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Unclaimed Baggage
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In Jen Doll's young adult debut novel, Unclaimed Baggage, Doris--a lone liberal in a conservative small town--has mostly kept to herself since the terrible waterslide incident a few years ago. Nell had to leave behind her best friends, perfect life, and too-good-to-be-true boyfriend in Chicago to move to Alabama. Grant was the star quarterback and epitome of "Mr. Popular"
...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
September 18th 2018
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
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I really liked the characters and the format of this one, but I feel like the plot kind of dragged a little? This is a fairly short book but it took me ages to read and tbh it took away from my enjoyment a bit. Blah
Very cute and sweet book... It started out light and breezy, but then it got pretty serious. I would have loved more about the store and the crazy things they found.
2 stars.
You ever find yourself reading a contemporary novel and wanting to know the message behind the story? That's me. And I did not find the message in Unclaimed Baggage.
Even as I'm writing this, I'm having a hard time trying to come up with how I genuinely feel about this book. There are powerful messages throughout the story calling out sexism, double standards, racism, etc. Except, the story itself is lost among those messages.
Unclaimed Baggage follows three teens working at a store where ...more
You ever find yourself reading a contemporary novel and wanting to know the message behind the story? That's me. And I did not find the message in Unclaimed Baggage.
Even as I'm writing this, I'm having a hard time trying to come up with how I genuinely feel about this book. There are powerful messages throughout the story calling out sexism, double standards, racism, etc. Except, the story itself is lost among those messages.
Unclaimed Baggage follows three teens working at a store where ...more
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
*4.5 stars*
TW: alcoholism; sexual assault; victim blaming; racism (all are challenged in the story)
Ever wonder what happens to lost luggage that’s never returned to its rightful owner? Well, in the adorable Unclaimed Baggage, we, along with the three main characters, get to find out! When I saw the author would be sig ...more
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
*4.5 stars*
TW: alcoholism; sexual assault; victim blaming; racism (all are challenged in the story)
Ever wonder what happens to lost luggage that’s never returned to its rightful owner? Well, in the adorable Unclaimed Baggage, we, along with the three main characters, get to find out! When I saw the author would be sig ...more
4.5 stars
This book was such an unexpectedly cute and fun read (with elements of complexity) that gave me all of the feelings of a summer in the South. I really enjoyed reading this in the month of January but believe me, this would be the absolute perfect summer or vacation read.
In this story, we follow three main characters Nell, Doris, and Grant. All three of them are very different but as expected, a friendship develops and is accelerated by the fact that they all share the same place of emp ...more
This book was such an unexpectedly cute and fun read (with elements of complexity) that gave me all of the feelings of a summer in the South. I really enjoyed reading this in the month of January but believe me, this would be the absolute perfect summer or vacation read.
In this story, we follow three main characters Nell, Doris, and Grant. All three of them are very different but as expected, a friendship develops and is accelerated by the fact that they all share the same place of emp ...more
3.5 stars! I’m really into stories where people are brought together by circumstance and end up growing more into who they really are because of those relationships and experiences. Loved the added bonus of the Unclaimed Baggage store as a setting too!
Jan 10, 2019
Brittany Tellefsen (thecontinuingchronicles)
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
2019-reads,
ya-contemporary
Rating: 2.5/5
This story follows three teens and, through their three different perspectives, we follow them and their experience working at Unclaimed Baggage, a store in small town Alabama that literally sells the contentns of baggage not retrieved at airports. We have Doris, a native of the town who has worked at Unclaimed Baggage for a while and often finds her self suffocated and misunderstood in small town Alabama. A lot more progressive then her family and surrounding townspeople, she find ...more
This story follows three teens and, through their three different perspectives, we follow them and their experience working at Unclaimed Baggage, a store in small town Alabama that literally sells the contentns of baggage not retrieved at airports. We have Doris, a native of the town who has worked at Unclaimed Baggage for a while and often finds her self suffocated and misunderstood in small town Alabama. A lot more progressive then her family and surrounding townspeople, she find ...more
4.5 stars. I expected a cute, quirky romcom, but I got SO much more than that. Unclaimed Baggage has a LOT of hidden depth to it, and I really enjoyed it! Full review tk.
MY RATING: 3/5 STARS
I was sent an ARC from Raincoast Books Canada in exchange for a honest review.
Let’s take a quick break from the review to talk about how incredibly cute this cover is! I loved it so much and was immediately drawn to it. After reading the synopsis, I was hooked from the start. Unclaimed Baggage tells the story of Doris, an employee of Unclaimed Baggage, a store dedicated to selling luggage that has been lost or forgotten from airlines across the country. She loves her job beca ...more
I was sent an ARC from Raincoast Books Canada in exchange for a honest review.
Let’s take a quick break from the review to talk about how incredibly cute this cover is! I loved it so much and was immediately drawn to it. After reading the synopsis, I was hooked from the start. Unclaimed Baggage tells the story of Doris, an employee of Unclaimed Baggage, a store dedicated to selling luggage that has been lost or forgotten from airlines across the country. She loves her job beca ...more
3.5 stars!
Sep 22, 2018
Kelly Hager
added it
This is an incredibly fun read. I think most of us can relate to feeling like an outsider, and if that's also you, you will love Doris.
All three of them are struggling, though. Nell is in a new town, Grant may well be an alcoholic (those online quizzes indicate yes, but he's not so sure) but either way, his life is falling apart and again, Doris is a liberal in a conservative, religion-is-the-best-thing-except-maybe-football town.
I love stories about friendship and stories where people are very ...more
All three of them are struggling, though. Nell is in a new town, Grant may well be an alcoholic (those online quizzes indicate yes, but he's not so sure) but either way, his life is falling apart and again, Doris is a liberal in a conservative, religion-is-the-best-thing-except-maybe-football town.
I love stories about friendship and stories where people are very ...more
Thank you Raincoast books for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
ACTUAL: 4.75/5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel! It was different than I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise.
I found the characters refreshing, and the challenges they faced were realistic. Each experienced growth in their own way throughout the story and overcame periods of racism, guilt, and hardship, resulting in a new positive sense of identity.
I was impressed with the variety of characters, and their di ...more
ACTUAL: 4.75/5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel! It was different than I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise.
I found the characters refreshing, and the challenges they faced were realistic. Each experienced growth in their own way throughout the story and overcame periods of racism, guilt, and hardship, resulting in a new positive sense of identity.
I was impressed with the variety of characters, and their di ...more
This was great! A quiet, heartwarming, and quirky story. I loved the main characters so much and that only grew with every page. I wish there was even more time at the Unclaimed Baggage; the concept of the store was so fun! I loved how some of the luggage-related threads were woven together eventually. The author covered a lot of serious issues while keeping the book lighthearted overall. Highly recommend!!
First of all, thank you so much to Fierce Reads for the book giveaway!! I'm not a big contemporary reader so may not have read this book otherwise if I hadn't won this copy. Well... This has turned out to be one of my top favorites of 2018!! I loved it! And now I want to read more like this, and more by Jen Doll.
Unclaimed Baggage was such a delight to read. I'm totally and completely enamored over Doris, Nell, and Grant, three teens who work at a store that sells the contents of lost, unclaimed ...more
Unclaimed Baggage was such a delight to read. I'm totally and completely enamored over Doris, Nell, and Grant, three teens who work at a store that sells the contents of lost, unclaimed ...more
The plot is a bit messy in parts especially towards the end. I feel like there were a lot of topics that were introduced early on (sexual assault, rape culture, racism, alcoholism, stereotypes of Christians being narrow-minded and hateful, homophobia, etc.) and the author felt like she needed to address them all. But it kind of felt like a checklist after awhile.
The beginning chapters were probably the weakest parts of the book for me. Each chapter is a POV of one of the three teens. But the ch ...more
The beginning chapters were probably the weakest parts of the book for me. Each chapter is a POV of one of the three teens. But the ch ...more
What I have read so far it is one the best book ever.
It’s probably humanly impossible to not like a book with fluffy clouds and a little squirrel holding nuts on the cover. So far, I believe this to be 100% true.
‘Unclaimed Baggage’, while having nothing to do with now-endangered and very cute red squirrels, is just as adorable a book on the inside as it is on the outside, and if it’s that cover that draws you in (like it did me), so be it). It’s the goods inside though that will make you stay a while.
The title of the book is the name of the stor ...more
‘Unclaimed Baggage’, while having nothing to do with now-endangered and very cute red squirrels, is just as adorable a book on the inside as it is on the outside, and if it’s that cover that draws you in (like it did me), so be it). It’s the goods inside though that will make you stay a while.
The title of the book is the name of the stor ...more
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I am going to start by saying, that I love the concept behind this book. Three teens, who are trying to find how they fit in this world are brought together, and a wonderful and unlikely friendship forms. I was totally onboard with the underlying concept of this book.
I wanted to run for president of the Doris fan club from chapter 1. I loved her voice and her quest to be a connector. It was very beautiful and altruistic, and I thought it was wonderful, that she wouldn't let set ...more
I am going to start by saying, that I love the concept behind this book. Three teens, who are trying to find how they fit in this world are brought together, and a wonderful and unlikely friendship forms. I was totally onboard with the underlying concept of this book.
I wanted to run for president of the Doris fan club from chapter 1. I loved her voice and her quest to be a connector. It was very beautiful and altruistic, and I thought it was wonderful, that she wouldn't let set ...more
The genre of YA has a problem -- authors feel the need to throw everything at a book in order to appease the power readers on Goodreads and Twitter. I think this was an almost perfect novel by Jen Doll that fails when it attempts to address racism, bullying, body image, long distance love, alcoholism, religious prejudice, AND living in the South. Honestly, I think the author either needed to make the book longer (which I would have loved) or cut out one or two issues.
But with that one criticism ...more
But with that one criticism ...more
Definitely one of my favorite books of the summer!!! Loved every character. They are each crafted with depth and love. I am so grateful for this direction in YA lit.
A great story about losing and finding about three friends (teenagers) who work at a store for lost luggage in Alabama. Sweat, honest, a little awkward, like being young. Like life.
I couldn't put this book down. Now I am dying for a sequel, a movie about, a tv series. Anything. Just give me more of these characters and this world. ...more
I couldn't put this book down. Now I am dying for a sequel, a movie about, a tv series. Anything. Just give me more of these characters and this world. ...more
Even more familiar settings, characters, and themes than I expected. <3
A fun book about friendship told from the points of view of three very different teens in a small Alabama town.
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20... ...more
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20... ...more
Bah. What a waste of time. I skimmed the last third of the book because it was. So. Boring. I’m over this reading month. Give me something good!!!
Woah was this book a hot mess. Doll seemed solely focused on pushing it as an Issue book featuring every issue under the sun, including racism, assault, overly religious people, and abortion. All of these issues were added in haphazardly and just so Doll could push her own opinions instead of the opinions of her characters and sacrificed plot and character development for the issues' sake.
...more
unclaimed baggage is told in three perspectives - nell, doris, grant. three teens who seem lost but have found each other.
out of the three, i really like grant. his character has a lot going on. even though the book is an easy read, the things that grant is going through is hard to swallow. his character had the most development. and while there weren't a lot of glimpses and strong impressions of the old grant, it was not hard to imagine how he was.
i enjoyed doris too. she's a strong character. ...more
out of the three, i really like grant. his character has a lot going on. even though the book is an easy read, the things that grant is going through is hard to swallow. his character had the most development. and while there weren't a lot of glimpses and strong impressions of the old grant, it was not hard to imagine how he was.
i enjoyed doris too. she's a strong character. ...more
This book was very cute, I would recommend to fans of Jennifer Mathieu's Moxie, and To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
I loved the focus on the support of good friendship in this book, and loved that they were misfits in their small southern town. Coming from the South myself and knowing people who are from even more southern places than myself, I feel it is important for those "Southern misfits" to see themselves in books. I liked that Doll was also able to discuss difficult and serious topics ...more
I loved the focus on the support of good friendship in this book, and loved that they were misfits in their small southern town. Coming from the South myself and knowing people who are from even more southern places than myself, I feel it is important for those "Southern misfits" to see themselves in books. I liked that Doll was also able to discuss difficult and serious topics ...more
My disappointment in this book is papable. There was SO much potential with the provided character depth and the quirky set-up but it all fell flat. Nell and Doris in particular blended into one voice by the middle of the book to the point where I had to continually double check whose chapter I was reading to keep them in order. Grant had the only life in the book but even then he was sort of kicked to the side to make way for Doris's social issues speeches and Nell who didn't really do much or
...more
I got an early copy of this book through a Twitter trade.
What first drew me to the book was the unique, but somewhat similar plot: 3 different teens (each with different and slight dramas in their own lives) meet at a job at a store for Unclaimed Baggage (hence the name of the store and the book). Nell's the new girl in town from Chicago with a black boyfriend back home; Doris is the non-church goer that some of the town views as the social outcast; and Grant is the alcoholic football player who ...more
What first drew me to the book was the unique, but somewhat similar plot: 3 different teens (each with different and slight dramas in their own lives) meet at a job at a store for Unclaimed Baggage (hence the name of the store and the book). Nell's the new girl in town from Chicago with a black boyfriend back home; Doris is the non-church goer that some of the town views as the social outcast; and Grant is the alcoholic football player who ...more
This is the story of Doris, a young woman that has worked at a store that buys unclaimed baggage and sells the items inside and the suitcases, and grieving the loss of her aunt, whom she had a strong bond with. Grant, a young man that is the town's football star, but is dealing with his own demons. Nell, a young woman that just moved to the small Alabama town that Doris and Grant live, she is missing her boyfriend back in Chicago, but trying to make her way in her new town.
This was an utterly lo ...more
This was an utterly lo ...more
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