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franklola's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent
dblue236'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? It's complicated
4.0
I passed on this book a couple years ago when I had the opportunity to choose it from Book of the Month, and then it recently showed up in my Little Free Library so I took it as a sign that I should give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. It's easily one of the most moving books I've read so far this year, and while it was often heartbreaking, it also left me feeling inspired and uplifted by the time it was over. The characters felt real, and learning at the end that the book was actually loosely based on true events felt like being punched in the gut. I cannot wait to pick up more from this author.
Graphic: Infertility, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
cdoubet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infertility, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Slavery, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
kelly_e'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? It's complicated
5.0
Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: April 12, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Delicate • Devastating • Illuminating
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.
But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.
Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Take My Hand was one of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends for 2023, and one I was most looking forward to after so many glowing reviews from trusted historical fiction readers. Honestly, I am not sure 5-stars is nearly enough for this powerful and emotional book.
One of the things I appreciate most about historical fiction is how it allows the reader a glimpse into history through so many different lenses. Although Take My Hand is a fictionalized account (based on true events), the writing and characterization brought everything to life. Told in dual timelines and exploring the haunting history of eugenics, this novel is incredibly well-written and eye-opening. The characters were three dimensional and I was sucked into their lives from the very start. There were moments of pause, there were tears, there was anger - it was just an incredible reading experience. Yet knowing this happened, and continues to happen, is so unsettling.
Take My Hand will be easily be finding its way onto my forever shelf, as well as my year-end 2023 favourites list! It's a novel offering another much needed layer to the discussion of reproductive rights and justice. It is sure to spark discussion, raising moral and ethical questions. I will be thinking of this one for a long time to come. So far my friends have been hitting it out of the park with their recommendations.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• fans of Necessary Lies
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Our bodies belong to us. Poor, disabled, it didn't matter. These were our bodies and we have the right to decide what to do with them."
"There is no greater right for a woman than having a choice."
"I had never known that good intentions could be just as destructive as bad ones."
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
adoptionemardesen'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Infertility and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Racism, and Abortion
Minor: Mental illness
shesheshelby's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
The main character annoyed me, so it was hard to give this book more than 4 stars. A main focus of the book is the main character’s flaws, but I wanted to see more growth from her. The main character’s growth is probably realistic, however!
I didn’t like the feeling I had at the end of the book. So many things were left unresolved, but isn’t that true in the real world? There is still racism and racial disparities in medicine and people finding identity in “saving” others and forced sterilization and female genital mutilation, so we should be uncomfortable.
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Infertility, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alexisgarcia'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
erickaonpaper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Infertility and Medical trauma
Moderate: Car accident, Abortion, and Classism
Minor: Cancer and Death
mysterymom40's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
katierobertsonshaddix'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail