Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Alebrijes - Flight to a New Haven: an unforgettable journey of hope, courage and survival by Donna Barba Higuera

2 reviews

dolores_madil's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense slow-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? No

4.25

I liked this book though it was slow and I was able to put it down slightly easily at the beginning. Though once you get through to closer to the middle it does pick up. When the big action like scene happens its quite gripping and emotional. I did tear up a couple of times so be warned.  I do have to say I guessed at the beginning that it was connected to The Last Cuentista and it is you see it at the end. I won't tell you how or what happens but I was excited when I was proved right.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Dementia, and Grief

marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

With Spanish thoughtfully sprinkled throughout, Alebrijes is set in a post-apocalyptic North American dystopia in which Indigenous survivors live amongst white settlers, whose regime wishes to erase their language, culture, and people.  The Cascabeles have been forced into slavery, with never enough to eat.  Orphans Leandro and Gabi make ends meet by stealing from the rich, but when Gabi gets caught, Leandro takes the fall.  He is not banished to the outlands to be eaten by giant worms like many before him—instead, a renegade physician places his mind inside a metal hummingbird drone, and he’ll never see Gabi again unless he completes a special mission.  I was stunned by Donna Barba Higuera’s imagination, especially regarding the Cascabel music and dance.  Fans of The Last Cuentista will love this book, especially the epilogue!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Death of parent