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Melanie Tamaki is human—but her parents aren’t. They are from Half World, a Limbo between our world and the afterlife, and her father is still ther...
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Jul 08, 2011
Jenny
rated it: 
The cover of this book is gorgeous. What can I say? It drew me in, compelling me to read it. I also happen to be a fan of fantasy and a teenager looking to enjoy young adult again. As my two star rating hints, it didn't spark the passion for YA I once had nor did it satisfy my craving for the genre.
Taking place in a universe composed of three realms - the Realm of Flesh, the Realm of Spirit, and Half World - this book is set up for a fantastical delight. But for me, despite the countle More...
Taking place in a universe composed of three realms - the Realm of Flesh, the Realm of Spirit, and Half World - this book is set up for a fantastical delight. But for me, despite the countle More...
May 29, 2011
Mrs.
rated it: 
Once the Three Realms worked in harmony--the Realm of the Flesh, the Realm of the Half World and the Realm of the Spirits. But thousands of years ago the realms were split and cut off from each other. There is a prophecy that the realms will be joined again when a live child is born into Half World--a place of neither life nor spirit. 14-year-old Melanie is not smart nor pretty, is bullied constantly, and must take care of her sickly mother. One day she comes home to find her mother gone. She re
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Jan 28, 2011
Ari
rated it: 
Melanie is chubby, dubbed a 'slow learner' in school, and so she is bullied. I never felt connected to Melanie though. I sympathised with her being made fun of, but that was about all I felt for her. Sympathy. We don't learn much about Melanie's life, all we know is that she is poor, picked on and loves to read. I wanted to learn more about her history. I also would have liked to know where her story took place in the real world (my guess would be Canada just because that's where the author live
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Jul 10, 2010
Midnight
rated it:
When I first read the plot description, I thought Half World sounded interesting and showed some promise, but within the first few pages, I already had a feeling I was going to be disappointed by the end... and I was right.
Told in third person, Half World is an Asian influenced fantasy novel. The realms are at stake- long ago the cycle between the Realm of Flesh, Half World, and the Realm of Spirit was severed, and now those in Half World (those who are dead but can't pass into spiri More...
Told in third person, Half World is an Asian influenced fantasy novel. The realms are at stake- long ago the cycle between the Realm of Flesh, Half World, and the Realm of Spirit was severed, and now those in Half World (those who are dead but can't pass into spiri More...
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Apr 25, 2010
K.
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Melanie Tamaki is 14 years old, on the "slow-learner" track in school, bullied by classmates, strangely loved by crows, and coping with a mother who is constantly sick and can't keep a job.
But do to the prologue wherein a pregnant woman escapes from Half-Life World, we know why her mother is sick all the time, and that Melanie is a prophesied child who might be able to heal the sundered links between our world, the half-life world where we should work out our earthly terror More...
But do to the prologue wherein a pregnant woman escapes from Half-Life World, we know why her mother is sick all the time, and that Melanie is a prophesied child who might be able to heal the sundered links between our world, the half-life world where we should work out our earthly terror More...
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Feb 19, 2010
Sabra
rated it:
Melanie doesn't have it easy she's chubby, making poor grades at school, she has no friends and her single mother is always exhausted and between jobs leaving them with little means for food and comfort.
One day after school Melanie's mother is missing and determined to find her, Melanie ventures through a portal to a place called Half World, a world of grotesque hybrid animal-human creatures lead by a villain called Mr Glueskin, where everything is gray, bleak and ghostly; and starf More...
One day after school Melanie's mother is missing and determined to find her, Melanie ventures through a portal to a place called Half World, a world of grotesque hybrid animal-human creatures lead by a villain called Mr Glueskin, where everything is gray, bleak and ghostly; and starf More...
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Jul 14, 2010
rachel
rated it: 
Dark Japanese-influenced fantasy is one of my favorite things. When I read that this book dealt with spiritual realms and had a chubby loner for a hero, it was elevated to a MUST READ RIGHT NOW on my list.
The "dark fantasy" part was satisfied beyond my expectations; the characters that Melanie meets in the Half World are truly grotesque and horrifying, and Mr. Glueskin's party trick freaked me the f out. Melanie's initial experiences of the Mirages Hotel are a sensory d More...
The "dark fantasy" part was satisfied beyond my expectations; the characters that Melanie meets in the Half World are truly grotesque and horrifying, and Mr. Glueskin's party trick freaked me the f out. Melanie's initial experiences of the Mirages Hotel are a sensory d More...
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Jun 07, 2010
Melody
rated it:
"Half World is a haunting combination of a coming-of-age novel and a spiritual quest, a mad funhouse of horrors and a tale of redemption and love. Wonderfully odd, and quite unforgettable." — Neil Gaiman
With an eye-catching cover, an intriguing title and not to mention a blurb from Neil Gaiman, how could I possibly ignore this book? It even piqued my husband's curiosity, which I took it as a good sign because he rarely took notice of what I'm reading (well, he's More...
With an eye-catching cover, an intriguing title and not to mention a blurb from Neil Gaiman, how could I possibly ignore this book? It even piqued my husband's curiosity, which I took it as a good sign because he rarely took notice of what I'm reading (well, he's More...
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Jan 10, 2012
Meaghan
rated it:
There are three realms of existence: the Realm of the Flesh (life), the Realm of the Spirit (afterlife), and Half World (sort of like purgatory). The three realms have somehow become disconnected, trapping their inhabitants and preventing them from completing a natural life cycle by passing through all three realms. Our protagonist, Melanie, discovers that her mother and father are escapees from Half World. When her mother is taken back to her home realm, Melanie follows to try to rescue her and
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Jan 08, 2012
Katie
rated it:
Half World was interesting. The prose had a fairytale quality that reminded me of Malinda Lo's "Ash" and Cindy Pon's "Silver Phoenix", but for some reason I had a lot of trouble getting into it.
That said, this book as so many elements that I really appreciate, including:
- The protagonist, Melanie. When we meet her, she is running away from school bullies. Melanie is an easy target. She is poor. She doesn't have access to good food, so she is both overweight and More...
That said, this book as so many elements that I really appreciate, including:
- The protagonist, Melanie. When we meet her, she is running away from school bullies. Melanie is an easy target. She is poor. She doesn't have access to good food, so she is both overweight and More...
Dec 12, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
When I was in high school I couldn't seem to get enough of manga and Japanese anime. I inhaled it. When I caught a glimpse of the cover of Hiromi Goto's YA novel, Half World, I immediately thought back to these days of flipping through the pages of countless comic books. Despite the sense of anime and manga created by the cover, I was nevertheless surprised by the cinematic feel of the text itself. Reading Half World was like watching a film by Miyazaki. In fact, the plot was somewhat similar
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Apr 05, 2010
Julia
rated it:
A dark fantasy with an interesting heroine. Melanie is a person who doesn't fit in her world. Her mother is barely funcitonal, and Melanie is often teased for being large or stupid or odd. When the events of the story unfold, Melanie is forced into a quest to save her mother, which ultimately leads to a greater quest.
What made Melanie memorable to me was that she is SO human. She is definately not a hero. She struggles the way a real person might if forced into extreme and ins More...
What made Melanie memorable to me was that she is SO human. She is definately not a hero. She struggles the way a real person might if forced into extreme and ins More...
Jan 19, 2011
Jan
rated it:
14-year-old Melanie is thrust into Half World, a purgatory for souls that cannot move on to the next world, on a journey to save her mother. She must battle the revolting Mr. Glueskin, who is the overlord of Half World and is determined to keep the denizens of Half World enslaved.
This is a graphic novel that combines fairy tale and fantasy and gives it a dark twist. The book is written in a cinematic style, with bizarre and wonderful illustrations by Tamaki that fit this unusual More...
This is a graphic novel that combines fairy tale and fantasy and gives it a dark twist. The book is written in a cinematic style, with bizarre and wonderful illustrations by Tamaki that fit this unusual More...
Apr 23, 2010
Lindsay
rated it:
I picked up this book because the cover is incredibly awesome, and was very much rewarded. Half World is the story of Melanie Tamaki, a quiet and "dorky" girl with an alcoholic and often neglectful mother. Melanie embarks on a great quest when her mother disappears into Half World, where she discovers a universe of dead people who keep reliving their tragic ends over and over. With gruesome enemies and some helpful friends made, Melanie must uncover the story of her birth all the while
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Jul 08, 2011
Ursula
rated it:
The following review appeared in April 2011, in The New York Review of Science Fiction. It was part of a general discussion about several YA speculative titles published by Canadians in 2009. The entire essay appears on my Goodreads blog.
Notes on the 2010 Sunburst Award by Ursula Pflug
Chairing the Sunburst jury for the 2010 awards (for books published in 2009) coincided with leaving behind a lifelong cigarette habit. I contented myself with bits of teaching and editing an More...
Notes on the 2010 Sunburst Award by Ursula Pflug
Chairing the Sunburst jury for the 2010 awards (for books published in 2009) coincided with leaving behind a lifelong cigarette habit. I contented myself with bits of teaching and editing an More...
Feb 07, 2011
Elvira
rated it:
A story revolving around the disturbance in the balance of the three worlds (Realm of the Flesh, Realm of the Spirit, and Half World), breaking the cycle and trapping the spirits in each world. A young girl, Melanie, is introduced to this concept when her mother suddenly leaves to the Half World without her. On her pursuit for her mother, she learns a secret about her parents and herself that can heal the divisions of the worlds, if she can figure out how.
The story is heavily influenc More...
The story is heavily influenc More...
Apr 27, 2011
Jay
rated it:
On slow days at school, I find myself picking through the sparse selection provided by my middle school's library. It was one of those days when I found this gem, and I am very glad I did.
A chubby 14-year-old named Melanie is thrust into the Half-World when her mother disappears. The Half-World is like a Bosch painting come to life, with grotesque horrors being relived by the dead residents of the realm every day. There's more to it, but basically, it's dark.
The book itself is beautifu More...
A chubby 14-year-old named Melanie is thrust into the Half-World when her mother disappears. The Half-World is like a Bosch painting come to life, with grotesque horrors being relived by the dead residents of the realm every day. There's more to it, but basically, it's dark.
The book itself is beautifu More...
Jun 28, 2010
sweet pea
rated it:
Hiromi Goto is one of my favorite authors. so it's no surprise that i love this book. Melanie's coming-of-age journey is one of the most touching i have read. everything falls into place for her - utilizing gifts and the kindness of others. but, as that's her fate, it didn't irk me. the mix of myth, fantasy, and reality is deftly done. the concept of Half World is brilliant. the main antagonist, Mr. Glueskin, seems purely evil. but by the end of the novel, we see things differently. i l
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Feb 05, 2010
Picked up an ARC at ALA Midwinter 2010 and love it. This Asian Canadian author has created a fascinating and compellingly creepy world of Three Realms: the Realms of Flesh, Spirit and Half World. All three are out of balance, dooming their inhabitants to live out their lives in only one realm over and over again rather than evolving through all three. Teenage Melanie is the key to a prophecy that might save them all if she could only find the courage. Fans of manga and anime as well as dark
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Jul 18, 2010
Liza
rated it:
Technically, this is a well-written book. Half World tells the adventure of a girl named Melanie who is part of a prophecy about Limbo-like world called Half World. Half World has gotten stuck, or broken, and Melanie is supposed to fix it. Along the way she meets truly odd creatures, like the woman who has eels for arms, as she must save the world by putting Limbo back in order.
Goto certainly created a world full of creatures and events I could never imagine. Mr. Glueskin definit More...
Goto certainly created a world full of creatures and events I could never imagine. Mr. Glueskin definit More...
Mar 15, 2011
Ricki
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 05, 2011
Stella
rated it:
I picked up Half World by accident - forgetting that the library I went to had their young adult books shelved right next to their graphic novels. I expected this to be somewhat like Skim - a complex, ambiguous coming of age story or I Kill Giants which is an unfair standard to hold any story to. It wasn't bad. I really enjoyed the beginning and most of the middle but towards the end it felt like the universe of the novel bent in odd ways to accommodate the proper happy ending due to the "c
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Oct 28, 2010
Meredith
rated it:
A masterfully crafted fairy tale, both dark and deeply twisted. What made the book so terrifying was Goto's ability to combine the mundane and ordinary into things that were ghastly and wrong. People with grossly distorted features, human-monster hybrids, and souls trapped in an endless loop of trauma and pain made for a disturbing and entertaining read. The Half-World is painted in a rich and descriptive fashion, and the author even took pains to describe how different places and creatures s
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Aug 09, 2010
Lizzy
rated it:
This is a beautiful story of a girl that finds her courage by saving others. Set in both the real world and the half world, a limbo of sorts where souls must relive their final moments of pain over and over and over, Melanie sets off to save her mother with an unlikely companion, a confusing magic eight ball, and part of a prophecy that keeps changing. The scenery is beautiful and haunting, and the story is inspiring, as Melanie learns that the only things she can control are her own actions. It
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Feb 15, 2010
Teagan
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this book. Hiromi Goto is a wonderful author, the tale she spun was so interesting and outside of what you've come to expect from Young Adult fantasy. It tries to do things differently, Melanie doesn't have any magical powers, she isn't super strong, and although there is magic it isn't something that pulses out of her finger tips. She just this poor girl who lost her mother, the only thing left in her life, and who desperately wants her back.
It was a really More...
It was a really More...
Oct 20, 2010
Malissa
rated it:
I didn't have the time or attention for this book that I usually have to give, so it took me a while to get through. I always feel like that means I get less "into" it. Still, I really enjoyed it. It's a darker fantasy where not everyone is sparkly and gorgeous, and there's no real romance. That in itself is a nice change. The protagonist is overweight, unpopular and self-doubting but ends up realizing that when ordinary people are put in extraordinary circumstances they either become
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Jan 30, 2012
Maria
rated it:
Pros:
A fascinating mythology
Interesting cast of characters
A believable heroine
Teaches valuable lessons
Cons:
A few times the plot tended to be predictable
The introduction could have been done better
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Half World but after reading the prologue I quickly got into the story. The prologue tells of the three realms: the Realm of Flesh, Half World and the Realm More...
A fascinating mythology
Interesting cast of characters
A believable heroine
Teaches valuable lessons
Cons:
A few times the plot tended to be predictable
The introduction could have been done better
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Half World but after reading the prologue I quickly got into the story. The prologue tells of the three realms: the Realm of Flesh, Half World and the Realm More...
May 03, 2010
Reviewed by Nick U.
Half-World has a good message but it spends for too much time ranting about the annoying life of the main character. One thing to document the difficulties a chapter might have, and it’s an entirely different story to bore the reader by never making past the obvious I’m sure half-world would have good things to offer, but it too long to get there which to why I took a pass on this. (The difference between manga and novels is shown here)
Half-World has a good message but it spends for too much time ranting about the annoying life of the main character. One thing to document the difficulties a chapter might have, and it’s an entirely different story to bore the reader by never making past the obvious I’m sure half-world would have good things to offer, but it too long to get there which to why I took a pass on this. (The difference between manga and novels is shown here)
Feb 21, 2010
Miki
rated it:
Somewhat predictable, but well-written YA novel about a girl who discovers that she's actually the daughter of a woman from "Half World" and must travel to this place to rescue her mother. It feels like something that could have been taken from a manga story with many fantastical creatures and tests of courage for our heroine. I like that Melanie doesn't instantly turn into a heroic figure, but must fight her way through to the end.
Jul 27, 2010
Breath taking literature - memorable quotes and yet totally bazziar Melanie is an outsider and unpopular. Her mother loves her but is neglectufl and poor. Melanie is barely coping. Everything changes on the day she returns home to find her mother is missing lured back to the Half World by a nightmare creature -Mr. Glueskin. She embarks on an epic and fantastical journey to the Half World to save her mother. YIKE!
