The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
cjsays'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
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Transphobia and Medical trauma
pphector'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
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
aliasbooklover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Violence, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical content, Gun violence, Grief, Drug use, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, and Alcohol
dhsteel'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
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Deadnaming, Dementia, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Transphobia
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
clur707'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
Another reviewer wrote: āThis book combined so many different ways of changing, vanishing, choosing how to live in those world.Ā While the core story is about someone passing as white (who experiences that as living a secret lie), thereās also someone who is transgender (living truer to themselves) and a drag queen (everyone knows theyāre not as they appear).Ā Thereās a fingerprint reader - your fingerprints are unique and donāt change. There are unhappy people and fairly content people.ā ā¦I didnāt think much about the many types of vanishing while reading but loved this noticing and feel as though that will stay with me.Ā
What intrigued me the most was the analysis about whiteness/white supremacy that felt layered into the story via the character who lives her life passing as white and the town itself as this character that preferred Black residents with light skin. These storylines captured so well the pain and violence of whiteness. The fracturing, loss, and trauma that ripples from whiteness at a relational level, passed along through generations and through people.Ā
Another review (nytimes) closed by saying: āAs old as the story of passing may be, so too is the effortā¦ to capture its complicated desire and alienating costs.ā and I really felt gripped by the character passing as whiteās desire to be āfreeā and the unimaginable costs of that choice.Ā
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism