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maya_reads_books's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Police brutality
bimess_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story of Sarai filled me with dread, hope and longing. Reminded me of my teen years and the girls that surrounded me. It felt close to home and for that, I'm thankful. Remembering pain and learning that you could really make it! (hehehe) can be seen as freedom.
I loved this book and I'll be coming back to it whenever I want to read a certain passage.
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
bookdnbusy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
but, nonetheless…
i enjoyed this, WAY TOO MUCH! this felt like a love letter to my summers in the city, running down the block yelling after el heladero to give me my vasito de colores so that i could give him his two dollars and walk back to my building already with my mouth turning blue thanks to the helado. a love letter to dreams and the hopes and the aspirations i had as a pre-teen sitting on the danger around the corner, away, but close enough that my mother knew where to send my siblings to find me and my friends. a love letter to a better life… to hope.
this collection of poems does such a great job at driving us through saraí’s story, her pain, and her joy. the hunger and thirst she constantly felt. whether for food, love or understanding. the way it forges the story with lack of dialogue is reminiscent of her diary, and how she truly saw life and experienced it.
it’s also a big mirror to the relationship a lot of hispanic mothers have with their daughters. i found myself tightening my jaw and reminding myself that my mother was but a child, too and that i, as her firstborn, were a product of trial and error. she learned. she rectified, but the damage was done, and estrella paid a different price than her mother’s and saraí paid the price because estrella had been the first.
honestly, this is so good and i will be picking this up whenever i feel nostalgic for more. for saraí. for estrella. for mami, and tío richie. I LOVED THIS!
Graphic: Misogyny, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Death, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
the main character and main character's family are Pentecostal, and the book has descriptions of scripture and sometimes blasphemy (as a lot of forced religious kids do).starrysteph'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
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug use, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexism, Child death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Body shaming, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Gun violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual harassment, and Police brutality
panickat123'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Classism, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Miscarriage
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
Nothing happens on screen- I think most if not all of the potentially triggering content is mentioned/alluded to, but isn't detailed on page. Some aftermath is discussed, too, but nothing graphic. The book begins with a content warning essentially, too, so you know what you're getting into.armontheroad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Mental illness, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Ableism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Death, Car accident, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When We Make It is a book written in verse about the teenage years of Sarai as she struggles to find herself as well as hold hope for the future in the midst of a difficult present
Sarai is a wonderful character. I really enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes and seeing how she felt throughout the poetry. The verse in this book is so beautiful! If you are a fan of Elizabeth Acevedo, you should definitely pick this up. It reminded me a lot of The Poet X and I really enjoyed reading it.
This is definitely not a happy book and a lot of bad things happen, but I do think that it is hopeful for the future and could definitely be considered inspiring. Great read!
Pub date: September 21, 2021
Graphic: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
foreverinastory'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? It's complicated
4.0
Rep: Borican female MC, and mixed borican supporting cast.
CWs: Addiction (drugs), body shaming, child abuse, death, domestic abuse, drug use/abuse, drug overdose, fatphobia, police brutality, pregnancy, racism, rape, sexism, sexual assault, sexual content.
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content