A review by serendipitysbooks
Parachutes by Kelly Yang

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • 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

4.0

 Parachutes tells the interlinked stories of Claire and Dani who both attend a prestigious LA high school. Claire is from China; Dani her host sister. During the course of the year Claire is raped by her boyfriend, a fellow student at the school, while Dani’s debate coach behaves inappropriately, first grooming her then gaslighting her when she rejects his advances. What stood out for me in this story was the way wealth intersected with other factors such as race and gender, and especially how it impacted each girl’s experience and the school’s response to it. I was also really interested in the plight of parachute students from countries like China who attend high school overseas and live with host families or in apartments by themselves or with other international students. They are often in a very vulnerable position, especially if pastoral care is not actively prioritised by the school. This unique angle helped this book stand out for me.
 
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