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bunnibeereads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
srjennings's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Racism, Drug use, and Domestic abuse
chilivanilli28'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Drug abuse
aformeracceleratedreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I initially picked up The Chosen One to read, but upon finding out it was a sequel to this, I checked this out asap off Libby and completed it first before continuing with The Chosen One. Knowing how well written (and well narrated) this was, I'm stoked to continue with The Chosen One.
Definitely read content/trigger warnings because what Echo, her family, and her friends go through is very heavy to read.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
chaoticnostalgia'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
3.75
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Racism, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Such a powerful story, and voice. It hurt, it dug deep, and it opened my eyes.
Through a power passed to her by her aggressive, addicted mother Echo starts on a journey of magic in the middle of a life that tries her at every turn, brothers that fall into the pits of poverty and follow the path of their fathers, men than abuse women, her.
It is only through her gift and her perseverance, and the help of others like her that she will escape the rotten fate planted for her and plant herself anew.
And, there is also her Persian best friend also in a ride of her own, through religion, through queerness, through parents expectations and fighting to free herself.
And, her mother, whose life has dealt such hard blows and sunk her so deep in the darkness of life, but who will be given a chance through her daughter to change her life, but will she?
Inspired by her own story the author explores the difficult reality of growing up a black woman, excluded by color and gender, put in a box from where most don’t want her to leave, especially the men and white people. But, there’re exceptions and she will thankfully meet some.
Absolutely incredible book that I hope everyone picks up (baring in mind the content warnings).
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Rape, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Islamophobia, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Racial slurs
monalyisha's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
The author's choice to write in the first-person, present-tense, however, did not work for me. It felt too straight-forward & matter-of-fact for a story that held so much poetic promise. I think this choice also made the telling feel long-winded (I did this, then I did this, then I did this...) when, at 304 pages, it really wasn't that lengthy at all. The years of Echo's life felt long. I felt like I lived each of her days along with her, minute by minute. And I felt like I knew too much about each of the people she encountered, too (which is maybe how it felt to *live* those struggle-filled days in a gossipy, close, & crowded neighborhood). I should also acknowledge that another part of why it felt so long was probably because of the tough subject matter. It's an unflinching portrayal of hard realities & it hurts.
I'm rounding up because I think the ideas propelling this narrative, in terms of both subject and form, are ambitious. They aren't executed perfectly but it's still hard-hitting, interesting, and emotional. I may have cried the most during the acknowledgments, to be honest, knowing that the story IS true & hugely personal (in a lot of ways), and listening to the author get choked up thanking the important people in her life (including herself). Expect to feel overwhelmed. It's a journey.
TW: Rape, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, drug abuse, suicidal ideation, & more. Very heavy. Very sad. But also hopeful.
I think this would be a great choice for a Book Club. There's A LOT to work through. I can guarantee that readers will want to talk not just about the story but about a lot of the decisions that the author made, as well (e.g. genre, ending, et al).
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Self harm
lydiabader'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Please be wary of triggers before picking up this book, it covers many different delicate subjectsok7a'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Rape
valeriabee'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? Yes
5.0
The book walks the line between memoir and novelization, reminding me a bit of Capote's In Cold Blood. It was stylistically reminiscent of Toni Morrison's Beloved, in particular the tone and the use of magical realism.
I loved the way the narration of this novel played with time. There were many instances in which Echo is recounting the details of various moments at the same time, as if they are happening at the same time. The style and format reminded me of cuts in movie scenes where it jumps from one scene to another by panning similar environments or movements. Or when two different conversations are being had in a movie and the scene jumps between them smoothly by connecting their words so it is as if the dialogues complete each other whilst being completely independent of one another. The fact that Brown created that visual effect in literature is astounding and incredibly powerful.
I love this book for its style and for its content. I love that it is set up in lessons and each chapter could be a stand-alone, it could be a short story but they work together to tell Echo's story. I love that the book is not shy, the characters are not shy. It is all very real and very forward and written so beautifully.
I found myself thinking about the ways that this book could be taught in the classroom, especially because of the way it is chaptered off and written into lessons, one wouldnt have to use the whole book (because you know how some schools are mad sensitive about the content they share with their students despite their willingness to require books about white supremacy, imperialism, and the enslavement of black people).
One of the most appealing things about this book is that it dares to show the bad with the good, show that greatness can be achieved. It provides hope whilst remaining honest about the pain.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Islamophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, and Confinement
Minor: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Ableism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery