Scan barcode
womaninthemoon775's review
4.0
ARC from NetGalley - A quick YA read written verse. I enjoyed the sensitivity and realism with which Culley handled serious topics (family, adoption, sisters, self-doubt, emotional abuse, etc.) I will be recommending to some reluctant readers, as I am sure they will immediately get drawn into the story line and multiple points of view.
haileyannereads's review
4.0
This is a really beautiful book. Told in verse, it follows Rynn as she deals with an abusive mother, a father who seems oblivious, and her desire to find her birth family.
watermelonwombat's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
elysia_laila19's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krich's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
maple_dove's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Favorite Quotes:
Defect and perfect are so close,/only two letters apart./If you say them fast,/defect perfect defect perfect,/they almost sound the same.
I've had sixteen years/of being told I was chosen,/instead of the obvious fact/that I was given way,/and I'm ready for open now.
People can make you do/a lot of things,/but they can't make you talk./If they try,/it's called torture/and that's a fact.
A meeting with me and Ella?/I say my sister's name/as if it cancels out/Mom saying it.//Yes, Mom says,/and Ella's foster mother,/and me and Dad, too.//No one asked me/if I wanted Mom and Dad there/when I met my sister/for the first time.
I read the descriptions/of the children://"Coralynn loves sports?and has a lot of energy."/"Doria likes riding uer bike/and playing Legos."/"Ilana is a motivated student."/"Joseph loves horses/and would like to maintain contact/with his half brother and father."//I try to imagine/what they'd say about Ella://"Ella's loves animals./Ella's likes peppermint-stick ice cream./Ella is good at spying./Ella would like to maintain contact/with her sister, Sherry."//How could these sentences/or even a photo/explain what it feels like/when Ella's puts her sweaty little hand/in mine?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Minor: Antisemitism, Miscarriage, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
caiken4's review
2.0
I really liked the concept of this book and as someone who is also adopted I can relate to a lot of the 'where I come from' feelings. However, I find the girl in the story to be naive and young sounding for 16. The ending was also less then with the parents gone and no real mending of a relationship.