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enlamont'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, Medical trauma, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Infertility, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Alcohol
amris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
kaneebli'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
3.25
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Racism, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Minor: Incest, Rape, and Vomit
reebeee'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
carolinefaireymeese's review against another edition
4.5
Throughout, Henriquez lends equal weight to various voices from the building, a conglomerate of immigrants (new and old) from Hispanic countries in South and Central America. There is no central line of messaging from all of them--some feel completely at home, some feel anger towards the racism they still experience, some have been able to thrive and flourish in their dreams in America, others have been run down and beaten by this country that was supposed to provide new life. The point is to know them, and to listen to the myriad of voices, to treat each story as important and worthwhile.
Another note: Henriquez is brilliant at portraying the voice of a teenager here. Often, work that takes teenagers' seriously is relegated to YA, but Henriquez treats Alma and Mayor with equal interest in their worldviews. One truly feels the righteous anger of a teenager, the rush of early love, the secrets and misunderstandings and fear of parents' power again when inhabiting Mayor's perspective.
Moderate: Gun violence and Hate crime
Minor: Sexual assault