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phineasjames's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Murder, Mental illness, Gore, Hate crime, War, Violence, Grief, and Death
rebeccachang's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
The subject of the Malaysian race riots is a violent topic including death and murder.twdlover's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: War and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Gun violence
maple_dove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Adults rarely like being told that they don't have all the answers, or worse still, that the answers they do have are all the wrong ones.
If you want to start an explosion, you light a match in the dynamite factory.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Excrement, Animal death, Misogyny, Bullying, and Body shaming
paperquilt's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and War
lilly_anne's review against another edition
- 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
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
danajoy's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Death, Violence, Racial slurs, and War
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Police brutality
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- 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
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
albanana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Racism, Hate crime, Mental illness, War, Gun violence, Death of parent, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, and Islamophobia
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Violence