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anna7777's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t enjoy reading the book and the only reason why I finished this book is because I bought it.
I thought that the book was going to be YA, but it read more like middle grade.
I didn’t really like the main character Jo and didn’t like how she dealt with her problems. I hoped that she would delve deeper into the abuse ans bullying she suffered but she only lightly touched upon it. I thought that at the end she would write what life lessons she learned and write a nice, deep conclusion, instead the book just cuts off right as she is about to head into uni.
I thought that the book was going to be YA, but it read more like middle grade.
I didn’t really like the main character Jo and didn’t like how she dealt with her problems. I hoped that she would delve deeper into the abuse ans bullying she suffered but she only lightly touched upon it. I thought that at the end she would write what life lessons she learned and write a nice, deep conclusion, instead the book just cuts off right as she is about to head into uni.
wheelinspace's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
3.5
thebookguru's review against another edition
2.0
Uh this book was wild from start to finish like I really thought it was gonna be some light hearted funny read but boy was I in for a surprise...
TW: Child abuse, violence, animal abuse
I mean it’s based on real life so like I REALLY HOPE SHE IS GOING TO THERAPY TO UNPACK ALL THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA!!!
Also I think she should have called childline or SOMETHING so her baby bro could have had like a better life and poor Bonny was left to do all that stuff when she’s a child?
Simon just ran off? Good for him but like??? Idek what kind of messed up dysfunctional family they were but whew I am glad she managed to get out BUT LIKE I HOPE SHE ACTUALLY GOT THERAPY TO DEAL WITH IT ALL and like it doesn’t explore enough about immigrant trauma or the racism experience or anything like that but this girl deal with A Lot.
I just??? What did I just read??? Idek man this was one messed up story like so disturbing poor girl got bullied and had to deal with her messed up family at home and then actually work in the takeaway and Idek
No one should suffer like that and yet there are so many kids in abusivo households
TW: Child abuse, violence, animal abuse
I mean it’s based on real life so like I REALLY HOPE SHE IS GOING TO THERAPY TO UNPACK ALL THAT CHILDHOOD TRAUMA!!!
Also I think she should have called childline or SOMETHING so her baby bro could have had like a better life and poor Bonny was left to do all that stuff when she’s a child?
Simon just ran off? Good for him but like??? Idek what kind of messed up dysfunctional family they were but whew I am glad she managed to get out BUT LIKE I HOPE SHE ACTUALLY GOT THERAPY TO DEAL WITH IT ALL and like it doesn’t explore enough about immigrant trauma or the racism experience or anything like that but this girl deal with A Lot.
I just??? What did I just read??? Idek man this was one messed up story like so disturbing poor girl got bullied and had to deal with her messed up family at home and then actually work in the takeaway and Idek
No one should suffer like that and yet there are so many kids in abusivo households
neobridgeburn's review against another edition
5.0
Oh boy Oh man. as someone who is currently trying to escape familial trauma, this book had me SOBBING. 5 stars. 10/10. best book ever
twiinklex's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe don't make light of child abuse and animal cruelty (the author even acknowledges that all her "unfortunate pets" are real) if you wanna discuss racism.
✨ "It's a bit weird though, cos I always feel Chinese when I'm with English people and English when I'm Chinese people. It's never one or the other. It's a bit crap."
Based on the author's real life and "woven together with fiction," this book is told through the POV of a girl from 13 ages to 16 (Year 1984 to 1987). The diary format and illustrations made this a fun and easy read initially. I really felt for the protagonist, who experiences a lot of upheaval and racism in her life. Some scenes that pained me:
- Being asked the dreaded 'where are you from?' even though most people don't see what's wrong with it
- Looking into the mirror to check her eyes after being called 'chinky' by peers who pull their eyes into slits
- Actually thinking that she smelt like soya sauce after being made fun of and washing all of her clothes
I was really invested in her life and kept rooting for her. The entire story itself was wholesome and I enjoyed it. And while I would normally give a 4-star rating for this level of enjoyment, the animal cruelty and child abuse in the book makes me very uncomfortable and warrants 0 stars.
Other reviews have talked about this at length but at a glance:
Domestic and child abuse:
- Holding your wife in a headlock
- Pointing a knife at her throat while in said headlock
- Throwing your son into a nettle field
- Shoving your daughter's head into the toilet bowl
- Flushing said toilet bowl
- Punching her in the back
- Kicking your 2-year-old daughter around like a football
Animal abuse:
- Forgetting about your hamster in its ball, covered in poo
- Vaccuming said hamster and then dumping it back in its cage
- Releasing it into the "wild" at the mercy of dogs
- Getting another hamster
- Taking said hamster for a walk on a leash and letting it to escape
- Feeding your goats trash like mooncakes and Weetabix
- Having one goat "explode" due to a bloated stomach from junk food
- Getting a dog and a bird and subjecting them to more horrors
An overall 3-star rating is very generous.
✨ "It's a bit weird though, cos I always feel Chinese when I'm with English people and English when I'm Chinese people. It's never one or the other. It's a bit crap."
Based on the author's real life and "woven together with fiction," this book is told through the POV of a girl from 13 ages to 16 (Year 1984 to 1987). The diary format and illustrations made this a fun and easy read initially. I really felt for the protagonist, who experiences a lot of upheaval and racism in her life. Some scenes that pained me:
- Being asked the dreaded 'where are you from?' even though most people don't see what's wrong with it
- Looking into the mirror to check her eyes after being called 'chinky' by peers who pull their eyes into slits
- Actually thinking that she smelt like soya sauce after being made fun of and washing all of her clothes
I was really invested in her life and kept rooting for her. The entire story itself was wholesome and I enjoyed it. And while I would normally give a 4-star rating for this level of enjoyment, the animal cruelty and child abuse in the book makes me very uncomfortable and warrants 0 stars.
Other reviews have talked about this at length but at a glance:
Domestic and child abuse:
- Holding your wife in a headlock
- Pointing a knife at her throat while in said headlock
- Throwing your son into a nettle field
- Shoving your daughter's head into the toilet bowl
- Flushing said toilet bowl
- Punching her in the back
- Kicking your 2-year-old daughter around like a football
Animal abuse:
- Forgetting about your hamster in its ball, covered in poo
- Vaccuming said hamster and then dumping it back in its cage
- Releasing it into the "wild" at the mercy of dogs
- Getting another hamster
- Taking said hamster for a walk on a leash and letting it to escape
- Feeding your goats trash like mooncakes and Weetabix
- Having one goat "explode" due to a bloated stomach from junk food
- Getting a dog and a bird and subjecting them to more horrors
An overall 3-star rating is very generous.
sharpreads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
zugzwangg's review
dark
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
courtneys_reading's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book because I thought it would be a fun read and something I could relate to.
Jo's story is definitely more dramatic than my story growing up in the UK but it was still relatable in some degree. I don't think I know any Asian who has grown up here who doesn't have some sort of story about bullying or feeling out of place.
My heart broke for Jo as the story progressed. I literally thought it was going to be a mostly happy-go-lucky story but as the story goes on it takes a dark turn.
I wish we had gotten more closure on some issues in regards to her family but I suppose that wasn't really the point of the story.
Also think it was wild how all this dark stuff was going on and then next thing you know everything is all okay again? I mean I guess I understand from a teen point of view that's how extreme life is. One second it's awful and the next it's not but there was a lot in there that shouldn't have really been glossed over towards the end.
I'm glad things worked out for Jo in the end though. Because I don't think I would've been able to take it if she never made it out of her situation.
Still, a good story that I enjoyed. And I do think it was important that this wasn't just another lighthearted story because we need to hear these stories that have some grit to them.
Also probably could have done without all the UR (unknown reason) it annoyed me a lot lol.
I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to read!
Jo's story is definitely more dramatic than my story growing up in the UK but it was still relatable in some degree. I don't think I know any Asian who has grown up here who doesn't have some sort of story about bullying or feeling out of place.
My heart broke for Jo as the story progressed. I literally thought it was going to be a mostly happy-go-lucky story but as the story goes on it takes a dark turn.
I wish we had gotten more closure on some issues in regards to her family but I suppose that wasn't really the point of the story.
Also think it was wild how all this dark stuff was going on and then next thing you know everything is all okay again? I mean I guess I understand from a teen point of view that's how extreme life is. One second it's awful and the next it's not but there was a lot in there that shouldn't have really been glossed over towards the end.
I'm glad things worked out for Jo in the end though. Because I don't think I would've been able to take it if she never made it out of her situation.
Still, a good story that I enjoyed. And I do think it was important that this wasn't just another lighthearted story because we need to hear these stories that have some grit to them.
Also probably could have done without all the UR (unknown reason) it annoyed me a lot lol.
I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to read!