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julalbert56's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.5
The Leavers was a moving story of survival when the world keeps throwing challenge after challenge at you. I really sympathized with Polly and appreciated that we got to see from her point of view. I understand Deming’s challenging, unjust upbringing, but I was really frustrated with some of his actions. Overall, a very powerful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Deportation, and Racism
johnchan's review
5.0
heartbreaker of a book that made me reflect on what my own family meant to me. i love you, mom!
timna_wyckoff's review
4.0
Fantastic portrayals of the two protagonists. The four stars (rather than five) are because I found the writing uneven several times; it may have been purposeful (the adoptive parents in particular were not believable to me), but I found it somewhat jarring and distracting.
wcl1's review
- 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
qnawal97's review
4.0
Great novel! Very timely and relevant to the current immigration crisis in the United States. I did feel like it was a slow burn, and that I didn't really feel fully engaged till the last third of the book; however, the subtlety in the emotions, the often unsaid feelings, the bittersweet journeys of both Daniel/Deming and Polly/Peilan, really pull the book together at the end. I really felt for Daniel the entire book and wanted for him to finally reach a happy ending after back to back dead ends. I also find it really nice that we finally see the perspective, as the author said, of the adoptee versus the adopting parents. I also think it's important that the novel didn't glaze over or adopt this "white savior" trope as so many stories like this so often can fall into.
angelamichelle's review
3.0
Well of course, as the white mother of a brown daughter, my biggest beef with this book is the portrayal (really failure to portray) Deming/Daniel's adoptive parents. Well meaning but completely and totally tone deaf. With not a glimmer of understanding. It would have been interesting to explore their motivations--not just to be Great White Saviors but to form a family, their desire to win Daniel's love and approval while he struggles to win theirs.
nderiley's review
3.0
A solid work of fiction. Good character development and prose for Daniel and his mother. The story felt a bit long to me and I would have preferred the ending to have 'gone somewhere' but over all an enjoyable read
grantmacdo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25