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maya_reads_books's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Police brutality
bimess_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
- This review is for the Spanish edition.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
the only reason i’m giving this four stars it’s because i wanted better for saraí. i wanted her to be everything she said she wanted to be. i wanted her to be better than her mother, and her sister.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
An energizing explosion of heart & spirit, with characters that speak earnestly and directly with a yearning that is incredibly affecting.
We’re following Sarai, a Puerto Rican teenager living in Bushwick. She shares her hopes, she questions her identity, she agonizes over her familial pain & trauma, and she wonders about the future of her neighborhood and community. Sarai’s personality bursts from the page as she shares her quietest thoughts and her loudest dreams, all in verse.
This book covers tough subjects as Sarai faces all sorts of challenges: familial trauma, abuse, sexual assault, drug use & overdosing, teenage pregnancy, sexism & objectification of young women, ignorance & privilege, gentrification, and much more.
The writing and voice is distinctive and connected and powerful. I was captivated by Sarai and hopeful for her and heartbroken for her.
I found the ending to be a little bit crushing; the very last piece was too quick of a wrap up and some threads didn’t come together in the way I had hoped they would. I would have preferred getting maybe one more year of Sarai’s life and expanding on the conclusion.
CW: death (including child death), drugs & drug overdose, pregnancy, sexual assault (of a child), child abuse, mental illness, sexism, fatphobia, body shaming, ableism, domestic abuse, miscarriage, police brutality, gun violence, addiction, racism, toxic relationship, religious bigotry, psychosis, classism
Content Warnings
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was given a copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 21ST
WHEN WE MAKE IT is a stunning story in verse about challenging the concept of what it means to “make it” in today’s society. Elisabet Acevedo beautifully tackles a variety of topics that will undeniably help so many readers! As a first-generation Puerto Rican, who has gone through a lot of the same struggles Sarai does, this was comforting in a way words cannot explain. The experiences in this book are raw and real. WHEN WE MAKE IT healed bits of myself I forgot were still parts of my being. I recommend this to any Latinx readers (especially if you’re a Boricua), to people who feel as though their voices do not matter, and literally everyone else. This is a powerful, breathtaking, and impactful debut that you do not want to miss!
Please check the TW/CWs listed in my review.
Content Warnings
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
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- 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
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for an arc of this book.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Grief, and Child abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Thank you to Penguin Teen & Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
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