Reviews

The Record Keeper by Agnes Gomillion

frog_appreciator's review against another edition

4.25

Amazing portrayal of eugenics, classism and racism to a spot on illustration of white feminism and more, this book doesn’t shy away from the hard questions. While a bit difficult to get through as the protagonist was intentionally unlikeable (the abused advocating for the abuser) but her character development was very satisfying at the conclusion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, and Classism

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

crystalbenson's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

sheri_reads's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.5

hawk_just_hawk's review against another edition

4.0

A strong metaphor for how structures of power uphold racism and why Black cops are still cops. Disarm the police.

erinlindsaybell's review against another edition

5.0

Dudes, I loved this. Gomillion has a strong and evocative voice. Dark, violent, post-apoc/dystopian. Similar in tone to Rivers Solomon's "An Unkindness of Ghosts" which I also LOVED.

I would say content warming for themes of slavery, racism, bigotry, violence (no sexual violence/rape), family separation.

Arika is a juicy, complex, imperfect hero. She frustrated me so much, but the last 20 pages or so especially had me wanting to jump on a chair and cheer for her. She is flawed, but kickass and I can't wait to she where she and this world goes.

dm_collins's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• 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

5.0

revenant_tomato's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lazygal's review against another edition

4.0

Dystopian race relations can be complicated - here we have a bit of "gee, nothing has changed". There are the English, who essentially run what's left of the world, the Clayskin (whom we hear a little about, but not much, and appear to be of part Asian, part native and part Indian extraction) and the Kongo, split into First Brother and Second Brother but who live further south and provide most of the food for the others. We see things through Akira's eyes, from her distress at being separated from her "mother" through punishment when she doesn't want to conform to extreme conforming in school to finally rebelling against the English head of school. The world building is slight, but the character building is very strong and redeems the book. There's a lot to chew over regarding the racism and how even after a disastrous war little has changed in terms of how the "first world" (English) treat the "lesser" Clayskin and Kongo. The ending leads me to believe there will be another book, and it could be an opportunity to make some serious societal changes.

ARC provided by publisher.

nijimei's review against another edition

3.0

I didn't realize this book was the first of a series before checking just now, so that tempers the ending a little. The whole third act feels quite rushed, and I didn't really get to know the new characters. I feel like there are a lot of mysterious elements of the world building set up that never get resolved or addressed, which feels frustrating as a reader.

hbee112's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0