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emmakrof's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
One thing I really loved about this book was the way the author portrayed the dynamics between the Jewish, black, and white community members. He depicts the different concepts of self, life goals, allegiances, and tensions community members create (and the ideas they create about others) in order to coexist. Everyone has a complicated relationship with everyone else, both inter- and intra-racial. It felt very detailed and very human.
But I found a few of the characters kind of one-dimensional. In particular, I had complicated feelings about Chona. Chona is a Jewish woman who is beloved by all in the community. She rebukes racism, rebukes antisemitism, rebukes misogyny, rebukes gender roles, rebukes ableism. She is not afraid to speak her mind and do what she believes is right. She spends her life running a grocery store at a loss and giving food away for free to help alleviate structural poverty.
Doubtlessly, Chona is a great person, and I enjoyed her role in the story!! But I am conflicted about how to feel about her. Her colorblind, abilityblind anyone-is-capable-of-everything approach to life feels naive; but at the same time, she is closer to the “truth” than many of the other characters in this book!
While I enjoyed the plot, I felt the ending was rushed. I would’ve liked to hear more about Dodo
My final gripe is that the author includes a seemingly random rant about how cellphones are ruining our lives?? The timing of this rant was bizarre
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Antisemitism, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
omarickman's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Murder
meganpbell's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Infertility, Medical content, and Death of parent
kimveach's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
booknerd_therapist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Admittedly, it was off to a slow start. I had a tough time getting into it, because the author meticulously goes into every character's back story. But without that, there is no story. So it's necessary, and if you want to experience the full beauty of this book, you need to truly understand the characters.
This book isn't just about being black. It's not just about being Jewish. It's not just about racism and antisemitism and surviving those things. It's not just about the horrific abuse disabled children experienced a century ago. Those things are omnipresent.... but they are a backdrop. They are a backdrop for the real story: Friendship, love, resilience, family, hope.
If you are hoping for a plot-driven story, this is not it. This is unapologetically character driven.
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Cursing, and Excrement
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Infertility, and Death of parent
leighwitz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Ableism
ska1224's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Slavery, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Deportation
ecallahan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and Classism
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent