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laurataylor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Rape, War, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Blood, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
books_hay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Murder, Gun violence, Alcohol, Police brutality, and Grief
frankieclc's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs
jordynkw'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
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Rape, and Racism
clotalksbooks'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? No
5.0
Tragedy and beauty sit side by side. I've rarely read something that is in one breath harrowing and the next bringing me joy. If you were to simplify what this plot is about, I'm going to be honest and say I would have read with trepidation. I know this world is atrocious. But this book is magic in that it shows you also the love in this world.
I truly cared about this family, through all the generations. The sibling relationships were a particular favourite, though I admit I'm a bit jealous.
A terrific debut, and I will eagerly read everything by this author.
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence
gabichatslit's review
3.75
More thoughts:
- I think it was important that Miriam didn’t allow Jax to soften her with his apologies and stories. And remained steadfast in her leaving him/their divorce. It emphasized to Joan, who understood the nitty-gritty parts of her parents relationship better than My, that there was nothing that would make up for the abuse that Miriam had endured and that Joan saw her dad inflict firsthand. Like go seek counseling my guy but do it away from me.
- I wish Hazel had confirmed who August dad was in her later chapters even though I have an inkling as to who it was.
- I wish we got more of what went down between August and Bird, like did he leave the next morning with Jax? August had quite a few thoughts about the possibility of living and dying alone, like her mom, so how did she navigate that as Joan went off to college and My finishing school, etc.
- I think the book would’ve been enhanced a bit more by the inclusion of chapters from My’s point of view possibly. Even though I think she was mainly a comedic presence amidst the heavier moments.
- Also interlude’s maybe a page or two in length from Ms. Dawn’s perspective as she was a considerable supporting character in the narrative of the North women and had been around since Hazel had been a teenager— what did she know about the North women? how did she know what she knew? added commentary on the nature of these women. Etc
- Also Also, I think an epilogue from Joan’s perspective once she got to RCA would’ve been the cherry on top. To see her in a space of true freedom, using her craft/strengthening her gift amongst other amazing similarly focused individuals would’ve really tied it all together for me
- Also x3 I think a conversation between Miriam and Joan was needed. There were moments when Miriam (and August) were like I pray she don’t remember what happened and it’s clear she did and for years had to live with her trauma physically present in her space and they would just be tense and ignore it. So I think Miriam and her definitely needed to talk about how that affected her and Miriam apologize to her daughter for how disorienting her childhood had become. And that she was sorry that in her quest to provide for the family and get away from Jax, at times she didn’t see the weight of what her decisions did to her daughter’s wellbeing. And why it was easier for Joan to throw herself into her passion and her art as a means to escape a world she couldn’t control, whereas her art was always her domain. like I can’t get past what she said to August in the kitchen that day— “what can he do to me? Sorry, what else can he do to me?”
- Also x4, Derek needed to apologize. And maybe he did at the end and we didn’t see it bc we didn’t know that Joan agreed to send him art until My confirmed it while consoling her in the car but it should’ve been on page. And honestly I think she could’ve forgiven him without needing to be in correspondence with him. Like these were the consequences of his actions, not hers. That’s just me. I think unearthing the comb and attempting to get closure was the end all of what Ms Dawn’s instructions for her. Again that’s just me
Still, for a debut, this was a mighty book. Extremely well done.
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Racial slurs, War, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual assault, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
maxine_t96's review
- 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: Rape, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Police brutality, and War
moriahleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
doctorjessie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Abandonment
claudialucas99'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
4.5
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Racial slurs, and Death