Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Alebrijes: Flight to a New Haven by Donna Barba Higuera

5 reviews

caseythereader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

dolores_madil's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense slow-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? No

4.25

I liked this book though it was slow and I was able to put it down slightly easily at the beginning. Though once you get through to closer to the middle it does pick up. When the big action like scene happens its quite gripping and emotional. I did tear up a couple of times so be warned.  I do have to say I guessed at the beginning that it was connected to The Last Cuentista and it is you see it at the end. I won't tell you how or what happens but I was excited when I was proved right.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Genocide, Dementia, and Grief

bibliomich's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I read Alebrijes at the same time as a few of my 6th grade students, and much of my review has been heavily influenced by their reactions and reflections. Alebrijes is thematically complex, and the exposition builds over what feels like nearly the first half of the book. When the action picks up, it feels like everything happens, all at once, and quickly. I personally struggled with the beginning of the book, as it felt like I was waiting, waiting, waiting for everything to click into place. Fortunately, one of my students encouraged me to stick with it, letting me know that the payoff was well worth it.

I always appreciate finding books that my students love, particularly ones that feature diverse characters, complex relationships, and substantial themes. I will certainly be adding this one to my classroom library.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

With Spanish thoughtfully sprinkled throughout, Alebrijes is set in a post-apocalyptic North American dystopia in which Indigenous survivors live amongst white settlers, whose regime wishes to erase their language, culture, and people.  The Cascabeles have been forced into slavery, with never enough to eat.  Orphans Leandro and Gabi make ends meet by stealing from the rich, but when Gabi gets caught, Leandro takes the fall.  He is not banished to the outlands to be eaten by giant worms like many before him—instead, a renegade physician places his mind inside a metal hummingbird drone, and he’ll never see Gabi again unless he completes a special mission.  I was stunned by Donna Barba Higuera’s imagination, especially regarding the Cascabel music and dance.  Fans of The Last Cuentista will love this book, especially the epilogue!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Death of parent