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mildhonestbonsai's review against another edition
3.0
This is a full on after school special of a teenager story. There were some elements that I did like from the book. One of those elements is learning some of the Native American folklore that was sprinkled within the story. It was something that I normally don't come across in the books I read and it was really cool to read about. Also, one of my favorite things about setting the story in New Mexico or somewhere in the Southwest is that people always want to emphasize the setting as it's own character with a detailed description.
Some of the dialogue was very eye rollling in the sense that they were really corny. Their though process was also an issue for me since at one time the characters sounded so wise and beyond their age then to turn around and act like a teenager or even more immature than that. There really was no consistency behind it. The characters lacked any dimension as well. Thomas was my only favorite of the characters and ironically the lack of character background made him the most fleshed out and developed in the story.
The death of Kara bothered me because I feel like this was unnecessary for the story. I feel like that the characters would have gotten to their epiphany just fine without having her kill herself. They were already halfway to achieving that epiphany when she decided to jump off the cliff.
Some of the dialogue was very eye rollling in the sense that they were really corny. Their though process was also an issue for me since at one time the characters sounded so wise and beyond their age then to turn around and act like a teenager or even more immature than that. There really was no consistency behind it. The characters lacked any dimension as well. Thomas was my only favorite of the characters and ironically the lack of character background made him the most fleshed out and developed in the story.
The death of Kara bothered me because I feel like this was unnecessary for the story. I feel like that the characters would have gotten to their epiphany just fine without having her kill herself. They were already halfway to achieving that epiphany when she decided to jump off the cliff.
emjrasmussen's review
I cannot help it; I have grown achingly, increasingly bored with basic YA storylines. You know the drill. A girl trapped in a dystopian society realizes she is different and overtakes the government with the help of a capital-R Resistance. Meanwhile, a girl in our world meets an enigmatic bad boy whose secrets threaten to tear her apart. I have read so much YA that these tropes fail to impress me, even when executed well.
That is why I am so drawn to unique concepts in fiction—I am so much more inclined to enjoy a book that explores a completely new idea. And that is why, when I first heard about The Way We Bared Our Souls, I knew I had to read it.
To some extent, Willa Strayhorn's debut delivers on its creative premise. The author does a fantastic job of describing each burden, painting a vivid picture of the symptoms of MS, the trauma of being a child soldier, and more. Even better, after the switch, Strayhorn creatively applies each new issue to each character. None of the burdens affect their new owners in quite the same way as their old owners, and I loved watching the impact of a given issue vary from person to person.
But, much like the lives of its main characters, this book's plot is not perfect. It lacks one key element: plausibility. At the start of the story, the burden-swappers are perfectly non-magical individuals living normal lives in the Santa Fe suburbs. But once they realize their burdens have been shuffled, they accept the situation as if it magic is a day-to-day event. Of course, they panic a bit as they grapple with each other's issues, but they barely seem surprised that they have been involved in an act of successful sorcery. I would have liked to see more confusion, more incredulity—I could not believe that they could simply brush off their situation with an "oh, that's strange."
Additionally, Strayhorn completely glazes over one major plot point: other characters who might realize that Lo, Thomas, Kaya, Ellen, and Kit have changed dramatically. No one—not even the protagonists' parents—notice anything different after the burden switch, another element I did not find believable. To be fair, some of the characters have rather absent parents, and others have small social circles, but with five main characters, someone should have noticed something was off. The fact that the author did not include this conflict makes the story seem a bit lazy and underdeveloped.
All of this could have worked if Strayhorn had given the story an atmospheric magical realism feeling, hinting that the characters do live in a world blurred at the corners by magic. However, Strayhorn's writing style does not achieve any kind of mystical mood. Instead, it reads as if the author was trying too hard to meet a set of YA criteria. At times, the voice of the narrator, Lo, comes across as slightly forced as she describes the requisite high school social hierarchy that too many YA novels emphasize. Even worse, The Way We Bared Our Souls includes an awkward romance with no real chemistry, only to meet the unspoken romance requirement in YA. The writing style is safe, never straying from established conventions, but it needed to be as bold, unique, and magical as the plot it accompanies.
However, as negative as my review may sound, I did enjoy this book. I just cannot ignore the lack of plausibility and nuance. Of course, Strayhorn is a debut author with plenty of time to grow—and with her incredible story ideas, I have high hopes for her future novels. I will absolutely pick up her next book, and I cannot wait to watch her style blossom.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
That is why I am so drawn to unique concepts in fiction—I am so much more inclined to enjoy a book that explores a completely new idea. And that is why, when I first heard about The Way We Bared Our Souls, I knew I had to read it.
To some extent, Willa Strayhorn's debut delivers on its creative premise. The author does a fantastic job of describing each burden, painting a vivid picture of the symptoms of MS, the trauma of being a child soldier, and more. Even better, after the switch, Strayhorn creatively applies each new issue to each character. None of the burdens affect their new owners in quite the same way as their old owners, and I loved watching the impact of a given issue vary from person to person.
But, much like the lives of its main characters, this book's plot is not perfect. It lacks one key element: plausibility. At the start of the story, the burden-swappers are perfectly non-magical individuals living normal lives in the Santa Fe suburbs. But once they realize their burdens have been shuffled, they accept the situation as if it magic is a day-to-day event. Of course, they panic a bit as they grapple with each other's issues, but they barely seem surprised that they have been involved in an act of successful sorcery. I would have liked to see more confusion, more incredulity—I could not believe that they could simply brush off their situation with an "oh, that's strange."
Additionally, Strayhorn completely glazes over one major plot point: other characters who might realize that Lo, Thomas, Kaya, Ellen, and Kit have changed dramatically. No one—not even the protagonists' parents—notice anything different after the burden switch, another element I did not find believable. To be fair, some of the characters have rather absent parents, and others have small social circles, but with five main characters, someone should have noticed something was off. The fact that the author did not include this conflict makes the story seem a bit lazy and underdeveloped.
All of this could have worked if Strayhorn had given the story an atmospheric magical realism feeling, hinting that the characters do live in a world blurred at the corners by magic. However, Strayhorn's writing style does not achieve any kind of mystical mood. Instead, it reads as if the author was trying too hard to meet a set of YA criteria. At times, the voice of the narrator, Lo, comes across as slightly forced as she describes the requisite high school social hierarchy that too many YA novels emphasize. Even worse, The Way We Bared Our Souls includes an awkward romance with no real chemistry, only to meet the unspoken romance requirement in YA. The writing style is safe, never straying from established conventions, but it needed to be as bold, unique, and magical as the plot it accompanies.
However, as negative as my review may sound, I did enjoy this book. I just cannot ignore the lack of plausibility and nuance. Of course, Strayhorn is a debut author with plenty of time to grow—and with her incredible story ideas, I have high hopes for her future novels. I will absolutely pick up her next book, and I cannot wait to watch her style blossom.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
jkropik06's review
4.0
3.75/5 Stars. This book was beautiful... the first half was pretty slow going, which is the reason for the Ranking, but the ending was amazing.
This book had a lot to do with spirituality, native Americans and US History in general, which I LOVED. The ending was great, and I feel it did great as a less than 300 pages stand alone.
This was literally such a bad review, but if the first half was faster and more interesting it would have been a 4.5 maybe even five star read.
This book had a lot to do with spirituality, native Americans and US History in general, which I LOVED. The ending was great, and I feel it did great as a less than 300 pages stand alone.
This was literally such a bad review, but if the first half was faster and more interesting it would have been a 4.5 maybe even five star read.
islandgeekgirl's review
3.0
It all started with Lo, who was told about an ancient ritual that could relieve her burden and the burdens of four others. Lo, who's aunt died of MS and is starting to show symptoms. She recruits Kit, who's afraid of death even since his girlfriend died; Kaya, who can't feel pain due to her CIP; Thomas, an orphan and former child soldier plagued by memories; and Ellen, too lost in her haze of drugs to feel anything real. It doesn't seem like the ritual works, until the next morning when they each wake up with their burden gone, and a new one having replaced it.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. There was the 'grass isn't always greener' lesson that so many people have to learn(sometimes more than once) in their lives but there was also the lesson of everyone's pain should count, it shouldn't be dismissed just because someone else has it worse. And it left a very good question in: if you could get rid of your burden for a week but had to take on someone else's, would you?
The whole book was told from Lo's POV. We stayed with her as she struggled to cope with the emerging symptoms of MS, her desperation to find four others for the ritual, her fear as she realized what the ritual had done. Her growth through the book was great to see and I loved how much she cared about her friends. She wanted to ritual to work not only for her, but for them all. She wanted them all to be okay.
I do wish we had gotten to spend a little more time with the other characters before the ritual to get a better sense of how their burdens were affecting them and who they were as people. And being restricted to Lo's POV, we only saw them after the ritual when she was with them. Though they each managed to show growth and it was really interesting to see how each character dealt with their new burden, and what they eventually came to realize about their past burden. But it did feel like seeing everything from Lo's POV lessened the impact of the other characters' lessons.
The book started out with a very interesting and high stakes first chapter and then flashed back to a little over a week prior. Almost the whole book was set within that week. It was very character driven, the plot was centered around their growth in the week between the rituals. It wasn't a long book, under 300 pages, and was a surprisingly fast read even though it dealt with a lot of issues.
Even though it was a short read, it still made me think and left an impact.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. There was the 'grass isn't always greener' lesson that so many people have to learn(sometimes more than once) in their lives but there was also the lesson of everyone's pain should count, it shouldn't be dismissed just because someone else has it worse. And it left a very good question in: if you could get rid of your burden for a week but had to take on someone else's, would you?
The whole book was told from Lo's POV. We stayed with her as she struggled to cope with the emerging symptoms of MS, her desperation to find four others for the ritual, her fear as she realized what the ritual had done. Her growth through the book was great to see and I loved how much she cared about her friends. She wanted to ritual to work not only for her, but for them all. She wanted them all to be okay.
I do wish we had gotten to spend a little more time with the other characters before the ritual to get a better sense of how their burdens were affecting them and who they were as people. And being restricted to Lo's POV, we only saw them after the ritual when she was with them. Though they each managed to show growth and it was really interesting to see how each character dealt with their new burden, and what they eventually came to realize about their past burden. But it did feel like seeing everything from Lo's POV lessened the impact of the other characters' lessons.
The book started out with a very interesting and high stakes first chapter and then flashed back to a little over a week prior. Almost the whole book was set within that week. It was very character driven, the plot was centered around their growth in the week between the rituals. It wasn't a long book, under 300 pages, and was a surprisingly fast read even though it dealt with a lot of issues.
Even though it was a short read, it still made me think and left an impact.
lau_m25's review against another edition
3.0
More reviews at Beautiful Books
I will always show up for magical realism, but this one disappointed me. I was expecting to walk away loving this book, but I walked away feeling meh about it.
The first chapter was intriguing and it piqued my interest quite fast, but I found it dwindling as the book moved along. For one, the coyote guy with his mystical coyote seemed far-fetched and kind of forced. Also, kind of a lot of spiritual mumble jumble that I just couldn't get behind not because of my own religious views but because it all seemed pretty forced. A thing I've learned about magical realism is that the magic can't feel forced and for this book it felt everything but natural.
The aspect I liked the most about the book was that there were some beautiful passages. Writing wise sometimes the words just took my breath away, but in the over all context of the story they didn't feel quite right and they felt like something that had been included in just for lyrical aspect instead of actually bringing something to the story, the plot or the character development.
The relationship between our five protagonists also felt forced at times and I didn't really grow to care for them that much. Sure, their situation was messed up and they all had something to carry (as we all do) but I didn't really feel connected to them.
There's a Native American aspect to this book, as well, and I don't think it's my place to speak of it since I'm not Native American nor am I well informed on the matter, but sometimes I felt kind of cringey about it. That might just be me, I don't know. This book did have Native American characters and it also had the use of Spanish, which were two good points, in my book.
I thought I was going to enjoy this book way more than I actually did and there were some things in here I wasn't comfortable with or that I just didn't like.
I will always show up for magical realism, but this one disappointed me. I was expecting to walk away loving this book, but I walked away feeling meh about it.
The first chapter was intriguing and it piqued my interest quite fast, but I found it dwindling as the book moved along. For one, the coyote guy with his mystical coyote seemed far-fetched and kind of forced. Also, kind of a lot of spiritual mumble jumble that I just couldn't get behind not because of my own religious views but because it all seemed pretty forced. A thing I've learned about magical realism is that the magic can't feel forced and for this book it felt everything but natural.
The aspect I liked the most about the book was that there were some beautiful passages. Writing wise sometimes the words just took my breath away, but in the over all context of the story they didn't feel quite right and they felt like something that had been included in just for lyrical aspect instead of actually bringing something to the story, the plot or the character development.
The relationship between our five protagonists also felt forced at times and I didn't really grow to care for them that much. Sure, their situation was messed up and they all had something to carry (as we all do) but I didn't really feel connected to them.
There's a Native American aspect to this book, as well, and I don't think it's my place to speak of it since I'm not Native American nor am I well informed on the matter, but sometimes I felt kind of cringey about it. That might just be me, I don't know. This book did have Native American characters and it also had the use of Spanish, which were two good points, in my book.
I thought I was going to enjoy this book way more than I actually did and there were some things in here I wasn't comfortable with or that I just didn't like.
readsbykayla's review
2.0
Oh man...what do I say about this book? I bought this a couple months ago from BookOutlet and I was very excited to start it. The synopsis sounds fascinating and unique; like something I've never read before, and it is. I have to give props to Strayhorn for the overall uniqueness of her book. That's about all I can commend though.
This had the potential to be so freaking good. Unfortunately, it was poorly written. The characters are poorly designed and it does more telling than showing. Each of the characters are tragically flawed and I wish that they had been fleshed out more rather than being props.
My biggest grievance is with Thomas, a former child soldier from Liberia who struggles with his past and the things he had to do. If written properly, this would have been an amazing story. However, the first time we're introduced to Thomas, it's with shallow superficiality. The first thing to describe him is, "In brief, [Thomas] was a really hot student from Africa who looked half the time as if he wanted you dead the other half as if he was about to hand you a bouquet of flowers and sweep you off your feet." Seriously, what the hell???? Of all the things you could introduce a character with, this is how you choose? I'm not sure if Strayhorn was attempting to be "cool" or "hip" but this was unnecessary.
Also, the entire issue with
The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because it was a quick read. I wanted to know how it ended, even though I didn't like it. So I guess there's that.
This had the potential to be so freaking good. Unfortunately, it was poorly written. The characters are poorly designed and it does more telling than showing. Each of the characters are tragically flawed and I wish that they had been fleshed out more rather than being props.
My biggest grievance is with Thomas, a former child soldier from Liberia who struggles with his past and the things he had to do. If written properly, this would have been an amazing story. However, the first time we're introduced to Thomas, it's with shallow superficiality. The first thing to describe him is, "In brief, [Thomas] was a really hot student from Africa who looked half the time as if he wanted you dead the other half as if he was about to hand you a bouquet of flowers and sweep you off your feet." Seriously, what the hell???? Of all the things you could introduce a character with, this is how you choose? I'm not sure if Strayhorn was attempting to be "cool" or "hip" but this was unnecessary.
Also, the entire issue with
Spoiler
Kaya's death was unnecessary. It was interesting how she was interpreting her ancestors' tragedies but it was done so poorly that it wasn't believable. The ONLY reason that she died was because it didn't fit within the couple model. Thomas and Lo were 'in love' and Kit started having feelings for Ellen so in order to make this work, Kaya had to die! I'm sorry but that's not how writing works...The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because it was a quick read. I wanted to know how it ended, even though I didn't like it. So I guess there's that.
charlietheninth's review
2.0
I picked this up after reading a review that described it like this: a group of friends gather around a campfire to share their secrets and troubles - a drug addict, two girls with chronic illness, boys who are grieving. And I thought - hey! A YA about emotions and experiences and friendship, sounds great.
Yeah. The thing is, a description like that leaves out the huge problem with this book: it's staggeringly racist, in a "well, my black friend said it was okay," kind of way. These five friends aren't just meeting around a campfire, they're there to perform a faux-Native American magic ceremony lead by a faux-Native American shaman, where their problems are magically swapped - so the drug addict experiences the chronic illness, and the ill girl experiences grief, etc. Let's be clear: I'm not an expert in rituals of the Southwest American tribes, but this is made up, and it contributes to stereotyping of Native Americans as antiquated magicians and noble savages.
Native Americans and their experiences are repeatedly used as props and backdrops here. Our main character, Consuelo, is white, and the book goes out of it's way to make sure we know that even though she has a latino sounding name, she is 100% white. Her parents just loved the culture, you see, but she is fair as the day is long. Because lord forbid you have a brown main character.
One of Consuelo's friends, Kaya, is Native American, and when they all swap problems she inherits the PTSD of another character. But her PTSD manifests itself as magic flashbacks of her people's history, two hundred years ago, and the terrible way the settlers treated them. Because all Native people are magic, apparently, and can see the past. As an example to how tone-deaf this book is, there's a part in the middle where Consuelo and Kaya are in the car together. Kaya has already explained several horrifying murders she's had visions of, and yet, as they drive through the desert, Consuelo thinks about how the open land makes her feel like it all belongs to her, like it's her "manifest destiny" to own it. WTF? WTF? WTF?
And then there's the end.
What could have been an interesting, deeply introspective book was just littered with racist stereotypes. "Manifest destiny." Jesus.
Yeah. The thing is, a description like that leaves out the huge problem with this book: it's staggeringly racist, in a "well, my black friend said it was okay," kind of way. These five friends aren't just meeting around a campfire, they're there to perform a faux-Native American magic ceremony lead by a faux-Native American shaman, where their problems are magically swapped - so the drug addict experiences the chronic illness, and the ill girl experiences grief, etc. Let's be clear: I'm not an expert in rituals of the Southwest American tribes, but this is made up, and it contributes to stereotyping of Native Americans as antiquated magicians and noble savages.
Native Americans and their experiences are repeatedly used as props and backdrops here. Our main character, Consuelo, is white, and the book goes out of it's way to make sure we know that even though she has a latino sounding name, she is 100% white. Her parents just loved the culture, you see, but she is fair as the day is long. Because lord forbid you have a brown main character.
One of Consuelo's friends, Kaya, is Native American, and when they all swap problems she inherits the PTSD of another character. But her PTSD manifests itself as magic flashbacks of her people's history, two hundred years ago, and the terrible way the settlers treated them. Because all Native people are magic, apparently, and can see the past. As an example to how tone-deaf this book is, there's a part in the middle where Consuelo and Kaya are in the car together. Kaya has already explained several horrifying murders she's had visions of, and yet, as they drive through the desert, Consuelo thinks about how the open land makes her feel like it all belongs to her, like it's her "manifest destiny" to own it. WTF? WTF? WTF?
And then there's the end.
Spoiler
The end where Kaya throws herself off a cliff because of the pain of her ancestors, and Consuelo learns a tidy little lesson about making the most of life. I mean, seriously.What could have been an interesting, deeply introspective book was just littered with racist stereotypes. "Manifest destiny." Jesus.
aishablue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction and Car accident