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oliviantoinette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs
amymcphrsn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
heartsfromella's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism
becks_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Minor: Infidelity and War
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Pedophilia, and Rape
arifahmalik's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Death
Minor: Xenophobia and War
evangelinereading's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
bites_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is the story of Ana, a 15 year old girl who is forced to marry an older man who will take her from the Dominican Republic to New York City for what her family believes is a better life and opportunities for the whole family.
In this book we see things from Ana's perspective for most of the book and we get to experience her fears, loneliness, confusion, and coming-of-age as she deals with an abusive husband, trying to take care of her family from far away, and trying to connect to people in this new country. The way that Cruz writes the story can be unsettling at times, touching on magical realism as Ana imagines things happening a different way than what lies before her. We also get some historical references relating to the political troubles happening both in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book because it really was painful at times. It reminded me of some things I experienced when I faced my own immigration story and culture shock, as well as reminded me of the stories that some family members have told me with respect to their own experiences when coming to the United States. I did appreciate that the story focuses on Ana's experience and highlights many of the struggles, both emotional, physical, and familial, that women face when moving (or when they are taken) to a new country in search of opportunity.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
annaem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Rape
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“How many women get to choose who to marry and can truly dictate their own life? As God is my witness, my daughter will have choices.”
It is one thing to read a book about a culture you are learning about, a country you do not know and haven't even seen. It feels like fiction somehow and, to me, it is a way to escape. But this book, god, it felt so real...I know this places...even tho I've never been to New York I understood all the Dominican references, the fact that it was only last year when they finally prohibited child marriage in this country, the fact that there are many Ana's in this country, suffering with no one to tell their story makes this book such a jewel.
The talk about all the shit happening after Trujillos's death and April's battle, holy shit. It reminded of something I read form Neruda:
Cuarenta y cinco mil hijos de perra,
Bajaron con sus armas y sus cuentos,
Con ametralladoras y cuchillos
Con objetivos claros y concretos:
"Poner en libertad a los ladrones,
Y a los demás hay que meterlos presos". –Versainograma a Santo Domingo
I will truly recommend this book to everyone but specially if you grew up here in DR of if you grew in New York...give it a try
'kay, I'm out
Bye
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Racism, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault