Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

14 reviews

rhiannon_hall_reads's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

I read this verse novel in one sitting. I love that the plot isn't predictable and the story feels authentic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism and Blood

Minor: Racism

alainajreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? No

4.0

This was a beautifully written and touching middle-grade novel in verse about 13-year-old Reha who feels torn between her parents’ expectations and her own wants until a tragic diagnosis turns her family’s life upside down. The exploration of Reha’s complex relationship with her parents adds depth as she processes her mother’s diagnosis, and through her friendships and a budding romance, she finds her inner strength. I found the 80s pop culture references a little shoehorned in and at times the pacing felt too quick and I would’ve liked more of Reha’s thought processes but overall it was a bittersweet brief read that makes heavy topics accessible to its young audience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Medical content

bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition

emotional sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Xenophobia

mattyb's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma

Minor: Medical content

mimeflower's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness and Blood

amberinpieces's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

nairam1173's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

It's a story I've encountered before, probably more than once, and feels predictable in that vein. But it is told well and with a new voice and perspective that is worth having. Just because something is familiar doesn't make it not worth having.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Cancer

kayladaila's review against another edition

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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infertility and Blood

Minor: Bullying, Racism, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy

joanna77_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

“𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”

This was so good. I love novels in verse, because with fewer words, each word makes more of an impact, and that was definitely the case with this book. It was so well-written and beautiful. 

I especially loved Reha. I think the author captured the voice of a young teen so well and it was so moving to read about her struggles with being stuck between two worlds. I loved all of the aspects of music and 80s pop culture and how Reha related music to her own life. 

I also loved the friend group, especially Pete. I wish we would have got more of his story. This was just incredible and I’d definitely recommend it!

I cried for the last 50 pages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Death

zoeamac's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent

Moderate: Blood