Reviews with content warning for Racism - Al Otro Lado del Oceano

I really didn't like this book. it was easy to read, which is why I managed to finish it quickly, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would.

it felt like it was screaming at times, to the white readers, to "please like me." it felt like it was catered to white people, the constant explanation by the MC that she's just really a normal teenager, like she had to justify her mere existence to the reader as much as she did to the people in her school, it was annoying to read by someone like me who looks like her.

the writing was simple enough, nothing special, easy to read but extremely mediocre. it didn't really stand out to me.

the plot was extremely meh. I just didn't like it, and I feel like no much time was taken to show us the relationship between Shirin and Ocean. I couldn't really root for them at any point in time, and didn't care for them at all.

Content Warnings

kokoberry's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

4.0

Content Warnings

readerorwateva's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-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

5.0

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beanith's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

the good:

Ocean <3
Shirin’s wide range of interests was realistic and helped shape her into a unique and well rounded character. I felt like I completely understood why she acted how she did and how burdensome it was to around bigoted people
Her opinion on hijabs being a kind of power or comfort to those who choose to wear them is very dear to me. I love seeing this popularized.
I was completely sucked into the story and read this in a little more than 24 hours

things I’m unsure about

There are some things that feel inauthentic about the 2002 setting. Yes, the characters use AIM and have old bulky computers but I just don’t believe that they’d all have cell phones? A couple of 2010s buzzwords words were also use that didn’t seem to fit the time period like ‘microagression’ and ‘binge-watched’
I don’t understand why it seems like Shirin is narrating to us in a way that breaks the 4th wall. “It will probably surprise no one to hear that I was terrible at ignoring ocean,” and “ I’m not sure whether it will surprise you to hear” - who is she talking to? Why is she conscious of us?
Things kind of come and go? The Global Perspectives class never comes up again. It seems like Yusef was kind of inconsequential, except to remind Shirin of what kind of boyfriend was expected of her.
Imbalances in show vs tell

Content Warnings

jojo_'s review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-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

4.0

Content Warnings

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