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prynne31's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Not giving this a star rating since it is a middle grade book.
I liked elements of it, and the theming was well-written.
However, I did not like the twist.While Moth being a ghost was lightly telegraphed throughout the book, I felt like the revelation short-cut the resolution to the problems Sani and Moth faced. She didn't end up having to deal with her guilt/grief. He didn't have to heal from his family's abuse.
I liked elements of it, and the theming was well-written.
However, I did not like the twist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Racism, Slavery, and Colonisation
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Written by a hoodoo practitioner with notes at the end thanking her Navajo friend helping edit/being consulted for the Navajo character, the poetic novella follows Moth, a teenage African American girl, and Sani a Navajo teenage boy as they try to deal through their interpersonal traumas and tragedies as well as generational traumas and tragedies they inherit and live with from the harm the United States has done to both their peoples respectively. The teenagers find comfort in each other and their respective traditions (moth’s grandfather being a hoodoo man and sani’s father being medicine man) similarities and differences as they travel the south of both the Great Migration of African American to the Navajo Nation in their last summer to find some reconciliation with and for each other.
More sad then scary but it is a haunting story, I loved reading it.
More sad then scary but it is a haunting story, I loved reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
rtaire's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
I struggled with the YA aspects of this novel, but that's a me problem since I'm not a huge fan of YA teenage/high school drama. Otherwise, this is beautifully written and the haunting language and imagery made me reconsider how I view the world. The ending blew me away and will linger with me for days -- if not years -- to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Genocide, and Hate crime