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beklovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Overall a pretty depressing book as people are constantly using one another, tolerating neglect, and there’s just so much graphic emphasis on sex!
Interesting perspective of poverty, race, and generational trauma.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Abortion, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, Murder, and Pregnancy
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Abortion
katsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
“She wanted Gee to know this music was for him, that irreverence and rage weren’t just for white boys."
“Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.”
I must be getting old because this is one of those books that I would never been able to enjoy five years ago. It is so realistic. The characters feel raw and real. They're lovable, yet utterly fallible. I felt like I was reading a memoir; that's how realistic it was. Following that vein, it also meant that there wasn't necessarily a big reveal or climax per se. I was honestly stunned when I turned the final page because I felt like it could just keep going and going. I think the reason this book was really compelling to me is because it explores so many of the subtle nuances of racism, even when it's internalized. It wasn't portrayed as this character fault that is eventually triumphed over. I could see pieces of the Ventura girls, and especially Lacey May in so many of my own relatives. This is the type of book that could be read in a classroom. There are so many layers.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol