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A review by erins_library
The Removed by Brandon Hobson
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(Gifted from Ecco)
The Removed by Brandon Hobson (Cherokee) follows a family as they live with the grief of losing their brother/son in a police shooting. The book takes place over a one week period, many years after the murder, as each family member moves through the world and carries the weight of that loss. I found it to be a heartbreaking, reflective storytelling experience. It’s told in multiple perspectives, including a historical perspective from a character who lived right before the Trail of Tears. I really enjoyed how the historical character connected and wove into the larger story, I was curious how it would fit in and I loved how it played into the narrative. I also liked how the book used metaphor and symbolism. I’m not always super tuned into what is and isn’t a metaphor, so I’m sure I’m just scratching the surface of it... but I like what I was able to catch.
It’s a shorter book, at less than 300 pages, which I appreciated in many ways. It made it really impactful and because it took place over one week it very much felt like a slice of life story. We glimpsed a singular moment in time in the characters’ lives and although it didn’t wrap up their stories by the end it was ok. It gave the sense that their lives keep going, they still have problems they’re working through and resolving for themselves. It left me with a lot to think about.
CW: drug use, addiction, grief, police shooting, Alzheimer’s, foster care, physical abuse, alcohol, racism, slurs, trail of tears
The Removed by Brandon Hobson (Cherokee) follows a family as they live with the grief of losing their brother/son in a police shooting. The book takes place over a one week period, many years after the murder, as each family member moves through the world and carries the weight of that loss. I found it to be a heartbreaking, reflective storytelling experience. It’s told in multiple perspectives, including a historical perspective from a character who lived right before the Trail of Tears. I really enjoyed how the historical character connected and wove into the larger story, I was curious how it would fit in and I loved how it played into the narrative. I also liked how the book used metaphor and symbolism. I’m not always super tuned into what is and isn’t a metaphor, so I’m sure I’m just scratching the surface of it... but I like what I was able to catch.
It’s a shorter book, at less than 300 pages, which I appreciated in many ways. It made it really impactful and because it took place over one week it very much felt like a slice of life story. We glimpsed a singular moment in time in the characters’ lives and although it didn’t wrap up their stories by the end it was ok. It gave the sense that their lives keep going, they still have problems they’re working through and resolving for themselves. It left me with a lot to think about.
CW: drug use, addiction, grief, police shooting, Alzheimer’s, foster care, physical abuse, alcohol, racism, slurs, trail of tears
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Police brutality