A review by jaina8851
Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Mixed feelings about this book. I really didn't care for the way Robin's narrative was handled. I can't help but compare this to A Map of Salt and Stars, where the POV narrator was about the same age as Robin and it was absolutely beautifully done. Robin oscillates between insufferably young (with way too many Rugrats-esque misunderstandings of words that are unfamiliar to her, Julie-ism, really?) and much too old for her intended age. I was hoping for something in the author's notes about the author's own upbringing that might soften the way I felt about the character, but no such luck. I really loved the chapters from Beauty's POV, but also felt complicated about those, since the author is white, and it felt odd learning about the aspects of South Africa that were highlighted in her chapters from a white perspective. I enjoyed the story for the most part (though I felt like the plot jumped the shark pretty hard at the end), and it was a really quick read.