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bunnibeereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
hannahfeathers's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
3.5
sydapel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
- 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? Yes
4.25
Unlike any YA book I've ever read, the magical realism elements of this are woven in so seamlessly, it took me a minute to understand they weren't just a very effective metaphor. The only grip I have is that there are lots of time jumps in this which really are difficult to track when you're listening to the otherwise excellent audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
bluegrayvealey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-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? No
5.0
bysarahalexander's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
2.5
geisttull's review against another edition
3.0
good story - listening to it was a little confusing at times, though.
kaybee_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
This was an incredibly heart breaking story. It was unique and I couldn't stop once I started. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by the author and it was fantastic. I cried so many times and genuinely was holding my breath on the way to the end.
tinareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Oh, what a book this was. Halfway through reading I googled Echo Brown and learned she passed from kidney failure due to Lupus in September of 2023, as she waited for a kidney transplant. She was only 39 and I hope she rests in peace and light. I originally started this on Kindle, since that's how I own a copy, and I'm making a point this year to read more books I already own, but reading physical/e-books has been difficult lately, so I switched to the audiobook, thanks to my library. This novel is narrated by the author, and she gave an amazing performance. I can't recommend it enough.
I'm rusty at writing reviews, but this book touched my heart directly, so I feel pulled to speak on it. Please check trigger warnings before getting into this, especially if SA is a trigger for you. It's a prevalent them throughout the book and could be very triggering.
This book made me feel right at home. I was born and raised in California, not Ohio like Echo, but the way she wrote the experience of growing up Black and seeing how your parents struggle-to provide, to survive, to battle their demons-sometimes by using substances to dull the ache. How those struggles, when unaddressed, can bleed onto you, the child and shape you how it shaped them all those years ago. But also how the same parents who hurt you and aren't always available have those moments where they are soft and loving. How you yearn for those moments and cling to them when they're cruel. Phew! But, the magic on these pages added something special to this otherwise sad and tense recollection of Echo's upbringing. I love the aspect of ancestral magic in Black YA books. It often stems from the violence and survival of our ancestors, but it always does something for me. I like to think we might have some of that magic here in the real world, if we're willing to be open to it.
Like another reviewer said, the storytelling is definitely unique. You might be confused at the start, but if you stick with it and are open-minded I think it's quite enjoyable. The way the timelines blend together as the main story goes along was interesting and I was really invested, knowing that this book was about Echo's life with a magical twist. I shed quite a few tears in the last quarter of the audiobook, and it's a shame that we lost such a gifted storyteller so young. I'll definitely be checking out her other novels in the future.
I'm rusty at writing reviews, but this book touched my heart directly, so I feel pulled to speak on it. Please check trigger warnings before getting into this, especially if SA is a trigger for you. It's a prevalent them throughout the book and could be very triggering.
This book made me feel right at home. I was born and raised in California, not Ohio like Echo, but the way she wrote the experience of growing up Black and seeing how your parents struggle-to provide, to survive, to battle their demons-sometimes by using substances to dull the ache. How those struggles, when unaddressed, can bleed onto you, the child and shape you how it shaped them all those years ago. But also how the same parents who hurt you and aren't always available have those moments where they are soft and loving. How you yearn for those moments and cling to them when they're cruel. Phew! But, the magic on these pages added something special to this otherwise sad and tense recollection of Echo's upbringing. I love the aspect of ancestral magic in Black YA books. It often stems from the violence and survival of our ancestors, but it always does something for me. I like to think we might have some of that magic here in the real world, if we're willing to be open to it.
Like another reviewer said, the storytelling is definitely unique. You might be confused at the start, but if you stick with it and are open-minded I think it's quite enjoyable. The way the timelines blend together as the main story goes along was interesting and I was really invested, knowing that this book was about Echo's life with a magical twist. I shed quite a few tears in the last quarter of the audiobook, and it's a shame that we lost such a gifted storyteller so young. I'll definitely be checking out her other novels in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicide attempt
carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so powerful that by the time my audiobook began playing the acknowledgements, I let them roll because I wasn’t ready for the book to end (and then Echo Brown proceeded to make me sob as she choked up thanking loved ones, but most importantly herself).
Echo Brown’s magical realism laced autobiography is one that should not be missed and one I couldn’t put down. Her personal story is interwoven with the struggles of being a woman, but especially a black woman. The struggle to parent oneself when your parents aren’t up for the task. The systemic struggle put up in front of so many people because of race, class, socioeconomic status, addiction - and in the midst of all this, there’s a story about hope, light, and finding a way to overcome what you can. The magical realism element is so painful but so powerful. I rooted for Echo throughout the book and hoped for better for her, for her parents, and for her brothers. This is such an important story that packs a serious punch and forces you to face the difficult reality that dreams have roadblocks and setbacks, especially for those our society has left to fight harder than most, but that the fight is worthwhile and can be done.
Echo Brown’s magical realism laced autobiography is one that should not be missed and one I couldn’t put down. Her personal story is interwoven with the struggles of being a woman, but especially a black woman. The struggle to parent oneself when your parents aren’t up for the task. The systemic struggle put up in front of so many people because of race, class, socioeconomic status, addiction - and in the midst of all this, there’s a story about hope, light, and finding a way to overcome what you can. The magical realism element is so painful but so powerful. I rooted for Echo throughout the book and hoped for better for her, for her parents, and for her brothers. This is such an important story that packs a serious punch and forces you to face the difficult reality that dreams have roadblocks and setbacks, especially for those our society has left to fight harder than most, but that the fight is worthwhile and can be done.