Scan barcode
A review by lattelibrarian
The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann
5.0
This was fantastic, spit-fire, tough and tumble, rough and rumble. When four teenagers meet at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, they find commonalities in the fact that they don't so much need taking care of or help, but that they simply do not fit in. Their families don't visit them, they try to run away, they slog through repetitive classes and lessons designed by teachers who couldn't care less. But once they realize that they're in it together, they begin to make plans to leave. For good.
Occasionally switching between perspectives, we get a deep and enriching perspective of historical Boston and the horrors that late 1800s/early 1900s America provided to those with different abilities. We see the Fairmont Copley Plaza (RIP Carly Copley) and East Boston, not to mention references to Springfield and other nearby towns.
I just loved seeing these girls grow into fiercer, more obstinate versions of themselves. Before (with the exception of London) where they might have sat back and taken what came at them, they now ready themselves for any challenge, unafraid to band together to make sure nobody is hurt by the aids, nurses, or School bullies.
I'd also be leaving out a big chunk of my review if I didn't mention just how impressively diverse this book is. We have London, an Italian-American pregnant girl; Alice, a black club-footed girl; Maxine, a lesbian; and Rose, a youth with developmental disabilities. Together, they pack a punch and are the epitome of ride or die. I'm so excited for this book when it comes out, I've already requested it for my library system and I just cannot stop talking about it. Read this book, recommend it to your local librarian, shove it into the hands of your best friend. It's. So. Good.
Review cross-listed here!
Occasionally switching between perspectives, we get a deep and enriching perspective of historical Boston and the horrors that late 1800s/early 1900s America provided to those with different abilities. We see the Fairmont Copley Plaza (RIP Carly Copley) and East Boston, not to mention references to Springfield and other nearby towns.
I just loved seeing these girls grow into fiercer, more obstinate versions of themselves. Before (with the exception of London) where they might have sat back and taken what came at them, they now ready themselves for any challenge, unafraid to band together to make sure nobody is hurt by the aids, nurses, or School bullies.
I'd also be leaving out a big chunk of my review if I didn't mention just how impressively diverse this book is. We have London, an Italian-American pregnant girl; Alice, a black club-footed girl; Maxine, a lesbian; and Rose, a youth with developmental disabilities. Together, they pack a punch and are the epitome of ride or die. I'm so excited for this book when it comes out, I've already requested it for my library system and I just cannot stop talking about it. Read this book, recommend it to your local librarian, shove it into the hands of your best friend. It's. So. Good.
Review cross-listed here!