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novelyon's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
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
4.0
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
The title and the story might as well be two different things. The relationship between Gloria and Effie is not explored, the relationship between Gloria and Christine is barely explored. There is more content about AIDS than there is about Effie.
The setting of Ghana is written well and realistic enough to feel accurate. There is reference to the abstinence based education the girls are receiving in which they are advised to use their minds when their boyfriends are "making suggestions." Gloria, Christine, and Sam are the most fleshed out characters. Everyone else felt flat.
Gloria is a realistically written sixteen year old, some readers may see that they have felt the way she feels about similar subjects (fashion, love, money, etc). There are several creepy men in the story but hardly anything happens on page with them. The 'bad influence' character dies off page. There were many scenes that would have performed better on page, though perhaps that is an Americanized expectation being applied to a book set outside of America.
The setting of Ghana is written well and realistic enough to feel accurate. There is reference to the abstinence based education the girls are receiving in which they are advised to use their minds when their boyfriends are "making suggestions." Gloria, Christine, and Sam are the most fleshed out characters. Everyone else felt flat.
Gloria is a realistically written sixteen year old, some readers may see that they have felt the way she feels about similar subjects (fashion, love, money, etc). There are several creepy men in the story but hardly anything happens on page with them. The 'bad influence' character dies off page. There were many scenes that would have performed better on page, though perhaps that is an Americanized expectation being applied to a book set outside of America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Child death and Abortion
There is a relationship between a 16 year old and a man in his late 20's where they have sex. Another character gets pregnant from a man and passes from a back alley abortion.arylibros48's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
megatsunami's review against another edition
3.0
Liked this book and thought it was worth reading. I enjoyed the window into life in modern urban Ghana. Some aspects of the plot were a little predictable () but some other plot elements didn't quite go as I expected. The main character seemed a little overly naive to me.
Spoiler
obviously Bea was going to turn out to be bad news!bookish_abena's review against another edition
This book! Of course I had to read this after I read and enjoyed Aluta by Adwoa Badoe.
This book gave me nostalgic feel. For me, it was a proper throwback book that reminded me of my teen years.
Between Sisters is Young Adult Fiction that tells the story of Gloria. Gloria failed her Junior High School exam and has been ask to live with a family friend to help out with her new born baby.
In Kumasi, Gloria finds some great friends and a not-so great best friend who brings nothing but trouble. Gloria learns about trust, men and friendship.
I loved Gloria's journey, especially when she started learning and excelled in her Junior High School exam.
The story is easy and simple. I would love to see this book in Ghanaian Libraries and Schools
This book gave me nostalgic feel. For me, it was a proper throwback book that reminded me of my teen years.
Between Sisters is Young Adult Fiction that tells the story of Gloria. Gloria failed her Junior High School exam and has been ask to live with a family friend to help out with her new born baby.
In Kumasi, Gloria finds some great friends and a not-so great best friend who brings nothing but trouble. Gloria learns about trust, men and friendship.
I loved Gloria's journey, especially when she started learning and excelled in her Junior High School exam.
The story is easy and simple. I would love to see this book in Ghanaian Libraries and Schools
arisbookcorner's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like that this novel didn't explore the relationship between Gloria and her sister, Effie. It's called Between Sisters but it rarely addressed the blood sister relationship. Instead it focuses on the relationship between Gloria and her so-close-they-could-be-sisters, employer, Christine. Effie is basically regulated to the background, we meet her in the beginning and she briefly re-appears in the end. Most of the minor characters are treated the same way, they make brief appearances to move the story along and then disappear. Many storylines are left unresolved or are solved in a hurry towards the end. Also the writing is fairly simplistic and although the story moves quickly, it couldn't hold my attention. This may be due to my lack of patience with people who are more naive when it comes to cities and all the dangers that come with them. It seemed like the book was written solely to educate people about modern-day Ghana.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading about present day life in Ghana. I expected life in the country to be different form life in America, but even the city life was different (although more similar to life in America). The difference between life in Accra (the country) and Kumasi (the city) is striking and most be even more startling than making that transition in America. I also liked how ambitious Gloria was. I also appreciated that she at first, she doesn't seem very smart. People looked down on her for failing her exams, but she is smart. She just doesn't always use her head. However, she knows what she wants and when she receives the opportunity to get closer to her dream, she is happy to seize the chance. The character of Christine is fleshed out well, but Christine is more of a main character anyway. She's a doctor and she's trying very hard to guide Gloria. She encourages her to get an education, work hard and fall her dreams. She's also funny (although it might have been unintentional). "Abroad, they give girls like you condoms to carry in their purses against pregnancy and AIDS. This is Ghana. We don't do such things. Your condom is your mind. Use it when your boyfriends are making suggestions" (pg. 57). I laughed out loud at that line, it makes sense, although I don't think it's the best piece of advice. I do wish we learned more about Christine and the situation with her husband. I didn't understand it because Gloria didn't understand it so the situation is never explained in concise terms.
In all honesty the only reason I liked Between Sisters was because of it's setting. I liked that it took place in modern Ghana and chronicled the transition from small town to city through the eyes of a teenage girl. Gloria is a character that I could relate to on some levels, but not on all. However, this might be due to our different situations and my impatience at her naivety towards frenemies, boys/men, money, etc. I hope to see more books for teenagers set in countries all the world. It is very cool to read about the similar experiences and different perspectives teens in other countries hold. It's a small step towards globalization :)
That being said, I really enjoyed reading about present day life in Ghana. I expected life in the country to be different form life in America, but even the city life was different (although more similar to life in America). The difference between life in Accra (the country) and Kumasi (the city) is striking and most be even more startling than making that transition in America. I also liked how ambitious Gloria was. I also appreciated that she at first, she doesn't seem very smart. People looked down on her for failing her exams, but she is smart. She just doesn't always use her head. However, she knows what she wants and when she receives the opportunity to get closer to her dream, she is happy to seize the chance. The character of Christine is fleshed out well, but Christine is more of a main character anyway. She's a doctor and she's trying very hard to guide Gloria. She encourages her to get an education, work hard and fall her dreams. She's also funny (although it might have been unintentional). "Abroad, they give girls like you condoms to carry in their purses against pregnancy and AIDS. This is Ghana. We don't do such things. Your condom is your mind. Use it when your boyfriends are making suggestions" (pg. 57). I laughed out loud at that line, it makes sense, although I don't think it's the best piece of advice. I do wish we learned more about Christine and the situation with her husband. I didn't understand it because Gloria didn't understand it so the situation is never explained in concise terms.
In all honesty the only reason I liked Between Sisters was because of it's setting. I liked that it took place in modern Ghana and chronicled the transition from small town to city through the eyes of a teenage girl. Gloria is a character that I could relate to on some levels, but not on all. However, this might be due to our different situations and my impatience at her naivety towards frenemies, boys/men, money, etc. I hope to see more books for teenagers set in countries all the world. It is very cool to read about the similar experiences and different perspectives teens in other countries hold. It's a small step towards globalization :)
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