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ghostlyprince's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, and Grief
bookish_afrolatina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
The book started off well with a dose of the reality for folks of Chinese descent in the Western world during this time but had a dash of playfulness thanks to the creative license Lee took in making the MC a trained acrobat. As the story progressed, I started to feel like the choices Valora made didn’t really seem feasible. Her “disguise” didn't really work for me but I decided to stick with the story anyway. Like the Titanic movie, the book focuses more on the journey before the disaster so it starts to speed up about 80% of the way into the book. I found the ending pretty disappointing. I had hoped that Lee would bring us into the experience of these folks after this tragedy and I didn’t get that.
If this doesn’t bother you, then you may still enjoy this book for it’s effectiveness in getting one to think about the Chinese Exclusion Act and how Chinese people were treated at the time.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Confinement, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
janiscox's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Deportation
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual assault
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
teatimewtrisha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, and Grief
rhm04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
- 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
The relationship between Valora and Jamie was complex and is really what drew me into the story. As twins, they had a deep bond that could be both comforting and painful. They each matured a lot as they struggled to reconcile the sibling they had known growing up with the one that boarded the Titanic. I admired the way Lee chose to end the book, as well as her graceful and informative author's note. While I don't read a lot of YA historical fiction, this author is added to my list of ones to watch!
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Confinement and Sexual assault
bookcrushin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
betweentheshelves'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
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Grief