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rachel101's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Body horror, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Drug abuse, Grief, Gore, Hate crime, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
fkshg8465'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Racism, Trafficking, War, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts
ajira'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Infidelity, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Misogyny
nadia's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
meatballmoney's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Child death, Cursing, and War
augie_'s review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, Racism, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Grief, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death, and Abortion
estam1's review
4.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and War
internationalreads's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content
serendipitysbooks'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? Yes
4.75
I love the compassion with the which this story was told and the way it highlighted many victims of the war. Not just the American soldiers who saw and did things they were in no way prepared for, and whom western readers will be familiar with, but also the Vietnamese women forced into sex work and/or abused and assaulted by traumatised soldiers, and their biracial children, often unwanted by their mothers and/ or abandoned by their American fathers, with many forced to grow up on the streets, ostracised by Vietnamese society and facing discrimination and prejudice decades later. I appreciated the way the author didn’t excuse the behaviour of Dan or other American soldiers, but did put their actions in context. I also really appreciated the way Phong was not a victim of the circumstances of his birth. He’s a fully rounded character with a loving family, a love for music, a talent for carpentry and a meaningful life. Early on I was a little worried that the plot stands were going to tie up too neatly and conveniently. I needn’t have worried. The ending is certainly satisfying but it wasn’t an unrealistic fairytale ending, not every question was answered, and the author managed to throw in an unexpected yet believable twist. This is a beautifully told story, true to Vietnamese culture and experience. It highlights the experience of biracial Amerasians born as a result of the war, including the discrimination they faced from both sides and the difficulties of parents and their children reuniting, even when both parties were willing. That it is based on aspects of many real life stories the author was told as part of her work towards a PhD adds to both its authenticity and poignancy.
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, and War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm
readthemol'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Vomit, and War