Reviews with content warning for Trafficking - Penguin Readers Level 7: Homegoing (ELT Graded Reader)

Can’t believe this is a debut. I’m not usually any good with large casts of characters, so having 14 POVs felt daunting at first, but character introductions are spaced out enough so it’s not a problem to keep track. I cared for most characters, especially the women, even though they each only get 20-30ish pages. History is storytelling, as one of the characters puts it, and I really think this book should be part of the syllabus (maybe for 14/15+). It gives the reader so much historical information woven into heartbreaking personal stories. The only thing I didn’t care for was the symbolism with the visions, the fire and the water. It’s thrown in quite late and it felt constructed and out of place in its tone.

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itsmaryssae's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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melnao1's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I recently read Transcendent Kingdon by Yaa Gyasi and knew immediately that I had to get into some of her other work. This book was even better than her second which is insane for a debut. In this novel she explores the effects of slavery and institutionalized racism for both the enslaved and for some of the perpetuators through stories that connected via a common descendant. Yaa Gyasi did an amazing job of writing about characters in vastly different time periods and lives while depicting Ghanian culture and customs of the Ashante tribe in accurate light for a historical fiction novel. I loved how the common thread holding all these stories together were family stories and the beauty in how they pieced into each other, even when the subject matter was heartbreaking. This book was magical for all the reasons you don't think stories coming out of such misery would be.

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fionafsw's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was an epic spanning generations and continents, showing how we are the product of our history and how trauma doesn't get erased with every new generation but instead accumulates. Each character and her/his story was immensely interesting in and of itself and of course in connection with all the others to create a multi-century history featuring, through a feminist lens, the deepest shames of humanity (namely the slave trade and all related injustices). Well-written and a very rewarding read. I'd love to read more from Gyasi in the future.

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sarah_js's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Beautiful. A heartbreaking and heartening story of a family broken into two lineages. A story of sacrifice, survival, impossible choices, and generational manifestations of trauma and resilience. Made me think a lot about the violence of cultural erasure; the privilege of traceable lineage; homeland and ancestors.

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chuck3791's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad

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

4.0

A pretty great about inherited trauma. Worthwhile but I will definitely not be reading it again and would only recommend with heavy caution

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asha_m's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

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nad_books623's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

As an African American and descendants of slaves this book was amazing.

I did not expect them to meet to meet at the end. I was so shocked to read that Marcus met Marjorie. The ending was everything and I did not think it would connect.

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