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grboph'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: Grief, Deportation, Abandonment, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Addiction, Medical content, Death of parent, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Pregnancy, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion
amberinbookland's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Abandonment
qmedna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Some points of the novel, it was heart wretching to see the decisions that Polly had to make or her arguments with Leon about how much she cared for Deming and her inner conflict as a women who wanted more, a better life for herself and her son. I also liked that there were dual perspectives as well, we could see the inner child appear within Deming every time he thought about his mother and whether she left because of him or due to some other issue. I really wanted to throttle Deming sometimes with the way he talked to Kay and Peter (his adoptive parents) but it also showed the way that even people with good intentions (like K&P), there are some internalized racism with how they perceive immigrants or even countries considered less fortunate than the US.
Moderate: Abandonment
ellastimpson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Deportation, Racism, and Abandonment
madeleinebay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Grief, and Addiction
hearth_hobbit'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
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Addiction
Moderate: Police brutality and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny and Kidnapping
mayab1226's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The characterization of Peilan/Polly and Deming/Daniel, in my opinion, was fascinating and three-dimensional. I thought the narrative device of Deming/Daniel’s parts being written in third person, then Peilan/Polly’s being written in first person with her son as the narratee (“you”), was interesting and well-executed, if a bit surprising at first; it ultimately fit their characters well. I especially liked the unspoken similarities and parallels between them, the things that really make them mother and son—for instance, they both hate silence and find it oppressive (side note: I loved reading about Daniel’s synesthesia, since I have the same type—I see colors when I hear music), they both chafe at the idea of doing exactly what is expected of them, and ultimately
Which leads me to a disclaimer — I read this for a college class on Asian American Fiction. This review might also be influenced by my friend in that same class, who loved this novel and cited it as her favorite assigned book of the whole semester. But I genuinely think this was a well-written book that brings up very important issues. And in the end, it made me Feel Emotions—and isn’t that all you can truly ask of a novel?
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction
claudiamacpherson'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
2.5
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Violence
rebriley95'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Grief
Minor: Addiction
atamano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Racism
Moderate: Addiction