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booksonmain'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
woodsymel'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
midnightmarauder'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
4.0
On Sarah's eleventh birthday, she is "gifted" a slave girl named Handful. Sarah, already extremely against slavery at such a young age, initially rejects her "present", but, after being told that she couldn't do so, her and Handful become very close.
Handful lives up to her name, being defiant toward both Sarah and the Grimké household as a whole in the beginning of the novel. But, after getting to know Sarah more and hearing her personal stance of slavery, she warms up to her and the two become friends.
The story is written in a non-linear writing style, alternating between both Sarah and Handful's point-of-views, and different time periods from 1806 to 1836. Through these time periods, Handful works on the Grimké property and dreams of being free someday, while Sarah works toward her goal of the emancipation of all slaves, along with racial equality and rights for women.
I feel that Sue Monk Kidd did an excellent job at telling both Sarah and Handful's stories. People who write about white abolitionists tend to hold them to a god-like standard, without bothering to even mention their slaves (if they had any). Kidd took the time to humanize Handful and make it clear that she was a person, too, not just someone who sat on the sidelines.
I do wish that Kidd had given more depth to Handful's point of view. I know there wasn't much she could cover, as Handful was enslaved for the entire book
All in all, I went into this book not knowing anything about either Sarah nor Handful. I hadn't even heard their names before. I really enjoyed reading about each woman's push toward equality for all.
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Religious bigotry
Minor: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
onyxx'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
4.75
Emocjonalna, piekna historia, która na dlugo zapadnie mi w pamięć.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, and Police brutality
reddeddy'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
2.75
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Excrement, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
sofiajearally'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Blood and Alcohol
cranereader'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Sexual content