Reviews with content warning for Hate crime - Red at the Bone

Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

10 reviews

anniepatt's review against another edition

emotional reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

Beautifully written, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The first character we’re introduced to was Melody, born the same year I was. I hadn’t realized how much that would make me invested in the story…the stories through time.

Content Warnings

bookswithlauren's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

dlrosebyh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The novel begins in 2001, on the evening of Melody's sixteenth birthday celebration at her grandparents' Brooklyn brownstone. She makes her entry to the music of Prince, watched affectionately by her relatives and friends, wearing a stunning custom-made gown. However, the event is not without significance. Sixteen years ago, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own ceremony—a celebration that never happened.

Woodson considers not only Melody's parents and grandparents' ambitions and successes, but also the costs, the tolls they've paid for striving to overcome expectations and escape the pull of history. As it delves into sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-changing realities of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly examines the ways in which young people are frequently forced to make life-altering decisions—even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be.

The trouble about short novels is that you never know whether you'll like them or not. Most of the time, it leaves you with unanswered questions, leaving you unsatisfied—which is exactly what happened in this novel. It had a lot of potential. It's a powerful read with beautiful prose, yet something was lacking, and I'm not sure what it was.

Content Warnings

thenovelmaura's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Who knew such a short read could convey so much about this family and have such a powerful impact on the reader! I also loved how it delves into the impacts of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a topic that was briefly touched on in my U.S History classes in high school, but never in a meaningful way that conveyed the devastation wreaked upon these Black families.

I see why everyone raves about this book and the full-cast audiobook was incredible. Hearing Melody's grandfather speak about his family with such love and regret made me want to cry while listening. If you're going to read this one, get the audio from your library. Full stop.

Content Warnings

ryanichole's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Content Warnings

mandkips's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

mengzhenreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective 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

The writing and prose is beautiful and all the different perspectives made this book truly thought-provoking and profound.

Content Warnings

davidrb's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

My only criticism of the book is that I wish it was longer. Unfortunately, I just wanted more of it! Some parts felt a little underdeveloped, but it was masterfully done even for how short it was.

Content Warnings

chloelawrence127's review

Go to review page

reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

sophoclea's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lovely series of reflections from several generations of the same family. not necessarily united by telling a single narrative, but providing glimpses into moments in the lives of several generations of this family. beautiful.

the most profound inclusion of 9/11 or Tulsa that I've encountered - not about these events, but about how they shaped the experiences of the characters.

Content Warnings

More...