Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Grief Keeper

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The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

3 reviews

just_one_more_paige's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

3.0

In my (mostly failing but ever effortful) attempt to read the backlist books on my shelves at home between the myriad newer releases and library holds that just keep coming, I present this success! This was part of a used bookstore haul a while ago; the concept (which I feel like I have also read about in other books/shows as well, though none of them are coming to mind now) of transferring emotions from one person to another is one that I find really interesting, so I wanted to see this take on it.

This novel opens with Marisol and her younger sister, Gabi, having just arrived in the US hoping to achieve asylum after escaping from a dangerous situation, one that caused their brother's death, in El Salvador. When Marisol is presented with a "choice" that would make their case for asylum stronger, by participating in a trial for a new technology that would take someone else's grief into her own body, she agrees to it. It's a risk, but Marisol would do anything to protect her younger sister, especially since she feels like it's her fault Gabi was put in such a terrible situation to begin with. Life in America isn't quite like Marisol has seen in her favorite tv shows, but as she bonds with the person she's been paired with for the experiment (Ray) even past what the trial should include, and their feelings for each other grow, Marisol and Ray find that they might be able to help each other move past their griefs together.

I felt like this was a YA novel that read very young. Gabi specifically felt younger than twelve to me, though in fairness, the story was written from Marisol's POV, so that could be her voice projecting onto her "baby" sister. But overall, there was just a very naive vibe to the writing that felt a bit off, considering the life experiences of the sisters. By the end, the writing did morph into something that felt more age-appropriate, but having that transition over such a short time period then just seemed too fast. To clarify, it's not at all that the writing was bad, but just that my biggest "iffy" feeling over the entire reading experience was that the maturity of the writing seemed like it didn't match the character's ages/experiences, nor the tone of the book, until towards the end.

Other than that, this novel did a great job addressing some incredibly serious and intense YA topics with the sincerity and gravity they deserved, but with an understanding of the way they may be experienced differently for youth, as opposed to adults. Which, first off, let me say how frustrated (and by that, I mean truly *angry*) I was, reading about the ridiculous level of manipulation that Marisol (and Gabi) experienced at the hands of US officials. The way they made it seem like she had agency and was able to make a choice, whole in reality everyone knew there was no actual choice, had me hot. Especially because how is crossing the border underage (and knowing what happened to her brother!) not enough trauma to already have to disqualify Marisol from participating?! That aspect of manipulation continued as a theme throughout, even as we learn more about what Ray was told related to the experiment as well. I appreciated that examination of how easily, and in how many ways, this type of technology (even with best intentions) can be harmful and used inappropriately.

Obviously, based on the story itself, there was quite a bit of time devoted to exploring grief and trauma and the myriad ways people can experience and handle it. There were, on this note, quite a few really tough topics that were addressed throughout this novel including siblinghood and siblings as parents, coming of age and sexuality, homophobia (including both physically and psychologically violent ways), grief (and guilt over the lack of it), refugee/asylum seeking, and death (fairly traumatic, sibling deaths). While I felt that these were all addressed with accessibility for a YA audience, they were also addressed with straightforwardness and dimension, so please beware if any of this content could potentially be triggering for you to read. With all that in mind, the ending was perhaps a bit too “wrapped up in a bow,” emotionally, but it’s hard to not having been cheering for that kind of hopeful ending.

I loved the way that Marisol’s older sister perspective was written, as well as Gabi’s beginning-to-push-back younger sister characterization, that felt so accurate to me. And honestly the normality of that protectiveness/pushing boundaries that comes with youth and sibling interactions was a great “normal” background, bringing the more intense themes of loss and border-crossing and trauma into even sharper relief. I felt like the romance piece wasn’t super believable, not necessarily liked strained or trying too hard, but more like I never felt more than a friend vibe between Marisol and Ray. And really, I feel like their connection as friends could have played the same role in the story that the budding romance did. However, that being said, I did love the message that finding connection with others is critical for dealing with depression and grief. And I’m here for a sweet YA f/f love story situation.

This was a pretty fast read for me, interesting and well-paced. Although I feel like it was on the easier side for a YA read, writing-wise, the topics it addressed were clearly mature and handled well within the context of the story. Perhaps this isn’t a new all-time favorite read, but if it sounds at all like you’d be interested in it, I would definitely recommend picking it up.

“We believe in luck. The good kind and the cruel. The kind that graces and the kind that cripples. The kind that doesn’t care what you deserve.”

“People handle grief in different ways. It isn't the same for everyone. Some people can manage with help, and others lock themselves into grief. Still others become stronger by it. And it isn't only grief. It's trauma. [...] Victims of terrible assaults, soldiers who were damaged in body and in spirit. That's a kind of grief that is even more entrenched, when it is augmented by guilt and fear.”

“She’s been through the same thing that millions of other people have been through. What makes her pain more unbearable than anyone else’s?”

“But when you don’t have a good choice, you make a bad choice.”

“La Suerte isn’t only Mala. She is two-faced. How beautiful and balanced, how terrible and cruel La Suerte is.”

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kathsaph's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? No

4.75

"The Grief Keeper" is the story of Marisol, a seventeen-year-old girl, who flees El Salvador with her little sister under threat of death. Once in America Marisol is offered the chance to win asylum by participating in an experiment; taking another person's grief. What she does not expect is falling in love with the girl she is saving.

This novel was personally difficult to read, but completely relevant and impactful. So many details were packed into 300 pages, all contributing to amazing character development and storytelling. The book is in the first person and often includes Spanish, I ended up looking up the words as I went along, and I recommend doing the same, it added another layer of depth. My response to "The Grief Keeper" was visceral, and although not all of the technology in the book exists, the societal views that would allow the experiment to happen do, making the book terrifying. Please check triggers before reading.

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courtneyfalling's review

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dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

This made me cry multiple times. I'd call it primarily a sad, contemporary novel with speculative fiction elements to deepen the emotional side. All of the main characters feel drawn-out and almost blurry around their edges... it's a lot more about how things feel than who they are. Marisol especially is a complicated mix of fiercely stubborn and mostly passive or internal, which makes the book's pacing sometimes feel heavy. The beginning weighs down a lot, and then we finally get the bulk of important backstory and growth in the final chapters. I can't say I was ever enamored with Rey as a character or the budding relationship between her and Marisol, but they do have some lighthearted moments and I liked the deeper arc of Marisol letting go of her internalized lesbophobia. And the criticism of the US immigration system is very well-done

although I still feel like Indranie deserves a lot more comeuppance than she gets

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