Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

14 reviews

idesofmarch's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death

mfrisk's review

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This was a great graphic novel memoir that will make you both laugh, cry, and empathize with Robin and get to know her love for her mother and learn about their experiences living in Korea and then moving to America as immigrants. The illustrations are stunning and do a great job of conveying a range of emotions and experiences. Loved this book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Bullying, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Animal death

amypt46's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexism

jessereadsthings's review

emotional fast-paced

4.0

Good if a bit fast paced towards the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, and Body shaming

solenodon's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Grief, and Sexism

Moderate: Fatphobia

avabudavari's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Sexism

pvbobrien's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Sexism, Racism, and Animal death

Minor: Child abuse and Infidelity

serendipitysbooks's review

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

 Almost American Girl is a really well done graphic memoir, relating a pivotal period in Robin Ha’s life. When she was 14 her mother took her on holiday from their home in South Korea to Alabama to visit a friend. Except the move became permanent when she decided to marry said friend. Robin was thrown into a new family and school and had to battle the language barrier, some racist bullying, and the loneliness of being cut off from her friends, all while resenting her mother for forcing her into this situation. Enrolling in a comic book class proved to be a saving grace.

I liked the way the story moved back and forth in time, showing what life was like for Robin and her mother in South Korea as well as in America. The use of different coloured type to show whether people were speaking in Korean or English was inspired. The book clearly highlighted some misogynistic, paternalistic and conservative aspects of Korean society that made life difficult for Robin and her solo mother, a strong and sometimes headstrong woman who refused to be hemmed in by cultural norms. These factors helped explain what appeared to be a sudden and ill-judged move to marry, and were things Robin didn’t fully appreciate until she was older.

An added bonus with this memoir is the way it highlights the role comic book art and graphic novels played in Robin eventually settling in to her life in America. Graphic novels still sadly attract some negative attention, as being of less worth than “real” books and somehow a waste of time. This story highlights their value in bridging a cultural divide.

This is an honest and vulnerable memoir that highlights some of the difficulties of immigration for teens, but is one that has a positive ending.
 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Sexism

bookiecharm's review

emotional

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, and Grief

bookcheshirecat's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Sexism