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kshertz's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This one took me a while to read because it was so heavy. I definitely loved the whole plot. The idea that someone would be caught trying to cross the border and then used in an experiment is not far-fetched. The idea that it would be used to relieve grief from luckier more privileged people and put that grief on people who are not born in the US seems like something that could totally happen. I think that’s what made it so sad. I do love the love story that unfolds and I love the ending. It’s much happier than I would imagine but I still think it’s an excellent book to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Violence
lowsmee's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
The highlight of this book is the relationship between Marisol and Gabi. The ending was a huge miss for me.
The sisterly love could not balance out the coercion, torture, emotional manipulation that came after it. I loved so much about the book but I couldn’t get past these 4 things.
1. I’m disgusted by the fact that Marisol gets taken in by the same people who were willing to sacrafice her to preserve their own family.
2. Her relationship with Rey has it’s moments but they are overshadowed by Rey’s willfull ignorance around how the cuffs work. I don’t buy that she just didn’t notice how Marisol was getting worse at the same rate that she was getting better.
3. I don’t think the author fully addresses why transferring grief and trauma from one person to another is a bad idea. There was an opportunity to highlight the importance of our interpersonal relationships in processing grief but she only hints at it.
4. Indranie uses her identity as a justification for kidnapping and abuse and it works.
The non YA sequel should be focused on Marisol processing the fact that she survived her own very special version of Get Out, and allow her to be angry at the people who decided she wasn’t anything more than a receptical for their fragile, white daughter’s grief.
The sisterly love could not balance out the coercion, torture, emotional manipulation that came after it. I loved so much about the book but I couldn’t get past these 4 things.
1. I’m disgusted by the fact that Marisol gets taken in by the same people who were willing to sacrafice her to preserve their own family.
2. Her relationship with Rey has it’s moments but they are overshadowed by Rey’s willfull ignorance around how the cuffs work. I don’t buy that she just didn’t notice how Marisol was getting worse at the same rate that she was getting better.
3. I don’t think the author fully addresses why transferring grief and trauma from one person to another is a bad idea. There was an opportunity to highlight the importance of our interpersonal relationships in processing grief but she only hints at it.
4. Indranie uses her identity as a justification for kidnapping and abuse and it works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Homophobia
Minor: Child death, Death, and Grief
lilcoppertop's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Xenophobia
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Marisol and her sister Gabi have come to the US as refugees to escape gang violence back home. When restrictive boarder practices threaten to send them home, Marisol agrees to become part of a medical experiment in order to have their asylum request heard. The experiment seeks to try a new medical technology designed to transfer grief and trauma from someone experiencing them to someone else as a sort of temporary holding tank of sorts. Marisol is paired with a girl her age who recently lost a sibling in a traumatic way.
I enjoyed this read quite a bit. The story flowed smoothly, and the characters were engaging. I thought the concept of transferring grief and trauma from one person to another was an interesting, though troubling, concept and it was well executed here. It was stressful seeing Marisol fall prey to unethical practices targeting vulnerable populations!
I enjoyed this read quite a bit. The story flowed smoothly, and the characters were engaging. I thought the concept of transferring grief and trauma from one person to another was an interesting, though troubling, concept and it was well executed here. It was stressful seeing Marisol fall prey to unethical practices targeting vulnerable populations!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Death of sibling, PTSD, flashback, battlefield trauma, explosion trauma, medical science unethically taking advantage of vulnerable populations, detention center, US immigration practices
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