literarypenguin's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first thing I have to say about this book is the representation is so amazingly well done! First we get Asian mental illness representation which we hardly ever see in modern media. We also got a f/f relationship that was not in your face or portrayed in a negative light is so cool to see. The talk about grief and losing a parent is raw and talked about in a respectful and understandable way.
The story revolves around a young girl named Leigh who has just lost her mother to suicide and has to deal with the grief of her sudden and unexpected death. The story takes her to Taiwan where she uncovers family secrets and trauma that has stayed buried for decades. Trying to uncover the meaning of this mysterious large red bird, who Leigh believes is her mother's spirit, she must try to piece together this forgotten family history to figure out what her mother wanted her to remember in her final words.
The main topic in this novel is grief. How the sudden loss of a loved one can effect a person's state of mind especially if this death is in a way that no one saw coming. In the case of a suicide a family can be torn apart, they could feel guilt for not seeing the signs or blame themselves for not doing enough when they could have. It is a very tough subject to talk about when it comes to mental illness especially in certain communities. Mental illness is mostly not spoken of, trying to hide it or move on with life because of the horrible stigma surrounding it. Reading about Leigh and her father moving on from her mother's loss and trying to figure out how to continue with their life. To move forward.
Leigh was a no nonsense teenager who was very passionate about her art and wanted to pursue it as her occupation. I loved her passion for art and how she would not budge on it no matter what other people thought. How she saw the world in color and details that no other people could see. Her bond with her mother over their creative pursuits and passion was heartwarming. It also showed her strained relationship with her father, how his work took him away from her and her mother making her crave his attention and their relationship to be back to the way it used to be. Axel was a great and support best friend to Leigh, I loved how they asked how they were feeling by describing a color to each other! It was so sweet! They were both artists who understood each other and the struggles that came with their passions. Their romance was very believable and I could see their feelings for each other develop over their friendship. It would have been good if they stayed as platonic friends but this romance they developed was just as good as well. Caro was that supportive friend will all need in life! She was bold and spoke her mind when she needed to. Her romance with her girlfriend was so lovely! What I appreciated was how positively it was portrayed and wasnt a main focus in the story. These two girls loved each other and they were both drawn too each other despite being opposites.
The representation was super well done! The portrayal of feeling like you dont belong somewhere and dont understand a certain culture because you weren't raised around it hits a lot of people all over the world. That was another reason that I liked the friendship between Leigh and Axel because they both understood what it was like to be mixed race and not feel like you belong on either side of your cultures. The writing took it's time to explore these feelings, finding out exactly what lead up to the tragedy, and finding out how to move past that loss to begin living again.
I was very pleased with this book and it has become one of my favorites! A powerful story about loss, grief, and finding yourself after that loss. How to move on without forgetting about that person and continue to honor them long after they pass on. A truly impactful and unforgettable book!
The story revolves around a young girl named Leigh who has just lost her mother to suicide and has to deal with the grief of her sudden and unexpected death. The story takes her to Taiwan where she uncovers family secrets and trauma that has stayed buried for decades. Trying to uncover the meaning of this mysterious large red bird, who Leigh believes is her mother's spirit, she must try to piece together this forgotten family history to figure out what her mother wanted her to remember in her final words.
The main topic in this novel is grief. How the sudden loss of a loved one can effect a person's state of mind especially if this death is in a way that no one saw coming. In the case of a suicide a family can be torn apart, they could feel guilt for not seeing the signs or blame themselves for not doing enough when they could have. It is a very tough subject to talk about when it comes to mental illness especially in certain communities. Mental illness is mostly not spoken of, trying to hide it or move on with life because of the horrible stigma surrounding it. Reading about Leigh and her father moving on from her mother's loss and trying to figure out how to continue with their life. To move forward.
Leigh was a no nonsense teenager who was very passionate about her art and wanted to pursue it as her occupation. I loved her passion for art and how she would not budge on it no matter what other people thought. How she saw the world in color and details that no other people could see. Her bond with her mother over their creative pursuits and passion was heartwarming. It also showed her strained relationship with her father, how his work took him away from her and her mother making her crave his attention and their relationship to be back to the way it used to be. Axel was a great and support best friend to Leigh, I loved how they asked how they were feeling by describing a color to each other! It was so sweet! They were both artists who understood each other and the struggles that came with their passions. Their romance was very believable and I could see their feelings for each other develop over their friendship. It would have been good if they stayed as platonic friends but this romance they developed was just as good as well. Caro was that supportive friend will all need in life! She was bold and spoke her mind when she needed to. Her romance with her girlfriend was so lovely! What I appreciated was how positively it was portrayed and wasnt a main focus in the story. These two girls loved each other and they were both drawn too each other despite being opposites.
The representation was super well done! The portrayal of feeling like you dont belong somewhere and dont understand a certain culture because you weren't raised around it hits a lot of people all over the world. That was another reason that I liked the friendship between Leigh and Axel because they both understood what it was like to be mixed race and not feel like you belong on either side of your cultures. The writing took it's time to explore these feelings, finding out exactly what lead up to the tragedy, and finding out how to move past that loss to begin living again.
I was very pleased with this book and it has become one of my favorites! A powerful story about loss, grief, and finding yourself after that loss. How to move on without forgetting about that person and continue to honor them long after they pass on. A truly impactful and unforgettable book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness
klejnot_1293's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Suicide
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
An absolute masterpiece of a novel! A stunning exploration of grief & mental health, with a touch of magical realism, and prose that will make you weep. The way Leigh’s artistry is woven into the narration through colour is one of the most brilliant literary devices I’ve ever seen. My only complaint is that the ending just felt a bit too neat (esp. with Leigh’s father), otherwise a flawless novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Racism, Suicide, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Ableism, and Incest
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a book about communication, identity, family, and memory. Oh my days, it was so depressing and just really beautifully written. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook so that you can understand the proper pronunciation of words in Mandarin, as it really enhances the experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness
regent_ace's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A beautiful book that weaves tragedy, culture, and complex relationships into a singular great story. The writing was wonderful and I loved the detail used to describe everything especially the color related descriptions.The characters were very human, they were lovable but also flawed. The happy scenes with Leigh's family before the incident were especially heart wrenching. I appreciate the realistic approach to mental illness and suicide, it doesn't try to pin the blame on anyone or anything. The exploration of identity and culture Leigh goes through as half asian was really well done and I found it very relatable.I loved this book in every way !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
nofy's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
alisonmonique's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
xandraj's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Terminal illness
sarah_speaks's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Suicide, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content