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alley_dotcat's review against another edition
Improper Dialogue punctuation and First Person POV
daniella84's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Tells an important part of American history that is brutal and dark, but with the grace it needs to not feel gratuitous.
I think the author pinned down the tone really well, showing how a young character ripped from the comfort of her family life would deal with sex trafficking and racist violence in a new country. I also think the author's note was interesting - in wanting to remind the world of this history in the COVID-era discrimination against and violence towards Chinese people.
Definitely not an easy read, but an accessible one which I think does a great job of telling the story it set out to. Reminds me of How Much of These Hills Is Gold in terms of setting and some of the themes, and Babel with some of the language elements.
I think the author pinned down the tone really well, showing how a young character ripped from the comfort of her family life would deal with sex trafficking and racist violence in a new country. I also think the author's note was interesting - in wanting to remind the world of this history in the COVID-era discrimination against and violence towards Chinese people.
Definitely not an easy read, but an accessible one which I think does a great job of telling the story it set out to. Reminds me of How Much of These Hills Is Gold in terms of setting and some of the themes, and Babel with some of the language elements.
flicker_black's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If I was asked to describe this book using one word, it would be "poignant", once in a while you come across a book which after you finish reading, you thinking to yourself "now this is a book that has power to change people's perception, it is a story that MUST be told and more importantly heard by the masses." That's what this book did to me, it was a rich and harrowing story of series of unfortunate events but these are very possible events that probably has happened to thousands of people and hence it is important that someone writes it down which is why such a high rating for this book from me and for my standards.
To choose your context and settings is one thing but to execute it is a whole different thing and as a reader, it is safe to say that this writer sure can write, she has this ability to shift between poetic musing and direct, raw details without flinching. There are metaphors from which you can draw your meanings, you have morally grey characters presented in a very humane manner and the main character - it would be a safe bet against any "average" human who reads this book to "feel" something, to have them rooting for the escape of the main character from these forsaken mess that life is putting them true, but of course, it's life, that happy ending never arrives.
The fact that this was loosely based on real life incident made the book even powerful, it was both educational and powerful.
Only reason that I am not giving it a higher ratings is because I didn't really connect or "vibe" with the whole Daiyu ghost, I get why it was used and there could be different interpretations of it even but it just didn't click for me, the book would've been shorter and crisper without it, but that of course is just a subjective opinion.
To choose your context and settings is one thing but to execute it is a whole different thing and as a reader, it is safe to say that this writer sure can write, she has this ability to shift between poetic musing and direct, raw details without flinching. There are metaphors from which you can draw your meanings, you have morally grey characters presented in a very humane manner and the main character - it would be a safe bet against any "average" human who reads this book to "feel" something, to have them rooting for the escape of the main character from these forsaken mess that life is putting them true, but of course, it's life, that happy ending never arrives.
The fact that this was loosely based on real life incident made the book even powerful, it was both educational and powerful.
Only reason that I am not giving it a higher ratings is because I didn't really connect or "vibe" with the whole Daiyu ghost, I get why it was used and there could be different interpretations of it even but it just didn't click for me, the book would've been shorter and crisper without it, but that of course is just a subjective opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
kentcryptid's review
One of the most grim, depressing, nihilistic things I've ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
solipsismatdawn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
alee180's review against another edition
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- 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
laurapoulosky's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautifully written historical novel with a strong female protagonist who suffers much and learns much. I appreciated the elements of Chinese culture and especially the inclusion of explanations about some Chinese characters. I didn't like what happened with the character of Samuel, though.
thespicylemon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0