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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
A complex way to learn more about the LA race riots of the early 90s and consider their impact on today and particularly on the Black and Korean communities. In the early 90s, 16 year old Ava Matthews is shot in the back of a head by a Korean store owner who believes Ava to be shoplifting (this plot point was based on a real life event). In 2019, Grace Park is living a sheltered existence with her Korean-immigrant parents and trying to figure out why her sister exiled herself from their family two heads ago; Shawn Matthew’s, Ava’s brother, is doing is best to care for his loved ones while dealing with his own family concerns. A tragic event brings the two together and dredges up racial tensions and painful past events. The author, in my opinion, delicately addressed an incredibly complex topic, and presented such dimensional characters on all sides. Not an easy read but a good one for learning and feeing. (Cw: racial micro aggressions, gun violence)
3.5 ⭐️. First, I thought this was very readable and well-paced (writing is a bit simplistic, but that was fine with me). I liked that the characters were somewhat complex. The subject of the book is important: it provides a fictional story that is based off the murder of Latasha Harlins, a young black woman killed by a Korean woman. The book involves two perspectives, one from Grace, the daughter of Korean immigrants, and one from Shawn Matthews, the brother of “Ava”, the woman who was killed. I appreciated and learned a lot from the intertwined narratives. However, the ending felt.... complicated to me. I also like the perspective was lopsided towards Grace, and gave less nuance to the Matthews family. I’m sitting with some discomfort while appreciating that Steph Cha chose to tackle a really deep scar for these communities in LA in the 90s... even if not perfect.
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
The title of this book had me compelled even before I got my hands on it. A tale of Shakespearean proportions, Cha’s story, loosely based on real events, is set across thirty-odd years, commencing with the shooting death of Black 16-year old Ava Matthews in a convenience store by store owner and Korean immigrant Yvonne Park. The intergenerational impacts of the tragedy create a slow-burning tension that erupts in an atmosphere of racially-charged violence. This is a timely and complex exploration of race relations between Asian and Black communities following the LA riots of the early nineties, featuring strongly written characters and a hell of a plotline.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredibly intense. I couldn't believe the scenes the author wrote straight into. I would have avoided them at all costs! Fearless.
Wow, this book blew me out of the water. Cha's writing makes each character's personal suffering and emotion burn through the page. The twists, perspective shifts, and character work make this a thrilling and extremely thought-provoking read. If you come in expecting black-and-white depictions of events like I initially did, prepare to be blown away. An easy 4.5 stars.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes