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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This has me up and down some moments were incredibly powerful and I loved them. Other parts really dragged. I think the overall plotting of the climactic moments and pacing didn’t quite work for me. Slow to start- and I almost gave up on it. Then the story turned abruptly and I was back in it. But then it lagged again in the last third.
I definitely think it’s worth reading. And for teenagers I think it would be a great read.
I definitely think it’s worth reading. And for teenagers I think it would be a great read.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Car accident, Alcohol
some frustrating cliches don't get in the way of a lot of really beautiful passages. the suburb Ai grows up in is described with such precision and tenderness it's hard not to get emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is set in 90s in Whitlam, Australia where we follow Ai's journey and her friends as their parents moved to Australia as refugees. Specifically for Ai, she came to Australia as a refugee from Cambodia's civil war. The story is told from Ai's perspective and divided into two parts: one part was from the past during high school period and the second part was in the current time, specifically in college period.
During the first part, we got to explore Ai's friendship with Brigitte, Tin, and Sying, and her relationship with Bowie. Their relationship/friendship was sweet but also infused with some dramas. Together, they also navigated topics such as racism, discrimination against Asian refugees, tragedy, parents hardship and grief. The second part explored how Ai handled grief, managed her workload and eventually her healing process but the story process was too rushed in my opinion. Though, her struggle as a second generation immigrant and a college student may be relatable to some.
I thought this book was beautiful, moving and impactful but I definitely agree with other reviewers that this book should be categorized as YA fiction rather than Adult fiction (nothing's wrong with YA fiction though!).
During the first part, we got to explore Ai's friendship with Brigitte, Tin, and Sying, and her relationship with Bowie. Their relationship/friendship was sweet but also infused with some dramas. Together, they also navigated topics such as racism, discrimination against Asian refugees, tragedy, parents hardship and grief. The second part explored how Ai handled grief, managed her workload and eventually her healing process but the story process was too rushed in my opinion. Though, her struggle as a second generation immigrant and a college student may be relatable to some.
I thought this book was beautiful, moving and impactful but I definitely agree with other reviewers that this book should be categorized as YA fiction rather than Adult fiction (nothing's wrong with YA fiction though!).
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes