Book Review :: Kindred Spirits, by Rainbow Rowell

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell
Published by Macmillans Kids UK
on March 3rd 2016
Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 62
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If you broke Elena’s heart, Star Wars would spill out. So when she decides to queue outside her local cinema to see the new movie, she’s expecting a celebration with crowds of people who love Han, Luke and Leia just as much as she does.

What she’s not expecting is to be last in a line of only three people; to have to pee into a collectable Star Wars soda cup behind a dumpster or to meet that unlikely someone who just might truly understand the way she feels.

Last updated on 7 June 2022

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What is Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell about?

Elena has never lined up for a movie release before. But Star Wars: The Force Awakens is about to start screening and she needs to be there.

Days before the film is due for release, she heads along to the cinema (despite her mother’s reservations about the whole thing), and is disappointed to see only 2 other people lining up. In her mind, there would be a line right around the corner, with people dressed up as everything from Princess Leia to Wookies to droids. They would have The Imperial March on repeat, they would be eating Star Wars themed food and drink, all while bonding with like-minded geeks on the street.

But there’s just her,  a grown man who’s been to a whole bunch of line-ups like this, and a young guy her age who doesn’t seem to want to talk. As the days go by, Elena wonders if she should just go home, or continue peeing in the Star Wars-themed cup behind a dumpster in the middle of the night, and getting no sleep. But as the week progresses, slowly she begins to enjoy herself more and while she’s exhausted by the time they finally make it into the cinema, she’s glad she made the effort to line up.

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My Thoughts:  Kindred Spirits

Rainbow Rowell released this book for World Book Day last year, and I finally got my hands on it (quite accidentally, by walking by it in the library and automatically sticking out my hand to grab it as I went by).

It’s such a sweet story, and even though it’s only 62 pages, I could definitely see this being fleshed out into a full novel. There are a few things that came up that could definitely be expanded on – Elena’s relationship with her father is strained, but it’s him that got her into Star Wars to begin with, her friend group at school and how they’re perceived as a clique etc – so if Rainbow were to ever elaborate on it, I would definitely be reading it.

I so related to Elena and her love of Star Wars. While I haven’t waited in line for days as she did, I have been to many midnight first-ever screenings of movies like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and other series that I love. I’ve dressed up and waited in line on the day though, and it’s so much fun.

There isn’t actually really much more say about this book because it’s so short, but if you love Rainbow Rowell, and you love Star Wars (or even any franchise/series similar), then you’ll really enjoy this book. It’ll take you no time at all to read – I read it in 25 minutes before dinner one day – and it’s so light-hearted and enjoyable.

Have you read Kindred Spirits?