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strawberrymivvy's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Picked this up free at a yard sale, even though the blurb didn't really capture my attention. Once I started reading, though, I was hooked.
Liz and Bean are two sisters growing up in 1970s California when their mother abandons them to chase her dreams of musical stardom. In order to avoid the authorities they make a journey cross country to find their Mum's estranged brother and end up in Virginia where the town is just coming out of segregation and things are very different to their previous experience.
One sister adapts easily, one becomes more withdrawn, then an incident threatens to tear the new family apart.
A really well-written, hopeful novel about triumph over adversity, love and accepting that the world is not always the perfect place we hope it is as children.
Liz and Bean are two sisters growing up in 1970s California when their mother abandons them to chase her dreams of musical stardom. In order to avoid the authorities they make a journey cross country to find their Mum's estranged brother and end up in Virginia where the town is just coming out of segregation and things are very different to their previous experience.
One sister adapts easily, one becomes more withdrawn, then an incident threatens to tear the new family apart.
A really well-written, hopeful novel about triumph over adversity, love and accepting that the world is not always the perfect place we hope it is as children.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Racism
caprivoyant's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
At times, it felt like this book was in some sort of competition with itself: how many different types of abuse can we fit into these two little girls' lives?!
Child abuse/neglect? ✅
Financial abuse? ✅
Sexual assault? ✅
Gaslighting? ✅
Emotional abuse? ✅
Some roundabout legal abuse? ✅
I don't know if I'd call this one enjoyable because all of that was really hard to read. It probably doesn't help that the two characters are named Bean & Liz and I picked up this book specifically because, to my mom, I'm Bean and one of my sisters is Liz (sometimes Lizzy). So. Maybe it just felt too close to home. The different types of abuse felt that way too...
I can't tell if that's the mark of a really fantastic book? One that really makes you feel? Or if I needed something else from it... More comfort or compassion or something. I'm not sure. It was a hard read, though, so please proceed with caution.
⚠️ Additional content warning for some racist comments/slurs.
Child abuse/neglect? ✅
Financial abuse? ✅
Sexual assault? ✅
Gaslighting? ✅
Emotional abuse? ✅
Some roundabout legal abuse? ✅
I don't know if I'd call this one enjoyable because all of that was really hard to read. It probably doesn't help that the two characters are named Bean & Liz and I picked up this book specifically because, to my mom, I'm Bean and one of my sisters is Liz (sometimes Lizzy). So. Maybe it just felt too close to home. The different types of abuse felt that way too...
I can't tell if that's the mark of a really fantastic book? One that really makes you feel? Or if I needed something else from it... More comfort or compassion or something. I'm not sure. It was a hard read, though, so please proceed with caution.
⚠️ Additional content warning for some racist comments/slurs.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
vilde_a's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Normally I don’t like stories written in first person, but this book is in past tense so that made up for it. Really like this book, the cover (not exactly the same as pictured here) is awful and don’t match the book itself. Truly fell in love with these two sisters and their world!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
shereadytoread's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
"Our slaves were always treated well" ... should have been where I cut this book off, but I thought okay gross uncle but the main characters disliked that so maybe it's not a big deal. Then the rest of the book goes on to humanize him and the rest of their racist family and racist town. They have a portion on racial relations where the opinions/feelings of the racist individuals is framed as just as valid and someone who was assaulted by a white person in town. Terrible mom, terrible family, terrible terrible? They imply that mom and sister have a mental health issues but makes no attempt to delve into it. Seeing the "charm" of a southern town that is upset about integration? Otherwise it could have been the typical "flighty mom who was never ready for kids" and "kids who had to grow up to fast". Instead, she threw everything at the wall: sexual assault, family secrets, class issues, race relations, mental health, coming of age, legal drama, etc. and just skimmed throughout most of the topics to remain overall coming of age?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Racism
Minor: Child abuse
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