Scan barcode
halthemonarch's review against another edition
4.0
This book does a really great job talking about grief and privilege. It’s fucked up that Marisol feels like the least of her circumstances, how she’s so guarded and ashamed. It’s fucked up what Rey went through, and what all the adults put them through. I feel like as I let the end of the book sit with me, I want to forget some elements of it. Marisol’s subtle self hatred and how she feels alienated and inadequate with even her own family. How she blames herself for the trauma her family has (and has not) endured, Indrani’s cruelty— If I were Marisol through the twist ending , I would have flipped a table.
“How could you do this to me? You were an immigrant too, and I’m only a child!” The situation was nuanced, I hear a devil’s advocate say, but such a test was refused by numerous volunteers who had grasped the breadth of the operation, nothing can be said to convince me that capturing two teenagers fleeing a DETENTION CAMP and coercing them into such an experiment is a good idea. I’m glad this story had a happy ending but at the same time I’m livid that we focused more on the grief transfer and less on the corrupt way in which they landed there. The book ends with Marisol sitting through what we’re supposed to believe is her first meeting into the process (again) after having been kidnapped for a week and a half by a former government employee. Sure that could go well if the interviewer was indeed one of Indrani’s friends, but so much goes wrong for Marisol, and she only ever privately realizes she doesn’t deserve it. Rey apologizes, and her father had even thanked her, knowing exactly what was going on. Indrani reveals her motives and Marisol is like.... I carry guilt and shame too, nobody’s perfect and I’m glad I could help Rey and provide for my sister— which was beautiful don’t get me wrong but...
I don’t know, it just seemed to me that the shame Marisol felt around being a lesbian was at the forefront, right up until her shady ex-immigration agent caretaker confessed to using a her as a test subject for selfish reasons. Then she was like “We’re all flawed” or whatever. I would have thrown some hands is all I’m saying. The whole thing is so scary, the whole first half of the book I was waiting for someone to stop and remind everyone that this was just a child coerced into a trial no one would willingly sign up for, because everyone else knew how dangerous it was!
Interesting concept, beautiful exploration of grief and the sisterly love between Gabi and Sol is so warming, especially considering all they’d went through. I’m glad Rey and Sol found each other in the end, since this story had such a sweet and bow-tie ending, but as I mentioned in an update I wrote while reading, I wish one day to read about a gay couple who are together from the halfway point or longer. It’s lovely that they found each other but I guess (at least right now) I was in the mood for a story about two lovers going through it with each other.
“How could you do this to me? You were an immigrant too, and I’m only a child!” The situation was nuanced, I hear a devil’s advocate say, but such a test was refused by numerous volunteers who had grasped the breadth of the operation, nothing can be said to convince me that capturing two teenagers fleeing a DETENTION CAMP and coercing them into such an experiment is a good idea. I’m glad this story had a happy ending but at the same time I’m livid that we focused more on the grief transfer and less on the corrupt way in which they landed there. The book ends with Marisol sitting through what we’re supposed to believe is her first meeting into the process (again) after having been kidnapped for a week and a half by a former government employee. Sure that could go well if the interviewer was indeed one of Indrani’s friends, but so much goes wrong for Marisol, and she only ever privately realizes she doesn’t deserve it. Rey apologizes, and her father had even thanked her, knowing exactly what was going on. Indrani reveals her motives and Marisol is like.... I carry guilt and shame too, nobody’s perfect and I’m glad I could help Rey and provide for my sister— which was beautiful don’t get me wrong but...
I don’t know, it just seemed to me that the shame Marisol felt around being a lesbian was at the forefront, right up until her shady ex-immigration agent caretaker confessed to using a her as a test subject for selfish reasons. Then she was like “We’re all flawed” or whatever. I would have thrown some hands is all I’m saying. The whole thing is so scary, the whole first half of the book I was waiting for someone to stop and remind everyone that this was just a child coerced into a trial no one would willingly sign up for, because everyone else knew how dangerous it was!
Interesting concept, beautiful exploration of grief and the sisterly love between Gabi and Sol is so warming, especially considering all they’d went through. I’m glad Rey and Sol found each other in the end, since this story had such a sweet and bow-tie ending, but as I mentioned in an update I wrote while reading, I wish one day to read about a gay couple who are together from the halfway point or longer. It’s lovely that they found each other but I guess (at least right now) I was in the mood for a story about two lovers going through it with each other.
camilliant's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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? No
3.0
arogers159's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars because while I really enjoyed this book for the most part and I think it had some great moments, the ending felt unresolved and unsatisfying.
nataliekern's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.75
olliecheek's review against another edition
4.0
My second favourite YA that I read this year, definitely recommend it :)
slushysands's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
Really liked this but I felt like there was ALOT going on and some of it needed more fleshed out:
smack_books's review against another edition
4.0
This book does such a good job at handling trauma and how everyone handles their trauma in different ways. Just the way the characters’ mental illnesses are portrayed feels so real and a lot of books don’t achieve this. I feel like this is a book everyone should read and it really resonated with me.