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tiredenglishteacher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Beautiful exploration of the human experience, of a family divided, of community and of our connections to the land. Interwoven with folklore. Ending had me in tears.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Xenophobia
lemonmeringuepie's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
kaysquireads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Xenophobia
heatherjchin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Bullying, Racism, Racial slurs, Dementia, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
kporo23's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5
i read recently that people don’t comprehend tragedies and injustices until it becomes an individual story. this is a great example of that re: immigration
i think my favorite theme, and something i’ve been reflecting on since finishing, is how much the author dives into that gray area between loving your current home and searching for the shiny new home (aka america). and then when you get there, they do everything to show you they hate you. it’s one of many ways america’s flavor of white supremacy presents - smiling on the outside, with a dagger hidden behind their back.
i think my favorite theme, and something i’ve been reflecting on since finishing, is how much the author dives into that gray area between loving your current home and searching for the shiny new home (aka america). and then when you get there, they do everything to show you they hate you. it’s one of many ways america’s flavor of white supremacy presents - smiling on the outside, with a dagger hidden behind their back.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
kierstyn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
this is a story about a family who is broken up between Columbia and the United States and how this distance shapes their lives, as well as the hardships they experience in each country.
this could have been a beautifully captivating book, unfortunately I just didn't resonate with the way it was written. it jumps back and forth in time all over the place without congruency and we don't know anything about the characters except what they experience outwardly.
I think if it were written in a chronological timeline with alternating first person narratives, it could have been a 5 star, as I enjoyed the chapters in first person the most.
this could have been a beautifully captivating book, unfortunately I just didn't resonate with the way it was written. it jumps back and forth in time all over the place without congruency and we don't know anything about the characters except what they experience outwardly.
I think if it were written in a chronological timeline with alternating first person narratives, it could have been a 5 star, as I enjoyed the chapters in first person the most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
skylagrace's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, and Deportation
Moderate: War and Pregnancy
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
corriejn's review
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
camilleberedjick's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol
sgrizzle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“The more he stared at those borders on maps, the more absurd it seemed that outsiders succeeded in declaring possession of these lands with national lines, as if Creation could ever be divided and owned.”
Quick listen as I cleaned for my StoryGraph Reads the World Columbia entry. This is a powerful little novel about one family and their experience with immigration to the United States ripping them apart. Maybe reading would be easier, as it changed timelines and also went from third person to first person and back, and each time I had to stop and figure out where we were and who was speaking. Almost read YA except that there is sadly sexual assault. Overall it feels like an accurate account of the desperation undocumented families feel, without any false rose-colored glasses about America being a promised land.
Quick listen as I cleaned for my StoryGraph Reads the World Columbia entry. This is a powerful little novel about one family and their experience with immigration to the United States ripping them apart. Maybe reading would be easier, as it changed timelines and also went from third person to first person and back, and each time I had to stop and figure out where we were and who was speaking. Almost read YA except that there is sadly sexual assault. Overall it feels like an accurate account of the desperation undocumented families feel, without any false rose-colored glasses about America being a promised land.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault