Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Parachutes

Loved this book! I was able to read it in 2 sittings. Perfectly depicts high school hierarchies/cliques. Covers a wide range of topics including: alcoholism, rape, sexual harassment, poverty, peer pressure. I loved the 2 different viewpoints of Dani and Claire. Their stories were so similar living under the same roof yet they didn’t communicate.

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sammi_865's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

i wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book but i’m really glad i read it , i feel like i learned so much. i wasn’t a huge fan of either of the main characters, though. i stuck with this story mostly for the plot. there was lots of representation in this book which i did love though. i gave it 3.75 stars because of the occasionally cringe writing and the characters, but i would still highly recommend this to anyone who wants a reflective read that makes you feel something !

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claudiaswords's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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? Yes

5.0

This is such an important story, and it is told and wirtten in such a vulnerable and incredible way. It is a story that doens't only need to be told, it needs to be read, heard and understood. Tahnk you, Kelly Yang for not only writing it but also for choosing to share your personal story.

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genny's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring 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

3.25

The POV switching in the beginning made the story feel a bit disjointed - I would be just starting to get into Dani's or Claire's story when the chapter ends abruptly and we change to the other girl's POV. It smooths out in the second half as the girls become more connected.

Being Filipino myself, I was wary of the representation this offered me, but I think it succeeded in not tokenizing Dani. Her financial situation was presented almost matter-of-factly, without overwrought pity. The cast is mostly Asian, and their voices & personal issues were distinct enough to dispel the idea of a unified Asian-American experience. While the things that Dani and Claire went through made me feel sick, the book ends on a hopeful note.

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alliemikennareads's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

When I picked this up for book club, I was not expecting it to be the most poignant book on debate culture that I have ever read- and that’s not even really the primary theme of the book. This book navigates many topics that I’m not an own voices reviewer for and don’t want to speak to the validity of (the international student experience especially). But I think this is an extremely realistic depiction of high school life and drama. I usually hate split perspectives but it worked so well here. I felt at times the narrative voices could have been a little more distinct and the characters more developed, and their tone sometimes felt a little younger than they were. But overall this is a really well written book and I couldn’t put it down.

I didn’t expect to relate to this book in the way that I did. I felt sick to my stomach about 10% into the book when we first start getting to know Mr. Connelly because I had an inkling of where this was headed. It’s a story I’ve heard before. It’s a story that quite easily could have been my own.

But debate culture is toxic for anyone that isn’t a white male. And it was at times for me. This book gets it 100% to a T. The absolute gaslighting. The lack of boundaries. The fear of confronting uncomfortable moments because you don’t want to make waves. The power imbalance that exists in most rooms you enter, and the discomfort along with it.

I don’t know where I’m going with this except to say that this book resonated with me in ways I never expected it to. It will stick with me for a long time.

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alisazhup's review against another edition

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emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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