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moriahleigh's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Police brutality, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Cancer
thekatreturns's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am absolutely blown away that this comes from the same author as Miracle Creek, which has been thoroughly critiqued for its intense ableism. But I guess this book is proof that people can learn and grow and change their behavior with more information and more relationships with those most affected. Because, my goodness, this book is everything the general public should be reading about nonspeakers with regard to disability politics. The difference between the two is ridiculous and near unbelievable, and yet, the trajectory of Angie Kim’s learning is very clear me as someone who has been immersed in autistic community since the mid aughts. I know exactly how she got here, it’s clear as day, she even names specific people she learned from in the authors notes, and yet I’m still astounded that she got there at all when so many don’t. Thank you, Angie, for listening to neurodivergent people, autistic people, and most specifically nonspeakers. For broadening your horizons from the people at the center of Miracle Creek, who mean well and yet do so much harm. For addressing the nonspeaking community’s relationship with pseudoscience, testing, and disbelief directly, in the text, in an incredibly thoughtful and empathetic way. And also, for writing a damn good literary mystery.
Yeah, aside from this being a book that I’m heartened is doing well in sales and reviews because its message is so crucial for the world to understand- this is a great book and it is not at all too preachy about said message.
Many other reviewers found Mia annoying, but it was extremely easy for me to get into her head. Probably because we have pretty much the same personality and thought patterns. I didn’t find anything annoying, but then again I am a huge sucker for footnotes in literature. I enjoyed the morphing of her observations“we should have done this” “I wish this had happened this way” from being like “if this had happened differently maybe we’d have solved the mystery” to “if this had happened differently maybe I would feel differently.” It’s subtle, and maintains the tension longer than it could have otherwise.
The other criticism I found in reviews of the book was that it went too deep into philosophy and the mystery of thedad’s Happiness Quotient experiments. I disagree with these reviewers, because, well, the idea of Welcome to Holland (a seminal essay by Emily Perl Kingsley) is constantly on the mind for disabled people and their families. The philosophies presented are a natural fit, and their hyperlogical presentation by the characters is one of many signs of autistic traits in the rest of Eugene’s family and therefore quite realistic.
Which brings me to my final point. This is not a 5 star book for me, and it so, so easily could have been. I desperately wanted toswitch into Eugene’s perspective for an epilogue. Not to get answers to Mia’s burning questions, because I think it’s beautiful and metaphorically resonant that the family doesn’t have answers to everything. But to spend some time in his head, to give him the chance to write the ending to this chapter of his story. I can see how that would feel weird for Angie as she’s not nonspeaking herself, but I maintain it could have been done in collaboration with a nonspeaking cowriter. I can also see how that would be seen as indulging doubters by saying, “yes, this kid can write, here, look at him!” But he’s not real, so no real child is being made into a self narrating zoo exhibit. Plus, the line this book walks with presenting very conclusive proof of spelling for Eugene, and acknowledging the pain of doubt, is so deft that I trust Angie and her brain trust of nonspeaking people in the acknowledgments to have handled it. If this book ever gets a sequel about some other mystery happening to these characters, I want Eugene to narrate it. My second criticism is that Matthew Rushin should be in the acknowledgments, given that autistic young people navigating the legal system in Virginia is a huge plot point. Was any of this story directly inspired by him? Probably not, the details are very different. But I seriously doubt the relevant laws in real life would exist without his story.
Also, sorry if it seems disrespectful that I’ve referred to the author as Angie throughout, just a habit in transcribing my previously orally expressed thoughts. I mean full respect when I say that everyone who’s ever been criticized for something they write should listen and learn like she has very clearly done.
Yeah, aside from this being a book that I’m heartened is doing well in sales and reviews because its message is so crucial for the world to understand- this is a great book and it is not at all too preachy about said message.
Many other reviewers found Mia annoying, but it was extremely easy for me to get into her head. Probably because we have pretty much the same personality and thought patterns. I didn’t find anything annoying, but then again I am a huge sucker for footnotes in literature. I enjoyed the morphing of her observations
The other criticism I found in reviews of the book was that it went too deep into philosophy and the mystery of the
Which brings me to my final point. This is not a 5 star book for me, and it so, so easily could have been. I desperately wanted to
Also, sorry if it seems disrespectful that I’ve referred to the author as Angie throughout, just a habit in transcribing my previously orally expressed thoughts. I mean full respect when I say that everyone who’s ever been criticized for something they write should listen and learn like she has very clearly done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Ableism
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Murder, and Police brutality
Minor: War and Rape
skbat's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Ableism
Moderate: Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Cancer
Minor: Suicide, War, Confinement, Bullying, Racism, Blood, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Rape, and Police brutality
lindsayerin's review
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Racism
_david_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
The book starts of with a cliché (a witness that cannot speak), but do not worry and stick with it, it's handled very well. I really appreciated the author's sensitive and thoughful portrayal of nonspeaking characters. It's clear that she researched and spoke to people who are nonspeaking themselves about it. This care is also evident in the author's notes and acknowledgments.
The main character shows some bad behavious: making quick assumptions, speaking around a nonspeaking character instead of to them, and just acting as a general teenager. However, the future main character, whose POV we're following, calls her past self out on it and voices her shame. In general I feel like Mia would've made more sense as a teenager than someone in college/uni.
The author's background in philosophy shines through, especially in the exploration of happiness. It's clearly written by someone with an academic background.
The ending left a positive lasting impression. I'm sure I will think back on it often during the rest of my life.
The reason that I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the writer POV often annoyed me with her perspective. I specifically refer to all the moments which said something along the lines of "but with the information I know now, why [odd thing] happened made sense" without any further explanation. It happened too much and sometimes for relatively minor occurrences. It disrupted the flow of the story and was hard to take serious after a while. A small point that I disliked but not enough to affect the score, that only Mia, Adam (the dad) and Eugene were well rounded characters. Hannah (the mother) and especially John were quite flat eventhough they were very important to the story.
The main character shows some bad behavious: making quick assumptions, speaking around a nonspeaking character instead of to them, and just acting as a general teenager. However, the future main character, whose POV we're following, calls her past self out on it and voices her shame. In general I feel like Mia would've made more sense as a teenager than someone in college/uni.
The author's background in philosophy shines through, especially in the exploration of happiness. It's clearly written by someone with an academic background.
The ending left a positive lasting impression. I'm sure I will think back on it often during the rest of my life.
The reason that I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the writer POV often annoyed me with her perspective. I specifically refer to all the moments which said something along the lines of "but with the information I know now, why [odd thing] happened made sense" without any further explanation. It happened too much and sometimes for relatively minor occurrences. It disrupted the flow of the story and was hard to take serious after a while. A small point that I disliked but not enough to affect the score, that only Mia, Adam (the dad) and Eugene were well rounded characters. Hannah (the mother) and especially John were quite flat eventhough they were very important to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Violence, War, Death, Police brutality, Ableism, Bullying, Rape, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Xenophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Mental illness
Minor: Dementia, Classism, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
jocelyn62013's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Ableism
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: War and Rape
arayo's review
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Ableism, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Abandonment, Cancer, Car accident, Infidelity, Suicide, and Violence
ncoletti's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Police brutality
rainbowfairie's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
I have so much I want to write about this book. This is one of the best literary fiction novels I've read, packaged in an informative and digestible story. The author is very societally aware and presents a wealth of information to readers on various concepts that may very well be new to them. The author's note at the end references any real-life resources or info the reader may want to check out. Very science-y with vocab and concepts, so beware there will be lots of new language and it's not a light read. As an autistic person myself, who struggles with spoken communication, this was an enlightening and empowering read that touches on many important issues. I'd read it again in a heartbeat and appreciate Angie for writing this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Bullying, Terminal illness, and Suicide
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Police brutality, Rape, and War
wanderlustsleeping's review
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
This was amazing.
I will read everything Angie Kim writes. I absolutely adored all of the siblings, and loved that it’s from Mia’s point of view. Her voice is just excellent. It’s never explicitly stated,I don’t think, if the twins are also autistic, or just exceptional in particular ways, but amidst the stress and chaos, any and all things with the siblings made me smile.
Their relationships with their parents also was so wonderful to read. They felt real and special, and Kim’s ability to dive into the very real dilemmas neurotypical kids, and their families face, but most importantly those kids struggles and joys, and valid frustrations if they need other ways to communicate besides verbal, is illuminating.Thankful this novel is out there, and is being read by many.
The mystery elements? My lips are sealed on those, but I hope people continue to protect vulnerable people from less than empathetic law enforcement because these things do happen.
I will read everything Angie Kim writes. I absolutely adored all of the siblings, and loved that it’s from Mia’s point of view. Her voice is just excellent. It’s never explicitly stated,
Their relationships with their parents also was so wonderful to read. They felt real and special, and Kim’s ability to dive into the very real dilemmas neurotypical kids, and their families face, but most importantly those kids struggles and joys, and valid frustrations if they need other ways to communicate besides verbal, is illuminating.
The mystery elements? My lips are sealed on those, but I hope people continue to protect vulnerable people from less than empathetic law enforcement because these things do happen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality