lsrth's review against another edition
4.0
Bittersweet. Teenage girls always doubt who they are but Sonia stands up for what she believes in.
cherylanne's review against another edition
5.0
Great book! Pretty intense and sophisticated handling of issues of family, identity, and mental illness in a middle schooler trying to better understand herself.
peterpokeypanda's review against another edition
3.0
Pros: I felt that this book was well-written. Not extraordinarily so, but enough that it was noticeably better than a lot of middle grades/YA literature that I read. In addition, I felt that there were some topics it dealt with really clearly, accurately, and well (authentically is the word I'm looking for): the difficulty of adjusting to traditional public school when one's life experience of school has been totally different; what the adult experience of clinical depression looks like (or one way it can look) through a child's eyes; the difficulties of living in any family, even a strong, loving one. I felt that all the major characters were believable, dynamic, and interesting.
Cons: I didn't feel like the book had a very satisfying conclusion, which isn't necessarily a mark of bad writing - just something I don't like so much. I also thought that the issues of race that were indicated as the central struggle of the plot in most synopses that I read were sort of plot satellites more than they were central, and that kind of bothered me. If the book was going to be about those issues, I wanted it to be really about them, not to just sort of half-have them there - but maybe that's an accurate portrayal of a certain experience; I don't know because I am not, myself, multiracial or belonging to a racial minority.
I gave it three stars because it was well written and interesting enough to read, but not a book that I think will be influential or even very memorable to me.
Cons: I didn't feel like the book had a very satisfying conclusion, which isn't necessarily a mark of bad writing - just something I don't like so much. I also thought that the issues of race that were indicated as the central struggle of the plot in most synopses that I read were sort of plot satellites more than they were central, and that kind of bothered me. If the book was going to be about those issues, I wanted it to be really about them, not to just sort of half-have them there - but maybe that's an accurate portrayal of a certain experience; I don't know because I am not, myself, multiracial or belonging to a racial minority.
I gave it three stars because it was well written and interesting enough to read, but not a book that I think will be influential or even very memorable to me.
cboddie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
5th-7th
ladygetslit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
This was a big-hearted, thoughtful story about a 6th grader figuring out who she is amidst life’s changes and struggles. Most of the story is about Sonia, a half-Indian Jewish girl who has to move schools when her dad loses his job. The story focuses on her developing new friendships and navigating the awkwardness of being a middle schooler, which was cute to see. What surprised me was the sub-plot surrounding Sonia’s dad as he struggles with debilitating depression; the novel does a good job of showing it through a child’s eyes. I do think the writing was what made this less enjoyable for me. Granted, it’s middle grade, which I typically read seldomly… but this just felt too much tell and not enough show. I wanted to feel Sonia’s emotions, rather than having her narrate them to us all the time. Overall, I think this would be great for 4th-7th grade kiddos, especially in a larger conversation about cultural background.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, Racism, and Abandonment
rsnow11's review
4.0
I liked the idea of this better than I liked the actual book. I found the main character kind of whiny, but it was a decent surface-level book about middle school drama.
jessicaye's review against another edition
3.0
i was going through my bookshelves and found this. interesting, pretty relatable, but not exceptional
paperbacks_and_ponytails's review against another edition
4.0
I never used to like contemporary books, but the more I read them....the more I grow to love them, and this book is no exception.
Sonia is half Jewish and half Indian, when her father loses his job she is sent to a public school where she finds out that things can be completely different from life just yesterday. Filled with heartache, new relationships and struggles...Sonia will learn that sometimes we have to go through hard times to find out who we really are.
Sonia is half Jewish and half Indian, when her father loses his job she is sent to a public school where she finds out that things can be completely different from life just yesterday. Filled with heartache, new relationships and struggles...Sonia will learn that sometimes we have to go through hard times to find out who we really are.
thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
Sonia Nadhamuni is half Indian and half Jewish. She goes to a private school. That is, she used to go to a private school until her dad lost his job. Now she has to go to the local public school and leave her old friends behind. Switching schools has made Sonia question her identity; she fit in so well at her old school. Was she Indian? Was she white? Both? Half and half? Self-identity is a journey for all of us. Read The Whole Story of Half a Girl to learn how Sonia figures out who she is.
kellerm's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book. But I'm not sure it's elementary material. Good for middle school. A little girly. Main characters are middle school. Spin the the bottle is included.