Reviews

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

thepetitepunk's review

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4.0

Loved this. Heartbreaking, and a great use of verse. I especially enjoyed the audiobook.

✧ ✧ ✧

≪reading 31 books for 31 days of january≫
╰┈➤ 1. funny feelings by tarah dewitt
╰┈➤ 2. winterborne home for vengeance and valor by ally carter
╰┈➤ 3. garvey’s choice by nikki grimes
╰┈➤ 4. ghost music by an yu
╰┈➤ 5. decoding boys by cara natterson
╰┈➤ 6. the sunbearer trials by aiden thomas
╰┈➤ 7. the house in the pines by ana reyes
╰┈➤ 8. the lost apothecary by sarah penner
╰┈➤ 9. we are all so good at smiling by amber mcbride
╰┈➤ 10. ms ice sandwich by mieko kawakami
╰┈➤ 11. love & other disasters by anita kelly
╰┈➤ 12. red, white, and whole by rajani larocca

melodys_library's review

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5.0

For fans of “Other Words for Home.” I loved all of it.

gracepizza40's review

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5.0

I love this book so much.

pages_on_fire's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

rballenger's review

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5.0

Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: I had just finished a previous book and needed something to listen to on my morning commute. 'Red, White, and Whole' was one of the first books that popped up in my search on Libby for currently available audiobooks with no specific genre, author, etc. in mind.

Overall rating: "You will write your own story, and it will be beautiful because it is yours."

'Red, White, and Whole' is an absolutely beautiful telling of young Reha and her struggle with feeling like she's living in two different worlds and how that impacts her life, including when her mother is diagnosed with and going through treatment for cancer. I'm so happy I stumbled upon this book. It was written with heart and as a reader, you are put smack dab in the middle of Reha's feelings, struggles, and strength. Did this book rip my heart out and make me want to go hug all my family members? Yes. Yes, it did. Totally worth it. I would 100% recommend 'Red, White, and Whole.'

moonstonee's review

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emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

kimal2028's review

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3.0

This book broke my heart so much!

I hate how Reha's mother was taken from her and that she blamed herself because she couldn't give marrow to her mother. It is really hard for people to move on from a death in their family. Your family is like a piece of your heart. You give it more and more of your heart so it can grow and become everything that it can. But when it's broken your entire heart breaks. That piece of your heart just disappears. It's really sad.

But Reha learned how to fill the hole just a little bit by leaning on her friends and her family again.

roseleaf24's review

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4.0

This book did such a good job of showing the immigrant's pull between two worlds, and if showing grief. But it also manages to make both those relatable to readers who haven't experienced them. I love novels in verse; this isn't the best example, but a few of the poems are beautiful.

analyticalchaos's review

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3.0

A simple, approachable read in verse.

llinthelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

4.5