Reviews

Toning The Sweep by Angela Johnson

molly_dettmann's review against another edition

4.0

I loved that this story specifically explored three generations of women and how grief changed the grandma and mother’s lives so tremendously and then how daughter’s discovery about it led her to understand more about these women than she had before. So good! Can’t believe it was only about 100 pages because it felt like so much more!

iowagirl's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mixedreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

haleyrose's review against another edition

4.0

Lovely, soft novel that read like a series of vignettes, about mourning & family & women.

cjeziorski's review against another edition

5.0

This book explores the relationships between three generations of women. Ennis and her mom travel to the California desert to help her grandmother pack up her things; she has cancer and is going to stay back in Ohio with them. As the book unfolds, we learn about the personal tragedies that shaped each character’s life. The supporting characters are also interesting...Martha, the aunts, David. This short book deals with some heavy emotions.

williamsdebbied's review against another edition

4.0

Emily is 14 when she and her mother visit her grandmother, who is dying of cancer. They pack up Ola's belongings so that she can live with them in Cleveland until she dies. Emily makes a movie for her granmother, and for herself, that helps her come to terms with Ola's imminent death. As she films Ola's friends and loved ones, Emily learns much about her family and their past.

A bittersweet and, ultimately, triumphant novel filled with the stories of strong women.

introvertinterrupted's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Racism, Chronic illness, Murder, and Cancer

Minor: Grief

verkiezen's review

3.0

Toning the Sweep really managed to showcase the many different kinds of female relationships. Although there are no overt female/female love interests, I think they're quite a bit of subtext to indicate one. I really enjoyed this book over all. It's a lot about family: the kind you're born into and the kind you make on your own. And it's a little bit about trying to find yourself when you don't know all about your history. I really enjoyed this one. I would recommend this one to people who like character driven stories and a look into another's life.