Ask the Passengers | 
so-soI had mixed feelings about this one. One one hand, I liked the characters and the plot a lot. But I‘m the other had, I thought it had a lot of things wrong with it. Like the whole passengers thing. I didn‘t understand that. Or how the writing style felt lumpy at times. Not to mention the fact that the high school suspended her for saying the f-word. What kind of high school do they go to where no one says the f-word? ⬇️
pickThis book touched me so deeply. As someone who can relate to the main character, this book is so important to me. I felt understood by the wider world and comforted to know that others out there are also finding solace in this story. There were moments and words that I wished I could wrap up in a little box and hold with me forever.
1. Gonna start ask the passengers soon
2. Shadow of the fox by Julie Kagawa
3. The rumor by Elin hilderbrand
#weekendreads
pickI recently read a research study about incorporating LGBTQ+ literature in classrooms, and this novel was listed as one that the researchers found that fit their criteria of relevant and quality literature. I have to agree. Astrid Jones is strong female questioning her sexuality, while navigating through one of the toughest times in life...high school. A. S. King does a wonderful job developing her characters with authentic and relatable voices.
so-soMore review catch-up—this was my book club‘s July pick. I appreciated the way this portrays the main character‘s struggle with coming out—her uncertainty & reluctance to pin a label on herself, and her resistance to pressure from others to be or do what she‘s not sure about yet. But the airplane passengers part didn‘t work for me—I felt it either needed more development, or to be taken out altogether. In the end, I‘m torn between “Pick” & “So-So.”
pickIf there is an author that can more strongly and realistically encapsulate what it's like to be a teenager, Squidapus doesn't know of them. While all of King's books deal with growing up and the pain that can go with it, Ask the Passengers vividly portrays the struggle of figuring out and living with one's sexuality. It is incredibly affecting to read about a young woman who can only confide in the airplane passengers she imagines above her.
I started this one earlier in the week—my book club‘s pick for July. I‘m enjoying it so far, but have to admit that I still get a kick out of the title in combination with the author‘s name. It reminds me of those dumb book title jokes my siblings and I used to tell when we were kids. You know, stuff like: Ten Yards to the Outhouse by Will E. Makeit, illustrated by Betty Don‘t. 😂
pick#PrinceOfJuly Day 9: #UGotTheLook is explored somewhat in this novel that explores gender identity: what it means to look like a girl or a boy. As Iphigene stated in her review of the novel: “Ask the Passenger doesn‘t beg us to like it. What it does is propel our mind to think, to question the world, what we know, and who we are. It is a story that tackles gender identity and the boxes we live in.” Link to Full review ⬇️
I was gonna go pick up my holds at the library this evening, “when it cools down.” 😩 I changed my mind. I‘m staying inside, with plenty of other books to keep me occupied. And smoothies. I think I will make myself an icy cold smoothie. The tagged book club pick and Parable of the Talents for #earthseedbuddyread can wait until tomorrow, when it‘ll be a balmy 96F. Bleah.
"How many things do I have to invent in my head to survive this?" -A.S. King, Ask the Passengers
pick“You mean to tell me that it‘s 2011 and this guy gets paid to have remedial talks with high school students about how they shouldn‘t hate other people? Isn‘t this elementary? Shouldn‘t it be automatic? What kind of species are we if we have to have people come talk to us about this crap? And how, if we‘re that stupid, did we get to the moon and help build a space station?”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Visiting family this weekend but everyone is at work this morning so I‘m sat with my book enjoying this lovely sunshine ☀️
I‘m over halfway through this and it‘s really good. It‘s a coming of age story set in a small town in America & the main character Astrid is questioning her sexuality. I love the little vignettes of the airplane passengers.
pickA quirky & enjoyable read that handles its issues with sensitivity & intelligence let down by a spectacularly meh ending. Believable characters (if some of the scenarios were a tad stretched) - Astrid & Dee were nicely drawn and likable. But my favourite was the utterly vile mother who managed to simultaneously not care at all and "care" way too much. She was fabulously infuriating - what a horror! Loved the stories of the passengers... cont. ??
pickI really enjoyed this book, however, even though its fiction, I hate that the concept and ideas displayed in this book are so true. This story makes you think. It doesn‘t matter if we agree with someone else‘s choices, but to be decent human beings we should still love and respect the people themselves. I think this book shows some light on this topic. 4/5 ⭐️ #yafiction
I used to LOVE Seventeen magazine. It was second only to Sassy in my teenage heart. So here's Seventeen's list of seventeen books every girl should read before she turns seventeen: http://www.seventeen.com/life/a29176/17-books-every-girl-should-read-before-shes...
#NovemberbytheNumbers
@Tiffy_Reads @JoeStalksBeck
This was the only book I could think of right away that involved planes - the main character likes to lie on the picnic table in her backyard and send her love up to the passengers in the planes flying overhead. It‘s a very sweet coming of age story that I really enjoyed. #bigjetplane @Robothugs @Cinfhen #tuneintonovember
pickI loved this book! I read it in less than twenty four hours. My heart broke for Astrid Jones. I felt so frustrated on her behalf throughout the book. I hope this story will help more LGBT kids feel less alone.
pickOverall a good book. An easy to read coming of age story about a teen girl who is sick of everyone telling her how to live her life. She has a hard enough time figuring out whether she really wants a girlfriend and if she is in love with this girlfriend without everyone else interfering. Some of the characters could have had more depth and the concept of bisexuality could have been better addressed (i.e. mentioned as a possible sexuality).
pickI really enjoyed this coming of age, coming to terms with being different, small town family drama. The format was a bit strange with the interludes of the passengers' stories, and I can see how that wouldn't be for everyone, but I thought it worked in its own odd way. #LitsyReadingChallenge #LRC19 #LGBTQlove @jessica (image from interwebz)
pick#2017Book22
Astrid Jones is an average teenager. Except she spends every weekend deveining shrimp, she often lies on a picnic table in her backyard sending love to the planes flying overhead, and she's almost 99.9% sure that she's gay. Totally normal. Like all of King's novels, Ask the Passengers weaves absurd elements into a very powerful story about coming of age in a society that's resistant to accept anyone who might be a little different.
Snowy night, crackling fire, a snuggly pooch and a good book...perfect! #SaintBernardsoflitsy
#dogsoflitsy
Good YA story about identity, honesty, and navigating high school and family relationships.
pickA sweet YA novel about identity. Well executed- not too cliched and easy to read
Easy reading for the first evening of school break
pick3.5⭐️s Enjoyable read. "Did you ever wonder if what you believe is reality? I mean, that beyond this is a real reality that's more real than the reality you know?" Ha! Love that line. P153. ".....and I figure out what confuses people so much about other people being gay. They think it's all about sex." P224....bam!..every LGBTQ book I read gives me more insight, and I love and appreciate that. Love to everyone currently on an airplane right now?
I wasn't sure If I would commit to this book, but I'm on p 152 and the main character is likable. Astrid is 17, somewhat confused about her sexuality, and summons Socrates in stressful moments. She also sends love to passing airplanes, which I must say, I think I'm going to start doing that!
Decided to get rid of some of my extra books by leaving them at the bus stop. Hopefully they find some lovely new homes! #GiveaBook #booklove
My #planestrainsandautomobiles entry, from the above mentioned book (this is on a t-shirt designed & sold by the author). #photoadaynov16
My Ask the Passengers tattoo! I met A.S. King a little over 3 years ago and got to show her...she even posted it on her blog! 😍 #photoadaynov16 #PlanesTrainsandAutomobiles #lgbtq #ya
@RealLifeReading
One of my professors decided I didn't have enough to read.
#firstlitsypost #booktober Here is my first ever @Litsy post. So glad I joined.
Loved this book. Interesting to find I did have a few favorite book titles in white. #allinwhite #bookphotochallenges @TheSpinecrackersBookClub
pickI found this book engrossing. The relationships between the characters had complexity which is in my mind true to life. Things are seldom simple. The ideas of questioning and fighting against labels is one I relate to and the practice of sending love out to the world connected with me.
pick4 stars
I really enjoyed her writing style. I liked many of the hard hitting quotes as well. I think that some people might have a problem with how she referred to asexual people but then again I'm not sure. I will be reading more books by this author.
