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kshertz's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.75
I loved this book. It’s dystopian but just barely. The genius is in just how not far out in the future it feels. People who are not born in America being marked and tracked, forced to try to get to California for Sanctuary. It so clearly connects you to the main characters and you root for everyone. It breaks your heart over and over again. But it’s so important. I wish I could make everyone read it. Especially my students from conservative households. The empathy is essential.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Trafficking, Blood, Child death, Deportation, Genocide, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Racial slurs, and Rape
theroastedbookery's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Wow. This book was a hard read. Not in the difficulty of the writing but in the subject matter. The main character's journey is one of pain and suffering. It is not a world that is too hard to imagine, though I hope it never comes to pass. The political messages in the book are clear and present. This book could serve as a warning for what could happen should Americans choose to turn a blind eye to immigration, climate change, and rhetoric rather than working to help and solve problems in a peaceful and inviting way.
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Trafficking, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Deportation, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
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