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library_kb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
This is a book that made me tear up. It is about an Indian American girl in the 80s who is trying to navigate life between two cultures--her parents and their expectations and her friends and surroundings. She wants to become a doctor, but the one issue is that she cannot stand the sight of blood. Her mom is diagnosed with leukemia and has to go through treatments which don't work the way they are supposed to. This is an emotional book--it is short (209 pages) but it packs a punch. Definitely recommend for all kids 6th and up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, and Grief
theunstoppablekim's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer
audreylee's review
emotional
sad
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
5.0
A beautiful novel in verse of a mother-daughter relationship and meeting the challenge of living in two different worlds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
bookishcori's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
readalongwithnat's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book really packs a punch for being a middle grade novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent
mezzarella's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Red, White, and Whole written by Rjani LaRocca is a heart-breaking story written in lyric. This story is about Reha, an Indian-American student with immigrant parents, and her struggle to feel as though she belongs with the world around her. When her mother gets sick, Reha struggles to balance her life at home with her life at school.
The setting of this book is the United States in the 1980s, switching occasionally from Reha's past and present day. While there are plenty of music and MTV references, there also references to Indian mythology and other aspects of Reha's culture. The way the the book seamlessly travels between both aspects of Reha's identity builds a deep understanding of Reha's struggle to fit in for the reader. It is clear that she recognizes her family is different than her classmates' in a deeper way than the fact she is the only brown student at her school.
Red, White, and Whole is an Own Voices novel written by an Indian-American author. It is evident the care LaRocca puts in her stories to create meaningful representation in the middle grade fiction genre. I enjoyed learning about Reha's culture: from the food she ate, the stories she was told, and how she celebrated Westernized holidays. This book is a must for any bookshelf or classroom library.
The setting of this book is the United States in the 1980s, switching occasionally from Reha's past and present day. While there are plenty of music and MTV references, there also references to Indian mythology and other aspects of Reha's culture. The way the the book seamlessly travels between both aspects of Reha's identity builds a deep understanding of Reha's struggle to fit in for the reader. It is clear that she recognizes her family is different than her classmates' in a deeper way than the fact she is the only brown student at her school.
Red, White, and Whole is an Own Voices novel written by an Indian-American author. It is evident the care LaRocca puts in her stories to create meaningful representation in the middle grade fiction genre. I enjoyed learning about Reha's culture: from the food she ate, the stories she was told, and how she celebrated Westernized holidays. This book is a must for any bookshelf or classroom library.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Medical content, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Gore
literarymarvel's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A heart tugging novel in verse about living between two worlds while dealing with a major life trauma - set in 1983
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Cancer, Death, Grief, and Medical content
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