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marque's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Infertility, and Xenophobia
evamadera1's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Reading this book directly after Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe, made this book suffer a little bit in comparison just because of how much I loved Goth Girl. However, Culley does an excellent job with this free verse narrative in delving into the adoption story, beyond the supposed "happily ever after" that so many paint adoptions with. The main character struggles with her relationship with her mother who has never seemed to accept her even as the mother continues to tell the main character that she (the mother) chose her (the main character). She loves her father but grows to see just how often he has ended up choosing his wife over her when he does not call her on how she treats their daughter. When the main character discovers that she has a sister, who after the death of their mother is now in foster care, she longs for a relationship with her but she also desperately does not want her parents to go through the foster to adopt process with her sister because of how toxic it has been for her. Things dealt with in this book often do not get discussed but they present an all too real reality for so many.
jaydahwilliams's review
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
amanda_12's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
entropydoc's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
utopiastateofmind's review
4.5
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: panic attack, anti-semitic comment
From the very beginning, I loved the title. Being adopted, names are a huge deal. Sometimes we get one that is given to us. That feels like a mystery. A piece of a clue we never quite get over. And sometimes we never really know. For The Name She Gave Me, Rynn's name is one that is a common theme. This idea of it telling a story that we can only begin to peek at. Featuring this story, told by an author who experienced adoption and the foster care system, The Name She Gave Me feels special.
It quickly becomes tender and emotional. And some moments feel like those times when you keep gently prodding a bruise. You know to expect the pain, but it's like, "will it still hurt today?" With lyrical language and writing - this book is in verse - it's a story about difficult family relationships. About family which we choose and which choose us. Culley explores both biological and adopted family and what they mean to us.
TW: panic attack, anti-semitic comment
From the very beginning, I loved the title. Being adopted, names are a huge deal. Sometimes we get one that is given to us. That feels like a mystery. A piece of a clue we never quite get over. And sometimes we never really know. For The Name She Gave Me, Rynn's name is one that is a common theme. This idea of it telling a story that we can only begin to peek at. Featuring this story, told by an author who experienced adoption and the foster care system, The Name She Gave Me feels special.
It quickly becomes tender and emotional. And some moments feel like those times when you keep gently prodding a bruise. You know to expect the pain, but it's like, "will it still hurt today?" With lyrical language and writing - this book is in verse - it's a story about difficult family relationships. About family which we choose and which choose us. Culley explores both biological and adopted family and what they mean to us.
tigerlilliereads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I am a big fan of books written in verse and although this didn’t end up being my favourite book written in verse. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The book is about adoption, found family, fostering, searching to find out where you belong. Rynn was adopted as a child to a family on a garlic farm. She has a loveable dad, but her relationship with her mum is strained. Rynn has been wanting to know all about her birth mother but can’t request information from the adoption agency until 18… so she does her own research and discovers a sister!
I really enjoyed the characters of the children in the story and also those who stepped up to the plate to support Rynn. There was a lot of emotions put into this book and the author did a really good job of telling her own story through this one.
The book is about adoption, found family, fostering, searching to find out where you belong. Rynn was adopted as a child to a family on a garlic farm. She has a loveable dad, but her relationship with her mum is strained. Rynn has been wanting to know all about her birth mother but can’t request information from the adoption agency until 18… so she does her own research and discovers a sister!
I really enjoyed the characters of the children in the story and also those who stepped up to the plate to support Rynn. There was a lot of emotions put into this book and the author did a really good job of telling her own story through this one.