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bookish_afrolatina's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The book started off well with a dose of the reality for folks of Chinese descent in the Western world during this time but had a dash of playfulness thanks to the creative license Lee took in making the MC a trained acrobat. As the story progressed, I started to feel like the choices Valora made didn’t really seem feasible. Her “disguise” didn't really work for me but I decided to stick with the story anyway. Like the Titanic movie, the book focuses more on the journey before the disaster so it starts to speed up about 80% of the way into the book. I found the ending pretty disappointing. I had hoped that Lee would bring us into the experience of these folks after this tragedy and I didn’t get that.
If this doesn’t bother you, then you may still enjoy this book for it’s effectiveness in getting one to think about the Chinese Exclusion Act and how Chinese people were treated at the time.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Confinement, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
janiscox's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Deportation
courtneyclouts'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
emilia_thereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Sexism and Death of parent
scrubsandbooks's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual assault
ravensandlace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism
tahsintries's review
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
vampire_burrito's review
4.0
Graphic: Death and Racism
tak_everlasting's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
jamielikestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexism