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A review by thereadinghammock
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The plot was engaging, and the story interesting. There were cultural nuances that were new and interesting to me, as a white reader, that might have been a bit lost on me (if only because I was not raised with the cultural significance) but it was a fun space adventure. The ending felt a bit rushed, like we spent 3/4 of the book getting to the climax, then spent maybe 50 pages resolving the story? I wish there had been a bit more time to spend letting the come-down breathe.
I was a bit frustrated that Min basically got away with everything by being good enough to maneuver around the system. Not quite the message I think should be touted in a YA book, but her constant use of Charm never had a draw back, never had a breaking point (until she was literally caught red handed). So much so, that they actually offered her a job to avoid more severe punishment.
Moderate: Genocide and Racism