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teeceebeecee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Every American should read this. The author does an excellent job tying in historical and current events. She also does a wonderful job comparing different caste systems found across the world and throughout history. I learned so much through this book. I am glad it was written and is available.
reading_while_fat's review against another edition
I definitely learned from this book and feel like I’m coming away from it with a better understanding of the role of a caste system in American society and the implications of that. I ended up deciding not to finish the book because it started to delve into anecdote after anecdote regarding specific instances of oppression and/or the elements of a caste system, which became a less effective teaching tool. I’m personally not needing convincing of the atrocities inflicted upon the non-white people, most severely the Black community - which I think is the only real purpose going that heavy on anecdotal evidence can do. I was looking for more of the initial portion - the education on caste, which perhaps is found in the non “adapted for young adult readers” version. This all being said, I think it’s very valuable content and I would recommend it, particularly for people who are coming from relative unknowing regarding systemic oppression in the US. I particularly found the discussion on the origins of the concept of race as well as racism vs casteism informative!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, and Racism
heathervickery's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This should be required reading for every middle school student in the United States of America
klynzew's review against another edition
5.0
This was difficult to read and not a 'sit down and read for fun' type of book. With that being said, it should be required reading for every young adult. I really appreciated this version because I could not focus enough to read the original version, so thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this easier-to-read ARC.
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.
I will preface this with saying I haven't read the Origins of Caste (what this is adapted on), so I can't compare it between the two; however, I did find this extremely enlightening and informative. While it does discuss race as a primary method of caste, it is also an intersectional approach (and a global one with comparisons). I learned new information, and it was refreshing to see intersectionality in a text.
Although I haven't read the original version, I'm not sure I would classify this as for young adults. I struggled at some areas to comprehend what was being discussed, and I had to go back and reread things multiple times. I also think the young adults in question would also need some necessary background knowledge and context.
Overall though, I really enjoyed it!
I will preface this with saying I haven't read the Origins of Caste (what this is adapted on), so I can't compare it between the two; however, I did find this extremely enlightening and informative. While it does discuss race as a primary method of caste, it is also an intersectional approach (and a global one with comparisons). I learned new information, and it was refreshing to see intersectionality in a text.
Although I haven't read the original version, I'm not sure I would classify this as for young adults. I struggled at some areas to comprehend what was being discussed, and I had to go back and reread things multiple times. I also think the young adults in question would also need some necessary background knowledge and context.
Overall though, I really enjoyed it!
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
3.0
This book looks at how caste systems have been created and perpetuated in Nazi Germany, India, and the United States. This was really dense, super interesting, but dense. For being the YA adaptation of the original (a difference of 320 pages vs almost 500) it still felt very adult in terms of tone and vocabulary. Some of the comparisons and stories I had heard of before, but many I hadn’t, and they complemented points Wilkerson was trying to make with a nice mix of famous historical figures and everyday people. How pervasive and insidious the caste systems are to our everyday wellbeing was already pretty apparent in recent years, but this book did a good job of shedding more light on it and whatever version you read, this is a recommended one on this topic.