Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I adored this book. The writing was so beautiful and descriptive but flowed really nicely. The story grasped my attention from the first page and jumped around in a meaningful way.
Everybody told me this book was amazing, and i have to agree. It’s about immigration and family separation and adoption, about how the trauma of separation lasts and lasts and changes the people affected by it. You can see so clearly the way both Polly and Deming/Daniel carry their wounds afterwards and it’s just heartbreakingly real. It’s tempting to say something like “this story is more relevant and necessary than ever,” but the truth is that families have been separated for a long time. But I’m glad that at least these stories are finally starting to be told.
Not since The Vanishing Half have I been so captivated by a book!! Which is amazing bc I was really craving that experience again. This book made me cry A LOT and it was fantastic.
Very good book, told in Deming (third) and Polly's (first) POV. Heartbreaking in many ways. I preferred Polly's story - I learned a lot of difficult things I never knew. Deming's story was so anxiety inducing. I liked how everything came around. The importance of identity is such a through line - how identity is partially defined by the people you are around, what you make of your situation, where you are, and where you belong. And how names are linked to your identity.
Recommend. This was assigned reading for my son's AP English class.
Recommend. This was assigned reading for my son's AP English class.
emotional
sad
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it a bit more than average, so perhaps a 3.5 star book. I liked the subject and characters, but I'm a stickler for a well-constructed plot and there were too many loose ends in this book.
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
while the story was reflective and both Deming and Polly were trying to make their way back to each other, they didn't change. There was no growth. I know it isn't always that way in life either, but they both wanted changes that they didn't want to commit to doing. Also, the author uses Food Lion as a grocery store Deming goes to in Syracuse. It's an error - the furthest north they go is Delaware.
One of my three TBR books from Book Riot’s subscription. I really liked the story of Deming/Daniel and his mother Polly although at times the plot felt stalled (maybe it was supposed to evoke Deming’s feeling of never belonging or abandonment). I just happened to have this on audio for commuting while also reading Nicole Chung’s upcoming memoir about being adopted - while the circumstances are different, Chung’s memoir and Deming’s story had eerie parallels.