templetoncecelia'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Deportation
Moderate: Grief, Drug use, and Bullying
abbyt152'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? No
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
nannahnannah's review against another edition
4.0
Fabiola and her mother are finally coming to America from Haiti to live a better life on the corner of America and Joy street. But when her mother is detained, and the picture-perfect American ideal is dashed when she discovers life is just as dangerous here as it is in Haiti. It's not the only discovery she makes about America--or her family: her three cousins and her aunt.
This book is incredibly engaging, and what I loved most about it is probably the weaving in of religion. Though, I really hesitate to call it magical realism? I mean . . . I understand why, but at the same time, if Fab was a Christian and didn't practice Vodou--and therefore Papa Legba was an Angel and not an Lwa, would it still be magical realism or under the category Religious? Maybe that's a discussion for a different place/time . . .
Anyway, that mix of religion and contemporary fiction was so genuine and beautiful, especially because that religion wasn't Christianity (as I'm not Christian myself). It's so nice and refreshing to see a religion treated so beautifully and without judgement (especially religions practiced by non-white people) in young adult books. Then again, the author is black, so that's probably the main reason why!
I feel like I should like the secondary characters better (i.e. Fab's cousins, Pri, Donna, and Chant), but I really couldn't become as attached to them as I was for Fab. I loved the details Ibi Zoboi gave them, like that Pri uses a binder for her breasts, but they really failed to become fully fleshed to me for some reason. Also, and this is suuuuper nitpicky, but I didn't like that Pri, the only lesbian/lgbt character, was the cousin that was the most aggressive character in the book.
But anyway, a good read! A really good read.
Moderate: Drug use and Domestic abuse
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Grief, Classism, Death of parent, Deportation, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Violence, Drug use, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Racism
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Murder
michelleighreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use and Police brutality
cstockey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Drug use, Physical abuse, and Gun violence
achiunicorn's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
mattyb'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? N/A
5.0
Minor: Death and Drug use
The main character’s mom is detained for illegal immigration.nytephoenyx'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: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content