Reviews

The Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan

gmamartha's review

3.0

Cruel slavery of children on the Ivory coast turns the sweet cacao into a very bitter life. These three finally escape and are fortunate to tell their story.

tophat8855's review

4.0

Listened via Hoopla. I’ve known shot the cold and slave labor that supports the chocolate industry for about 20 years, ever since I was a docent at the Field Museum in Chicago when the chocolate exhibit was there. It’s horrendous and is still continuing. This story is fiction and has a happy ending, but the reality is full of devastating endings. This is probably a good introduction for teens and adults. Start here, then keep going.

brittneyfike's review

3.0

This wasn’t my favorite. I struggled to get in to it. It’s not a book I would typically read, but I’m trying to branch out and try new things. It had a great storyline and the characters were well developed. A great middle grades novel. I enjoyed the happy ending!

brtvajes1's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sarahanne8382's review

4.0

Sullivan tells the story of a 15-year-old Amadou who, with his little brother, Seydou, has been toiling away on a cacao farm for 2 years. They've been told they'll be free to leave when they earn back the money spent on transporting, housing, and feeding them. Except they don't know how much they make or even how much they owe.

When a girl is sent to the camp by herself, Amadou's life quickly begins to change as she brings the glimmer of hope that he may be able to change his life for the better.

It was shocking to learn how most cacao is farmed, and also the difficult lives children like Amadou and Seydou face. He describes modest comforts like glass windows and the ability to attend school as luxuries. Definitely a good read for gaining an international perspective. I can't even begin to process how this book will affect my chocolate consumption.

hayleybeale's review

4.0

Set in Cote d’Ivoire, this riveting novel brings to immediate life the horrors of cacao farming with child slaves. The author does not spare us any of the brutality (though it is implied or happens off stage) but does leave the characters with hope. Ideal for teens interested in social justice. Reviewed from an ARC. See my full review here.

michelle_dase's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

enokorantema's review

challenging emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

alabooks's review

4.0

A wonderful book exploring the child labor problems in the chocolate industry. It has opened up my students to understanding that consumerism has dark sides and has led to some great conversations on manipulation of power and the dark side of different industries around the world, including ones in the United States. It's fast paced, keeps students engaged, and tells the story of the unfortunate circumstances of children around the world.

teresa_a's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0