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paperquilt's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and War
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Xenophobia, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual harassment
aheartofsunflower's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, War, Racism, and Death
lilly_anne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Pregnancy, Blood, Vomit, and Police brutality
nostoat's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a tense and bloody story of one young girl in the middle of a terrifying conflict, and the people who protected her and that she protected in turn. It was a fast, tense read, with tightly written prose that pulled me along. The emotions of every character felt incredibly real and present, especially the urgency and fear Melati feels as she's hounded by her OCD. I won't soon forget this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Minor: Sexual assault
As noted in the content warning at the beginning of the book, Melati's graphic and violent intrusive thoughts are present through the entire book.danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Death, Violence, Racial slurs, and War
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Police brutality
michelejenn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
madamenovelist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Racism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Hate crime, and Gore
iamondrea's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Mental illness
Moderate: Death and Racism
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Why is no one talking about this book?? I get that it's a backlist read, but if you liked The Hate U Give, you'll definitely want to pick up The Weight of Our Sky.
Full disclosure: I'm Chinese Canadian and never learned about May 13, 1969, or the tension between Malays and Chinese people within Malaysia, which led to various race riots through the 60s. A big part of this is likely due to the fact that the number of deaths and injuries that occurred on this day were thought to be fudged to the media, with suspected casualties being over 300 more than the reported 196. Saying that this moment in history wasn't important enough to teach because there weren't enough reported bodies is a heartbreaking fact, but it's also likely due to the race of the parties involved. Either way, thanks to this book, I am now more educated on this historical event, and the present conflicts that still exist (though it's a lot more peaceful nowadays, obviously). Additionally, I am not OCD so I cannot speak to the representation of the illness in this book.
The Weight of Our Sky is a phenomenal story about Melati Ahmad, who has OCD and imagines her mom dying in hundreds of colourful ways, which can only be countered by counting through multiples of 3 (she believes her OCD is a djinn that's taken over her life - it's 1969, and Malaysia is a Muslim state so proper mental health assessments weren't really a thing at the time). When the Chinese-Malay riots begin, she finds herself stranded without a way back to her mother. A Malay herself, she's surprised when a Chinese Auntie takes her home to her family and takes care of her - a kindness during a moment so full of violence and death. As Melati tries to find her way back to her mother, she learns more about the way words can dole out friction and be a poison to the heart, but also be the way to bridge people together.
I can't emphasize enough how amazingly this book was written. The message is really brought home as Melati sees varying perspectives regarding race, hurt, and healing - how it really is the hate and othering of people, whether by race, skin colour, or something else, that really leaves the deepest wounds.
Not only does Melati see the way people react to racism, but we also get to see how people alienate her due to her OCD. In particular, Melati experiences counting compulsions, and that leads to a need to tap her fingers or count out tiles or mutter numbers to herself, especially in times of great distress. She tries to hide it from those around her as she attempts to get through the city because she doesn't want her companions to think she's possessed, or crazy, or to come to any conclusion that makes them think it'd be best if she be left behind.
I am so glad I picked up this book - it was fantastically written and brought to light an event of racism and violence that hasn't made it into our history books (at least, not here in Canada). Definitely recommend, all the stars.
"We bit our tongues when people whispered things behind our backs, or made those sharp little comments to our faces, or even spit on our door [...] But Frankie was so sensitive. He took all those little sharp pokes and kept them in his heart. He started talking back. He started getting into fights. He let them make him bitter."
TW: Racism, multiple scenarios of death (Melati's OCD), grief, descriptions of wounds and injuries
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
Full disclosure: I'm Chinese Canadian and never learned about May 13, 1969, or the tension between Malays and Chinese people within Malaysia, which led to various race riots through the 60s. A big part of this is likely due to the fact that the number of deaths and injuries that occurred on this day were thought to be fudged to the media, with suspected casualties being over 300 more than the reported 196. Saying that this moment in history wasn't important enough to teach because there weren't enough reported bodies is a heartbreaking fact, but it's also likely due to the race of the parties involved. Either way, thanks to this book, I am now more educated on this historical event, and the present conflicts that still exist (though it's a lot more peaceful nowadays, obviously). Additionally, I am not OCD so I cannot speak to the representation of the illness in this book.
The Weight of Our Sky is a phenomenal story about Melati Ahmad, who has OCD and imagines her mom dying in hundreds of colourful ways, which can only be countered by counting through multiples of 3 (she believes her OCD is a djinn that's taken over her life - it's 1969, and Malaysia is a Muslim state so proper mental health assessments weren't really a thing at the time). When the Chinese-Malay riots begin, she finds herself stranded without a way back to her mother. A Malay herself, she's surprised when a Chinese Auntie takes her home to her family and takes care of her - a kindness during a moment so full of violence and death. As Melati tries to find her way back to her mother, she learns more about the way words can dole out friction and be a poison to the heart, but also be the way to bridge people together.
I can't emphasize enough how amazingly this book was written. The message is really brought home as Melati sees varying perspectives regarding race, hurt, and healing - how it really is the hate and othering of people, whether by race, skin colour, or something else, that really leaves the deepest wounds.
Not only does Melati see the way people react to racism, but we also get to see how people alienate her due to her OCD. In particular, Melati experiences counting compulsions, and that leads to a need to tap her fingers or count out tiles or mutter numbers to herself, especially in times of great distress. She tries to hide it from those around her as she attempts to get through the city because she doesn't want her companions to think she's possessed, or crazy, or to come to any conclusion that makes them think it'd be best if she be left behind.
I am so glad I picked up this book - it was fantastically written and brought to light an event of racism and violence that hasn't made it into our history books (at least, not here in Canada). Definitely recommend, all the stars.
"We bit our tongues when people whispered things behind our backs, or made those sharp little comments to our faces, or even spit on our door [...] But Frankie was so sensitive. He took all those little sharp pokes and kept them in his heart. He started talking back. He started getting into fights. He let them make him bitter."
TW: Racism, multiple scenarios of death (Melati's OCD), grief, descriptions of wounds and injuries
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence