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kaileencm's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
thelittle_seokmin'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Death, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Child death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Trafficking, Racism, Cursing, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, and Confinement
Moderate: Sexism, Gore, Misogyny, Body horror, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Death of parent, Ableism, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Vomit
emlev1995's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Trafficking, Racial slurs, Violence, and Xenophobia
matcha_pages'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: Death and Racism
Moderate: Trafficking and Violence
jennshelfishlife'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? It's complicated
4.5
This is a beautiful but tragically sad story of a young Chinese girl named Daiyu. Daiyu had aspirations to become a calligrapher but her life changed when she was kidnapped and ferried away to the United States. Once in California, Daiyu along with many other very young Chinese girls are put to work in a brothel. Eventually, Daiyu is able to escape the brothel only to endure more hardships in Boise, Idaho. Daiyu continues to run to find freedom and her dream of returning to China to become a calligrapher. Along the way, Daiyu converses with Lin Daiyu, her namesake, that lies within her conscious. Lin Daiyu warns and urges Daiyu through her life and is a pivotal part of the story.
As I mentioned, the story is heartbreaking. The author beautifully executes the tragedies surrounding the prejudice of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), the Rock Springs massacre and the hanging of 5 Chinese men in Idaho for killing a store owner (note that this was a kangaroo court).
Tears burned in my eyes as I was reading, fists and jaw clenched at the atrocities that the Chinese endured in the western territories in the late 1800s.
I will say there are triggers and graphic details that may be difficult to read but the author brings history to life and we should always remember and learn from our history.
I recommend this novel to those that want to learn more about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
Graphic: Rape, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Torture, and Racism
_azure76's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Rape, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, and Xenophobia
truleejenann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Trafficking
thisiskitcat's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Racial slurs, and Death
twirlingpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Violence, Grief, Gore, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Hate crime, Torture, Racism, Racial slurs, and Injury/Injury detail
cait'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? Yes
3.0
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia