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2.93 AVERAGE
2.93 AVERAGE
I really liked the idea of this, but in some way it simply fell flat. The mystery of the crying rocks and Joelle's past really gripped me. However Vernon absolutely made me hate the book. I hated him as a character and the choices he made.
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i wanted to dnf this like 20 pages in but im stubborn so i pushed through. this was just… bad. the writing (while having some moments when it comes to environmental descriptions) was choppy and very tell-don’t-show. the dialogue was cringey and while this can be attributed to the main character being 13, it was still distracting enough for me. the story itself is kinda fucked up and all these characters suck. the weird fetishisation of native american suffering was off putting and the use of certain words and jokes casually thrown in there was just mad racist?? the concept could’ve been interesting, but it’s just badly written and most importantly NOT a white woman’s story to tell (especially like THAT, girl get a sensitivity reader at least!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation
Minor: Suicide
I honestly didn't mind the slow-ish start. It was very interesting to see this closed-off, bitchy, insecure girl grow and mature once she starts to connect with her heritage and her past. Lots of growing involved, but I was kind of disappointed by the lackluster reveal, but the ending saved it, because that ending... wow.
*CONTAINS VERY PERSONAL OPINION*
Although not a bad book in idea and writing, I personally did not connect with the main character. And still while I enjoyed the book, I was frequently reminded of almost her unnecessary attitude towards the people trying to get close to her. While I understand her pain of not knowing who she was and feeling the pressure of peoples opinions pushed on you, Carlos seemed to genuinely care and I think it took Joelle way to long to realize that. When Carlos tried and tried to better their friendship it often left me feeling bad for not Joelle but Carlos instead.
So In conclusion, great book!! Obviously it’s a great book when I am writing s review arguing with a character!! Im glad I read it, not one of my favorites but still a good read! Lots of good plot twists and a great ending that left the reader wanting more. Definitely give it a read! Thank you Janet Taylor Lisle!
Although not a bad book in idea and writing, I personally did not connect with the main character. And still while I enjoyed the book, I was frequently reminded of almost her unnecessary attitude towards the people trying to get close to her. While I understand her pain of not knowing who she was and feeling the pressure of peoples opinions pushed on you, Carlos seemed to genuinely care and I think it took Joelle way to long to realize that. When Carlos tried and tried to better their friendship it often left me feeling bad for not Joelle but Carlos instead.
So In conclusion, great book!! Obviously it’s a great book when I am writing s review arguing with a character!! Im glad I read it, not one of my favorites but still a good read! Lots of good plot twists and a great ending that left the reader wanting more. Definitely give it a read! Thank you Janet Taylor Lisle!
I don’t like the dialogue and it is about an indigenous person written by a white person and it’s very noticeable
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Crying Rocks by Janet Taylor Lisle left a lot to be desired. First, it had a really thin plot, that was incredibly traumatic (though the main character didn’t seem too phased by something that absolutely should have caused a lifetime of therapy) as it unfolded. I didn’t find any of the characters to be compelling or natural. Dialog was forced as were relationships and situations that made the book feel choppy and chaotic. This also read as a story written by someone who did a research paper on the Narragansett tribe of Native Americans, not by anyone who was actually native. I looked into the author and couldn’t find anything regarding her heritage, and while that shouldn’t be an automatic dealbreaker, I will say that I would be surprised to find out that the author was actually native, and still wrote this story they way they did. It definitely read like a report, and felt outdated and superficial, which is disappointing because I actually love authentic stories from native authors. At first glance, that is what this appears to be, but with each page, it veers further and further from that. I really wanted more from this story in a lot of places, and while it was a short and quick read, it didn’t do much to hold my interest, making its 200 pages, feel more like 3-400
Racial jokes, slurs and stereotypes did not sit well with me at all.
Would not recommend.
The only good part of the book was the reveal after 3/4 of the book about how she got to live with Vernon and Aunt Mary Louise. Thats it. The rest is racial jokes about Native Americans and quotes from racist anthropological figures, promoting their views and stereotypes.
Would not recommend.
The only good part of the book was the reveal after 3/4 of the book about how she got to live with Vernon and Aunt Mary Louise. Thats it. The rest is racial jokes about Native Americans and quotes from racist anthropological figures, promoting their views and stereotypes.
I had a hard time getting into the author's writing style and liking her characters. I found the omniscient voice of the narration too jarring. Joell, while understandably hurt and tries to push people away, was kind of hard to like, and I almost gave up and put the book down. However, after about half way through I kind of end up liking her and the eccentric cast of characters in her life. The end of the book pulls together nicely and you end up seeing a little growth in all the characters. Just due to the content at the end, the book is more for high schoolers and not really appropriate for middle schoolers like I was hoping. However, it still a good read.