Scan barcode
kecasey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
Unique story of a Chinese American girl living in the South during the late 1800s. Her safety depends on staying out of sight and unnoticed, but it is hard when she has a strong spirit and strong opinions.
lelands_library's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
bshoreyfennell's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
telola's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be so delightful and something that made me think of the South in a different way. The story was different because of the point of view of a young Chinese woman in the 19th century was something I have not read before.
The plot was good and moved along at a steady clip with no real slow down. I do not like authors who think they need to slow down to show character development. That is just not my thing. I want to get to know a character by how they react to something instead of being in their head constantly; The character's actions show more about them than their thoughts.
Jo Kuan was that sort of character who acted but also had her thoughts. She eventually had her fingers in many pies. That's great but is perilously close to a Mary Sue. That is why I gave it 4 stars not 5. She is good at everything she does with little work toward it to be the best the first try out. Also... a 17 year old giving advice... a little far fetched since 17 years isn't much life experience, especially giving advice to people who are married or to mothers with child rearing problems. Again, that's why its 4 stars.
Overall I recommend this!
The plot was good and moved along at a steady clip with no real slow down. I do not like authors who think they need to slow down to show character development. That is just not my thing. I want to get to know a character by how they react to something instead of being in their head constantly; The character's actions show more about them than their thoughts.
Jo Kuan was that sort of character who acted but also had her thoughts. She eventually had her fingers in many pies. That's great but is perilously close to a Mary Sue. That is why I gave it 4 stars not 5. She is good at everything she does with little work toward it to be the best the first try out. Also... a 17 year old giving advice... a little far fetched since 17 years isn't much life experience, especially giving advice to people who are married or to mothers with child rearing problems. Again, that's why its 4 stars.
Overall I recommend this!
ajacobs590's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
kirstyreadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
Big thank you to Piatkus for sending me a copy of this book so I can write an honest review.
Content warnings: racism towards black people and chinese people, violence, horse racing, physical abuse
This was one of the books I definitely had my eyes on this year. I love historical novels when I’m in the mood for them, and I always keep my eyes out for historical novels featuring POC written by POC. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a historical book about Chinese people in the south of the US so it had all the bells dinging in my head.
When Jo loses her job at the millinery to a white girl she has to return as a maid to the place which fired her when she was younger as very few places would hire a Chinese girl. No one knows she lives underneath a newspaper printing house in a basement created by abolitionists. When the newspaper runs into some trouble, fearing for her living situation, she tries her hand at writing some articles for them, and suddenly the newspaper starts flying off the shelves.
I absolutely adored Jo. She was such a strong character (and I don’t mean that like “strong female” character nonsense). Her voice just shined through so well. I knew exactly the kind of personality she was very early on and found her so easy to love.
Continue my review here: https://wp.me/p7j3Jr-2Fc
Content warnings: racism towards black people and chinese people, violence, horse racing, physical abuse
This was one of the books I definitely had my eyes on this year. I love historical novels when I’m in the mood for them, and I always keep my eyes out for historical novels featuring POC written by POC. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a historical book about Chinese people in the south of the US so it had all the bells dinging in my head.
When Jo loses her job at the millinery to a white girl she has to return as a maid to the place which fired her when she was younger as very few places would hire a Chinese girl. No one knows she lives underneath a newspaper printing house in a basement created by abolitionists. When the newspaper runs into some trouble, fearing for her living situation, she tries her hand at writing some articles for them, and suddenly the newspaper starts flying off the shelves.
I absolutely adored Jo. She was such a strong character (and I don’t mean that like “strong female” character nonsense). Her voice just shined through so well. I knew exactly the kind of personality she was very early on and found her so easy to love.
Continue my review here: https://wp.me/p7j3Jr-2Fc
jessikeenan's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
devs_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
I was not sure I would enjoy this at first. The swift introduction of “Old Gin” left me confused until chapter 4…but as I got to know Jo, and hung on each description of a younger version of the Georgia seasons I love dearly, I found myself squeezing in reading time where ever I could spare even just a minute to find out what was happened! And then I teared up…and then it ended and I cried. Great read!
bexduck's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I liked it but I don't think it will be memorable for me.
I liked it but I don't think it will be memorable for me.