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kharcourt'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
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
bookishevy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Patsy leaves six-year-old Tru in the care of her father to follow her oldest friend and love Cicely to NYC. Cicely sells Patsy a NY that is brimming with opportunities for good work and for them to be themselves, but Patsy soon realizes that things don't come easily for undocumented immigrants and sometimes one has to conform to make it in the U.S. Ironically, Patsy gets a job working as a nanny while her daughter lives the life of a motherless child.
My thoughts during this read: Patsy choosing selfhood over motherhood doesn't make her a villain. Why is it more tragic for a mother to leave a child than when a father does it? Patsy put Cicely on a pedestal for the same reason others did: colorism. Cicely is experiencing a different NYC. Patsy feels invisible, but returning home is admitting failure and having to face Tru. The guilt Patsy feels is palpable.
Tru has to deal with the jealousy she feels when other kids in her school get barrels of goodies from their parents abroad. Being a barrel child isn't the same as having her mother, but it would make her feel less forgotten. She's struggling with a depression that comes with abandonment while also trying to be accepted for who she is. Through Patsy's flashbacks and Tru's experiences, the reader gets a sense of what it's like growing up queer in the Caribbean.
This is such a great book that explores motherhood and the different types of immigrant experiences and the discrimination undocumented immigrants endure not just by Americans but also by other immigrants from their own countries.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
nefariousbee'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
5.0
I ugly cried. I relate to Patsy and Cicely's story and seeing the culmination broke something in me. my heart doesn't let go either. and this was a very painful reminder of that.
above all, this books is so honest about so many *ugly* things. the reality of being undocumented, the illusion of ingrained motherhood, the social pressure on queerness. I appreciate the book for all of that so much.
it's not an easy read, but it's one that stays with you.
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Deportation
klawrence1206's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
juliastern__'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Abortion
zombiezami'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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Abortion, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Colorism, Gentrificationmissjonesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was an interesting premise but it was a tad too long for my liking. I wasn’t a big fan of Patsy so at some points her chapters dragged for me. I was way more interested in Tru’s perspective and development throughout the novel and was happy to read more about her towards the end.
Although I enjoyed this book, it’s not one I would revisit often or at all unless I wanted to revisit Tru specifically.
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, and Suicide attempt