Scan barcode
rocwood1105's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
menomica's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
it is an act of bravery to live through hell and run from it when we have been made to believe that running is far more dangerous than staying
What I really appreciate about this book is that it talks about trauma at length without feeling gratuitous. I love Sahaara and Kiran’s relationship. They love and support each other through everything. Even though they have their spats, they’re still their for each other at the end of the day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Minor: Violence
saraohneb's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse
leighsnerdlife's review
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
elwirax's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.5
"To be an effective ally to survivors of sexual assault, you need to be prepared to listen more than you speak"
A raw representation of the hardships associated with immigration and of a teenage mother raising a child with the looming threat of deportation.The book deals with many other heavy subjects (which the author dedicates the first page to) such as rape and the harsh reality where women are often ignored and blamed. Despite this, there are moments of solace to be found interwoven throughout these difficult subjects, giving hope to people who may have encountered similar circumstances.
Although, I personally can't comment on the cultural representation in this book, the perspectives introduced through Kiran and Sahaara were heartwarming and yet, in many ways heartbreaking.
This is a book bound to raise many important discussions and I would highly recommend it.
A raw representation of the hardships associated with immigration and of a teenage mother raising a child with the looming threat of deportation.The book deals with many other heavy subjects (which the author dedicates the first page to) such as rape and the harsh reality where women are often ignored and blamed. Despite this, there are moments of solace to be found interwoven throughout these difficult subjects, giving hope to people who may have encountered similar circumstances.
Although, I personally can't comment on the cultural representation in this book, the perspectives introduced through Kiran and Sahaara were heartwarming and yet, in many ways heartbreaking.
This is a book bound to raise many important discussions and I would highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
stephaniekane's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
frenchtoast_n_books's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
In short, I loved it. It was really beautiful and even though it centers around really difficult topics (rape, undocumented persons, racism, and such) it was handled very well in a manner that I think is easily digestible. It gives the necessary depth and emotion without being graphic/explicit in its content.
I loved the mix-media approach to the story, different timelines with both mother and daughter's stories and points of view, and how things are messy. It makes the story very real, not fiction-sugar coating but also not trauma porn. I also love how the story was written pre-COVID, so the author added how the story would be different if if was to reflect our current COVID immigration procedures.
I only found 2 things that irked me in my read that were personal sentence/word choice issues for me. One, was immediately abbreviating the college. The other was a sentence that didn't quite make sense to me.
I'd love to reread this as audio to hear the cadence of the poems because I'm not good with poetry. It would add an extra layer to the story for me that would make me love it even more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abortion
illa_scheggia's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
erinsbookshelves's review
challenging
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Abortion
pamshenanigans's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
More thoughts will be shared on my Youtube channel! Subscribe to my channel!
*turns on megaphone* HELLO HELLO. I think I may have found another favorite author who writes novels in verse and prose and I need you all to READ Jasmin Kaur's If I Tell You the Truth!!! Not a lot of you have read this book and we need to change that.
I want to begin by applauding the author for adding trigger warnings before the story started. I'm a firm believer in having trigger content warnings in books and NO, I don't consider them as spoilers.
I listened to the audiobook and it was also narrated by Jasmin Kaur and it was PHENOMENAL! I highly suggest picking the audiobook up when you read this book.
- The story is told in two POVs: Kiran Kaur and her daughter Sahaara Kaur. Kiran is a victim of sexual assault that ended getting her pregnant. Afraid for her and her daughter's safety, she fled to Canada and entered college. When the person she most expects to believe what she's been through only blames her and is more worried about their family's image, Kira decided to take this head-on alone. Balancing her studies and going through her pregnancy have placed her student visa on the line.
- It was maddening and heart-wrenching to read the story as Kiran navigates the world of parenthood and being the victim of rape when the odds are systemically against her as a Punjab woman.
The book touches upon prejudice against women of color, being a victim of sexual assault AND victim-blaming, how justice is seldom and hard to find for marginalized people (women, especially), how immigration isn't always a black or white thing, and surviving a world full of hatred, prejudice, and lies takes a whole lot of courage and bravery.
It's so hard to choose a SINGLE favorite quote because I might as well have highlighted the whole book because of how amazing it is. Every line either hurts or makes me pine for the character or both at the same time. But here's one:
"The word no was an art form foreign to me. I mean, I'd always loved the idea of saying no, but nothing made my skin crawl like the thought of disappointing people."
CONCLUSION: I recommend this to everyone, especially fans of Elizabeth Acevedo's works!
Trigger/Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, abortion, teenage pregnancy, police brutality, immigrant trauma, victim-blaming, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, death of a parent
*turns on megaphone* HELLO HELLO. I think I may have found another favorite author who writes novels in verse and prose and I need you all to READ Jasmin Kaur's If I Tell You the Truth!!! Not a lot of you have read this book and we need to change that.
I want to begin by applauding the author for adding trigger warnings before the story started. I'm a firm believer in having trigger content warnings in books and NO, I don't consider them as spoilers.
I listened to the audiobook and it was also narrated by Jasmin Kaur and it was PHENOMENAL! I highly suggest picking the audiobook up when you read this book.
- The story is told in two POVs: Kiran Kaur and her daughter Sahaara Kaur. Kiran is a victim of sexual assault that ended getting her pregnant. Afraid for her and her daughter's safety, she fled to Canada and entered college. When the person she most expects to believe what she's been through only blames her and is more worried about their family's image, Kira decided to take this head-on alone. Balancing her studies and going through her pregnancy have placed her student visa on the line.
- It was maddening and heart-wrenching to read the story as Kiran navigates the world of parenthood and being the victim of rape when the odds are systemically against her as a Punjab woman.
The book touches upon prejudice against women of color, being a victim of sexual assault AND victim-blaming, how justice is seldom and hard to find for marginalized people (women, especially), how immigration isn't always a black or white thing, and surviving a world full of hatred, prejudice, and lies takes a whole lot of courage and bravery.
It's so hard to choose a SINGLE favorite quote because I might as well have highlighted the whole book because of how amazing it is. Every line either hurts or makes me pine for the character or both at the same time. But here's one:
"The word no was an art form foreign to me. I mean, I'd always loved the idea of saying no, but nothing made my skin crawl like the thought of disappointing people."
CONCLUSION: I recommend this to everyone, especially fans of Elizabeth Acevedo's works!
Trigger/Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, abortion, teenage pregnancy, police brutality, immigrant trauma, victim-blaming, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, death of a parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion, Alcoholism, and Death of parent