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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
DAMN this is ridiculously and disturbingly (yes) fantastic - not for the faint of heart.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book about issues.
To start, this book underwhelmed me compared to the reviews I read. Sometimes there is only so much darkness and grittiness that I can read before I stop caring. Personally, I reached that point about a hundred pages in. Only in the last fifty or so pages did I start caring again, not for the main character, but for her best friend. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, seeing the other reviews raving about how accurate this book is to troubled children, but some choices in the text put me off heavily. The main character having such a bleak outlook on life often correlates with illogical behavior, which tends to annoy me in novels, and Macy embodied that to a T. While I understand the decisions made, it still made her rather unsympathetic as a character to me. Some parts of the novel fell flat to me in terms of movement, as I would often feel offput by the disjointed nature of the chapters. I could hardly tell over what timeframe some chapters would take place, which did lead to quite a lot of page-flipping for me. Macy's thoughts on the world also struck me as sometimes too shallow/edgy, which often killed my care for connection to those messages.
Our main character is crass and abrasive, but well-fleshed out. I didn't like her, but that doesn't change the fact that her character is very complex and the book takes great care to peel back the layers of her with each chapter. My favorite character was her best friend, Alma. Alma's character arc was telegraphed very well and she was fleshed out to a degree that pushed me to actually finishing the book for her alone. I wish she had gotten a better ending, but what happened to her does prop up the theme and message of the writing well.
To be entirely honest, while some may say the writing is a huge detriment, the writing style is easy to sink into once you get going. I was also put off by the non-standard grammar and liberal use of curses, but it all fades to the background once you read enough. (The one part that continued irking me was use of 'Name:' instead of dialogue tags. Personal preference.)
The themes of sexual exploitation and the cycle of poverty are well explored in this novel, which I will wholeheartedly commend. The sheer pervasiveness of hopelessness shown throughout the novel forces the reader to understand, even if they don't want to.
Ultimately, I wouldn't have picked this book up if I knew what a drag reading through it would be. The good parts of the novel are surrounded by parts I didn't care for. Had I been a tad more willing to DNF books, this ending would have gone completely unread. I cannot decide whether that would be a good thing or not, so you may decide.
I recommend this book if you want a thought-provoking story on oppression's effects on a small scale and a deliberately unlikable (due to her own reservations on showing vulnerability/weakness) MC. Heed the content warnings though.
To start, this book underwhelmed me compared to the reviews I read. Sometimes there is only so much darkness and grittiness that I can read before I stop caring. Personally, I reached that point about a hundred pages in. Only in the last fifty or so pages did I start caring again, not for the main character, but for her best friend. Maybe this book just wasn't for me, seeing the other reviews raving about how accurate this book is to troubled children, but some choices in the text put me off heavily. The main character having such a bleak outlook on life often correlates with illogical behavior, which tends to annoy me in novels, and Macy embodied that to a T. While I understand the decisions made, it still made her rather unsympathetic as a character to me. Some parts of the novel fell flat to me in terms of movement, as I would often feel offput by the disjointed nature of the chapters. I could hardly tell over what timeframe some chapters would take place, which did lead to quite a lot of page-flipping for me. Macy's thoughts on the world also struck me as sometimes too shallow/edgy, which often killed my care for connection to those messages.
Our main character is crass and abrasive, but well-fleshed out. I didn't like her, but that doesn't change the fact that her character is very complex and the book takes great care to peel back the layers of her with each chapter. My favorite character was her best friend, Alma. Alma's character arc was telegraphed very well and she was fleshed out to a degree that pushed me to actually finishing the book for her alone. I wish she had gotten a better ending, but what happened to her does prop up the theme and message of the writing well.
To be entirely honest, while some may say the writing is a huge detriment, the writing style is easy to sink into once you get going. I was also put off by the non-standard grammar and liberal use of curses, but it all fades to the background once you read enough. (The one part that continued irking me was use of 'Name:' instead of dialogue tags. Personal preference.)
The themes of sexual exploitation and the cycle of poverty are well explored in this novel, which I will wholeheartedly commend. The sheer pervasiveness of hopelessness shown throughout the novel forces the reader to understand, even if they don't want to.
Ultimately, I wouldn't have picked this book up if I knew what a drag reading through it would be. The good parts of the novel are surrounded by parts I didn't care for. Had I been a tad more willing to DNF books, this ending would have gone completely unread. I cannot decide whether that would be a good thing or not, so you may decide.
I recommend this book if you want a thought-provoking story on oppression's effects on a small scale and a deliberately unlikable (due to her own reservations on showing vulnerability/weakness) MC. Heed the content warnings though.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The fact that it has not been put forward for major awards is ludicrous.
Read it.
Read it.
I’m going to have a hard time recommending this book to people because the content is so heavy, numerous trigger warnings are in these pages. Still, Macy’s story was riveting, her voice was unique and I was engaged.
Three stars mainly because I’m confused on how I feel, but the writing and voice are excellent.
Three stars mainly because I’m confused on how I feel, but the writing and voice are excellent.
This book was amazing!!! I think that the author did a great job by having Macy deal with her problems and pretend like they were nothing in the first half, but as she becomes more confident in her dictionary they all come out. Macy was such a well written character as well!!!
Macy tells the reader her story through the dictionary she writes- each word connecting to an event in her life. As we learn about Macy's thoughts, feelings, and friends the picture of her life comes into focus. She has such a big heart, as is evident through the scenes with her brother and friends, Alma and George. This book was powerful, primarily because Macy's story could be the story of so many girls in our country that never get a chance to have their voice be heard.
I actually didn't really know what I was getting into when I first started reading this book, then duh I read the synopsis and am glad I did. I used to teach Emotionally Disturbed kids and I felt that this book was spot on. I have a hard time with books about labeled kids when they're not authentic, but this was refreshing and to know that this was a debut book for this author is even better. Loved the rawness and the realness of this story. I loved how at times it didn't follow and set plot but at the same time the story was still progressing. Because that's how ED kids roll. LOVED how the end of the book was still a bit messy and not cookie cutter clean. Really enjoyed this book.
I honestly feel like this book was written about some of the kids that I work with. So many hot button topics and hard-hitting situations: CPS, foster care, drug dealing, sex work, neglect, abuse, hunger, poverty, mental health/lack of mental health care.
Macy was an amazing heroine and really makes you think about how there are so many people who live lives similar to hers and fly under the radar — how things we take for granted (like houses without holes in the roof or floors) are impossible for her to find. Or the ability to walk down a street without fear of being raped or shot by a gang member. Or just having more than scraps of food available. Hot water. Cleaning supplies. Toilet paper. Clean clothes and laundry facilities.
I also love that this book was written in AAVE — African-American vernacular English. So many people have given it low ratings because of the “misspellings and poor editing” but nah. It’s intentional and it really gives the story a life of its own. The way that language develops is super important and the way that “educated white people” speak isn’t the only acceptable way to talk. And yes, reading AAVE is different than reading “standard English,” but if you’ve read books written with a Southern accent or a Cockney accent and enjoyed them, then you have no room to complain about the use of AAVE in this book. It’s the same — except perhaps even more important to preserve, because of the efforts taken to quash AAVE and replace it with standard English due to deeply rooted racism.
I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for more books by Ramos; this was a thought-provoking read and was thoroughly enjoyed.
Macy was an amazing heroine and really makes you think about how there are so many people who live lives similar to hers and fly under the radar — how things we take for granted (like houses without holes in the roof or floors) are impossible for her to find. Or the ability to walk down a street without fear of being raped or shot by a gang member. Or just having more than scraps of food available. Hot water. Cleaning supplies. Toilet paper. Clean clothes and laundry facilities.
I also love that this book was written in AAVE — African-American vernacular English. So many people have given it low ratings because of the “misspellings and poor editing” but nah. It’s intentional and it really gives the story a life of its own. The way that language develops is super important and the way that “educated white people” speak isn’t the only acceptable way to talk. And yes, reading AAVE is different than reading “standard English,” but if you’ve read books written with a Southern accent or a Cockney accent and enjoyed them, then you have no room to complain about the use of AAVE in this book. It’s the same — except perhaps even more important to preserve, because of the efforts taken to quash AAVE and replace it with standard English due to deeply rooted racism.
I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for more books by Ramos; this was a thought-provoking read and was thoroughly enjoyed.
WOW. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
The way it was written like a dictionary/journal added to the teen / YA element and was different, I loved it. And that the way Macy spoke was actually how it was written also made it feel more real.
The book was funny and heartbreaking and beautiful. Shows the power of a good teacher. And what unconditional love looks like.
The way it was written like a dictionary/journal added to the teen / YA element and was different, I loved it. And that the way Macy spoke was actually how it was written also made it feel more real.
The book was funny and heartbreaking and beautiful. Shows the power of a good teacher. And what unconditional love looks like.