Reviews

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

bizzybeph's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

tilla's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

This was so good. The writing really made me feel for all of these characters and was so good at shedding light on a part of history I only know about on a surface level. The bonds between the characters were beautiful. At first I didn't know how to feel about every chapter being from a different character's view, but it worked so well with how they were all part of each others lifes. Almost all chapters had a lump forming in my throat and tears coming to my eyes. 

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jennifer_k's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

kaylee214's review against another edition

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emotional informative
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

h_lunsford's review

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challenging dark emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

breakfastgrey's review against another edition

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5.0

I'm going to need a moment. This book was that good. The character work in here is absolutely next level. Most authors would kill to pull off even one of these narrators and Traci Chee comes through with fourteen. Fourteen! All distinct, nuanced and all revealing different facets of themselves, their world, and the other leads when it is their turn to tell the story. And what a story. It shifts and turns beautifully, comes together and separates, and is told through a variety of styles as diverse as its leads. I could go on all day with how rich and nuanced this book is, but you're just going to have to trust me. This is essential young adult reading.

snowowl's review against another edition

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3.0

this was a nice historical fiction book through my wave of reading romance. i liked this book and my rating reflects just that.

some quotes that i like from the book

"He’s always real careful around Keiko, I’ve noticed, like she’s a queen and if he touched her by accident, he’d have to chop off his own hand for offending her."

"Keiko laughing. Prettiest girl I ever saw, with snow like stars in her hair."

tinkerbellas's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is amazing. It's about the experiences of Japanese Americans in internment camps during WWII told in the perspective of teenagers. It was infuriating, heartbreaking, but also inspiring. I was not ready to be completely destroyed by this book. Every character's perspective gave us new insights about the injustices that happened. It explored all kinds of relationships (family, friends, romance). The writing style was phenomenal; I felt connected with every character. This book is so powerful, so impactful. And the author's note... Oh God. This is the kind of the story that will pull your heartstrings. Highly recommend.

rachelsbusyreading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Wow. What an incredibly stunning book. There were so many characters and yet they were all fleshed out beautifully and had unique points of view and voices throughout. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, and I shook my head on several occasions. I think it is such a smart move to read historical fiction from the point of view of children, teens, and young adults as it gives such a different viewpoint on history than that you will ever learn in school. 

Highly highly recommend the audio for this one, all of the narrators were amazing! 

kempfme's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad 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