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naisdayz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
rookierebirth's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
catsy2022's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: B
In a rural town in Illinois, the home of a Chinese American family is vandalised after someone spraypaints a slur on their garage door. Annalie, in a panic, calls her tough, older sister Margaret to help them out and come comfort their mother. Margaret immediately defers her internship in a law firm and travels back overnight to help them out, and get justice. Two sisters approach the same topic in two different ways in a contemporary novel that's great for every teen.
I really liked the characterisation of the two sisters - they were vastly different, showing their care in two different ways - Margaret is a woman of action, she's driven, caring, strong and wants to enact change, and Annalie is kind, creative but also shy and gentle. She wants to comfort their mother, move on from the vandalism and just get through high school. The two sisters conflict over this, over their mother's actions and throughout the book, but ultimately do care for and love each other.
The discussion of race ripples through the book in more than just the central act and how Annalie is treated at school, but how she passes as white when compared to Margaret, how she never really speaks Chinese around other people, how she is reflects on her own behaviour and treatment of her friends when it comes to the act and perpetrators; Margaret wanted to escape their home-town as soon as she could and realised that out there in the Big City, no one notices you because everyone looks different. She's appalled by the inaction of the police in the city and even fights her sister on her acceptance of the racism. She also faces indecision when it comes to running into her high-school boyfriend Rajiv.
In the background there's a subplot of deciding your future, forgiveness and love, a little romance and the history of the family. I think that the sisters' father leaving their family was kind of a weak plot point and only brought up to shape their mother's reaction to Margaret dating outside of her race.
Overall, I did enjoy it - it's not that deep but I reckon teenagers would enjoy it.
In a rural town in Illinois, the home of a Chinese American family is vandalised after someone spraypaints a slur on their garage door. Annalie, in a panic, calls her tough, older sister Margaret to help them out and come comfort their mother. Margaret immediately defers her internship in a law firm and travels back overnight to help them out, and get justice. Two sisters approach the same topic in two different ways in a contemporary novel that's great for every teen.
I really liked the characterisation of the two sisters - they were vastly different, showing their care in two different ways - Margaret is a woman of action, she's driven, caring, strong and wants to enact change, and Annalie is kind, creative but also shy and gentle. She wants to comfort their mother, move on from the vandalism and just get through high school. The two sisters conflict over this, over their mother's actions and throughout the book, but ultimately do care for and love each other.
The discussion of race ripples through the book in more than just the central act and how Annalie is treated at school, but how she passes as white when compared to Margaret, how she never really speaks Chinese around other people, how she is reflects on her own behaviour and treatment of her friends when it comes to the act and perpetrators; Margaret wanted to escape their home-town as soon as she could and realised that out there in the Big City, no one notices you because everyone looks different. She's appalled by the inaction of the police in the city and even fights her sister on her acceptance of the racism. She also faces indecision when it comes to running into her high-school boyfriend Rajiv.
In the background there's a subplot of deciding your future, forgiveness and love, a little romance and the history of the family. I think that the sisters' father leaving their family was kind of a weak plot point and only brought up to shape their mother's reaction to Margaret dating outside of her race.
Overall, I did enjoy it - it's not that deep but I reckon teenagers would enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
elfee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
clawclawclaw's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
cowmingo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
amorgin22's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
walmartblairwaldorf's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
g_c_geeks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
A well written book, full of good messages. I just think it wasn’t as impactful as it could have been bc it kinda lost its way in the middle. There was a big focus on relationships that didn’t really impact the main plot of the story, but at least it was entertaining enough.
I loved seeing two sisters’ perspectives on the same situation, and seeing how they both dealt with it. I’d definitely recommend this as a YA story that discusses racism, specifically about the Asian American experience.
As a white person, I really enjoy reading about different perspectives to my own and although I don’t think any ideas in here were revolutionary, I think they may be for a younger audience.
I loved seeing two sisters’ perspectives on the same situation, and seeing how they both dealt with it. I’d definitely recommend this as a YA story that discusses racism, specifically about the Asian American experience.
As a white person, I really enjoy reading about different perspectives to my own and although I don’t think any ideas in here were revolutionary, I think they may be for a younger audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism