about relationships, trust and hidden potential, which I enjoyed.

“It means that I trust you and you can trust me. It means that if something goes wrong for you, I help as much as I can. It means that if you’re not where you’re expected, I look for you. It means that if good stuff happens, I’m happy for you.”

Lost and Found (Orson Scott Card)

This book is easily in my top 5 books of the year. It deals with friendships, familial relationships and a whole lot of banter which I absolutely enjoyed. Every character introduced had a purpose in the story and wasn’t there just for the sake of it.

Initially, much like Ezekiel, I thought Beth was annoying. The thought of having an unwelcomed person wanting to stick by you irritates me, but I really liked the way they interacted. The conversations in this book was written so well, not only between Ezekiel and Beth, but also with the adults too. It was quite mature with a lot of banter. Sure, you could argue that it was childish and bratty, but if a child could think of such retorts, that would be very cool. It reminds me of BBC Sherlock Holmes’ retorts, or those of Dr. Gregory House’s, but maybe I am biased.

The book was very enjoyable. The first chapter flew by so quickly, and I was able to finish this book within four days, much faster than any other of this length. It was quite a fast paced book and it definitely wasn’t predictable, but it wasn’t shocking. All the events and choices made sense, so it is clear that Card had a very well-formed plan.

The major characters were all very likeable, well-written and dynamic. Each character had some unique point of view and ability, some of them had actual abilities which were called ‘micropower’ throughout the book. There was a huge belief that everyone had a micropower. It’s just like a superpower, but less super, less impressive. For Ezekiel, it was his ability to find things that were lost, for Dahlia, it was making someone yawn, for Skunk (Ezekiel, gave him that nickname, which he does to almost every character, but his actual name is Lanny), he can turn fowl stinks into pleasant scents. You will discover the others’ micropowers throughout the book.

As much as I laughed out loud while reading, I also cried so much, especially towards the end. I really loved the relationships, especially between Ezekiel and his dad’s. Perhaps some people might think the way they interact with each other might be unrealistic or maybe borderline disrespectful, but I understand it comes from a genuine place of respect, admiration and trust. I could go on and on about each relationship that I loved, but this isn’t a book report, and I’ll allow you to formulate your own thoughts and feelings about this book.

As for the harsher topics, below is a spoiler for if anyone wants to know more about the kidnapping/ child-trafficking parts. I believe strongly that as a reviewer, we need to be careful of the books we read and promote on our platforms. Which is why if it will reduce anyone’s anxiety or if it is a triggering topic, I will include a not-descriptive type of spoiler.

SPOILER

A big part of this book is surrounding Ezekiel’s ability to find things, and he discovers he can use lost things to find people too. Which is how he became involved in helping a couple find their kidnapped daughter. There are mentions of a child-trafficking ring, and mentions of what goes on in these websites. Nothing is graphic, or descriptive, especially since the main characters are 14. However, I do think eventually, you will need to talk to children about such dangers.