Reviews

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

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kimcheel's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

trevdawg's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book! Being a person who was adopted and who have moved to another country, a lot of this book really resonated with me. I enjoyed reading along as he tried to find himself, in a blend between his past and present, and as he tried to understand the mystery of his mother.

Ko has really given us a story packed with detail, history and personality. Amongst all of the story, we find ourselves swimming in a sea of identity, in a world where borders seem to determine too much about who you are and who you become. I found Lisa’s details very apt and this made the story one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

From start to finish, I was really put in awe by the way Ko was able to give the characters life and a true thought-provoking ability to reach me. I felt connected and really a part of this book, and did not want to put it down.

Overall, this is a very good read and one I highly recommend! In a world like today’s, I honestly feel this should be suggested reading for schools, and one many reading lists for adults, and it really describes the life that a lot of people have to find their way through. Excellent book!

suvata's review against another edition

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5.0

Polly is an undocumented immigrant living in New York City. The mother of a 6-year-old boy, she struggles to make ends meet by working for meager wages at a mediocre nail salon. Then one day, she simply disappears. This is one of the most touching (and fairly convoluted) family stories I’ve run across. It would make a fantastic book club read. Wonderful book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

cindy_f's review

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5.0

This book was better than anticipated. Well written with excellent character development. It took us to a world of racial identity and inequality, abandonment, assimilation, and finding oneself. I found this story of a Chinese immigrant and her American born son very moving and important. It will stick with me for quite awhile.

lyndseylibros's review against another edition

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I couldn’t with the adoptive parents being such stereotypical @ssholes. Narrator’s voices for them were annoying.

_changingtime's review

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4.0

Available at bit.ly/2FcTqia as part of the The Leavers Blog Tour by Dialogue Books and the Little, Brown Book Group UK

julalbert56's review against another edition

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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