marshiereads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is stunning in its beauty. With that said, it is telling a difficult story. You’ll find yourself frequently frustrated with the characters and the choices they’re making. There’s heartbreak and hope and deep tragedy all in a relatively short book. The format of the graphic novel does well to add to the tension of the tense moments and add silence to the quiet ones. Very effective. Even the ending had mixed emotions which felt in line with the rest of the story. It left a weight in my heart but I don’t mind it sitting with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Animal death
Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent
marywahlmeierbracciano's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
R. Kikuo Johnson's clean style and brilliant storytelling follow single mom Charlene, her son Brandon, and her brother Robbie at their home on Maui. After single-handedly caring for her aging father during his final years, Charlene quits her nursing job and decides to apply to medical school upon his death. Brandon, whose cat, Batman, had recently run off, splits his time between searching for his friend and cleaning up after his mom. Robbie, a traveling musician, returns home to find his sister in the throes of grief and struggles to process his own relationship with his dad. A masterful, timeless, touching story of an ordinary family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Violence
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