zoes_human's review
4.0
I devoured this book. Compelling and emotional. If you are the sort of person who can't handle children being harmed, don't try this one. It would make an excellent choice for a mental health week read. Keep tissue on hand.
jesujuwonlo's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
booksnbrains's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
karenks's review
5.0
Another fantastic read by Christie Watson, her previous book[bc:Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away|9414177|Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away|Christie Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333580744s/9414177.jpg|14298287] was a favorite of mine and I look forward to more by this author. This is a heartbreaking story of child abuse and at times very hard to read. One comment on the back of the book says it all: "In this very moving story, Watson confronts us with pain and loss. And yet, despite all of that, love ultimately wins."- Chika Unigwe, author.
anrobe's review
4.0
Although this isn't a perfect book, I really think it was a really engaging read that I truly didn't want to put down. I'll try to do a more robust review some time but I did want to recommend it. There is a lot of thoughtful exploration of themes here - faith, child abuse, foster care, adoption, mental illness and more. Really glad that I read this one.
bottomofthebookshelf's review
4.0
This book is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time. I found myself really feeling for the characters, and I loved reading everyone’s different perspectives. I really wish things ended differently, but I ultimately still enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
tildafin16's review
3.0
Lopped a star off as disappointed by the ending - I don’t need happy endings, and in fact I think that also wouldn’t have been right here - too simple - but the particular way this ends, and other dramatic events in the second half of the book felt a bit overdone to me, and the characters (particularly the professional) responses unrealistic . I also felt ultimately the ending sent the wrong message (and this book was, in my reading, trying to send various messages about therapeutic adoption, child abuse and social work). The writing at times when the author wrote from Elijah’s point of view was a bit repetitive and clunky but not badly so. I liked the characters , feeling they were reasonably well drawn and I enjoyed the human portrayal of social workers for once! Was just so gutted that for me the book and it’s message was let down a bit by the authors choices in the last sections.
teacupsandfirereads's review
4.0
This book does not have a happy ending, but it definitely has a leason we all need to read. It is about a little boy who has a mental illness and not the nicest of pasts. It's about how no matter how much lov you can give someone, that will not make it go away. It's about how we don't really know what goes on for those around us. I loved the message this story told, it did it in such a unique way, which is why it got a higher rating, although not full because parts of it were still hard to garsp. Others were left untold, but I think that was part of the effect of it.
littlerah's review
3.0
Nikki and Obi have lost five children in their attempts to become parents but as they turn towards adoption, seven-year-old Elijah offers them a chance at family.
I think, reading the blurb of this novel is not sufficient enough to understand what's being handled within the narrative, "strong enough to accept his difficulties - and that her being white will not affect her ability to raise a black son" - this I felt did not come up as strongly as discussions of health, love, family and growth. Within this novel, Watson explores the terror and effects of child abuse and gives an insight into the foster and adoption systems.
The novel itself flicks between focuses - from Elijah, to Nikki and Obi, to Deborah, Elijah's birth mum. Each of these perspectives fills the gaps in Elijah's childhood, and help to demonstrate how his personality and fear of 'the wizard' has formed. I sometimes find this hard to adjust to as there was no signposting for each character, and the voices I felt, read similarly.
However, the events of the novel - even early on - were enough to bring tears. Watson battles some of the most difficult topics I can think of and does well in her writing. I'd love to have seen the research that she has done behind this book and think that this is something many people should read.
If you're looking for something heartbreaking, beautiful and raw, this is a book for you.
I think, reading the blurb of this novel is not sufficient enough to understand what's being handled within the narrative, "strong enough to accept his difficulties - and that her being white will not affect her ability to raise a black son" - this I felt did not come up as strongly as discussions of health, love, family and growth. Within this novel, Watson explores the terror and effects of child abuse and gives an insight into the foster and adoption systems.
The novel itself flicks between focuses - from Elijah, to Nikki and Obi, to Deborah, Elijah's birth mum. Each of these perspectives fills the gaps in Elijah's childhood, and help to demonstrate how his personality and fear of 'the wizard' has formed. I sometimes find this hard to adjust to as there was no signposting for each character, and the voices I felt, read similarly.
However, the events of the novel - even early on - were enough to bring tears. Watson battles some of the most difficult topics I can think of and does well in her writing. I'd love to have seen the research that she has done behind this book and think that this is something many people should read.
If you're looking for something heartbreaking, beautiful and raw, this is a book for you.
shama's review
1.0
4/16/18
So it’s been a year and a half since I read this. I dug around a bit and looked into the author’s other work and if I’m being honest, it very much feels like all the good characters that we are supposed to like are white saviors, and she seems to fall into that category imo too. That or she is using Nigeria as a marketing point despite (based on reviews) knowing little about the country. Just this book felt like Nikki was like “ooohh this poor boy from Africa i will come and save him and make him better and he will be fixed” which besides being annoying, is kind of poor writing. Watson capitalized off of writing books in third world countries in Africa. This book showed no character growth, and had a bunch of white people thinking they could fix a black boy just because “aw he’s poor and well give him nice clothes and he’ll be happy”. We were supposed to sympathize with all these characters but honestly they were so badly written and there were no reasons to sympathize with them. Don’t read this. Please.
The first half was great. Fell for Elijah, and his story. And then there was plot twist type deal and all the characters (except the grandpa) started acting odd. And the ending didn't feel powerful. It felt lacking. The whole second half almost felt like the author was saying "what curveball should I throw in now?" And the ending made sense but it didn't seem emotional enough
So it’s been a year and a half since I read this. I dug around a bit and looked into the author’s other work and if I’m being honest, it very much feels like all the good characters that we are supposed to like are white saviors, and she seems to fall into that category imo too. That or she is using Nigeria as a marketing point despite (based on reviews) knowing little about the country. Just this book felt like Nikki was like “ooohh this poor boy from Africa i will come and save him and make him better and he will be fixed” which besides being annoying, is kind of poor writing. Watson capitalized off of writing books in third world countries in Africa. This book showed no character growth, and had a bunch of white people thinking they could fix a black boy just because “aw he’s poor and well give him nice clothes and he’ll be happy”. We were supposed to sympathize with all these characters but honestly they were so badly written and there were no reasons to sympathize with them. Don’t read this. Please.
The first half was great. Fell for Elijah, and his story. And then there was plot twist type deal and all the characters (except the grandpa) started acting odd. And the ending didn't feel powerful. It felt lacking. The whole second half almost felt like the author was saying "what curveball should I throw in now?" And the ending made sense but it didn't seem emotional enough