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Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'
Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo Brown
3 reviews
amradio's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Mind the trigger warnings because I did not look them up so some of the parts in the book caught me off guard even though you could kind of feel them coming
I appreciate how the book uses magic in a realistic type of way which is unique to the kinds of books I normally read
The book definitely doesn't disappoint in making everything come together and addressing just about any and everything
I appreciate how the book uses magic in a realistic type of way which is unique to the kinds of books I normally read
The book definitely doesn't disappoint in making everything come together and addressing just about any and everything
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Addiction, and Xenophobia
writingcaia's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Wow, I wasn’t expecting this at all. This is what happens when I buy a book without reading a blurb solely on a rec. I was expecting fantasy and was slapped with a harsh and brutal if hopeful reality, wrapped in Magic Realism.
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).
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).
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
valeriabee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I love the style of writing for this novel. The choice to use magic/wizardry in this universe was a perfect one. This story is full of difficult and traumatic topics, and the magical realism made it easier to process those moments. It reverses the use of literary devices such as metaphors and symbolism by turning them literal through the magic/wizardry.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
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