Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio

3 reviews

onethousandoddfrogs's review

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Grief, Incest, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Child death

Minor: Violence, Racism, Alcohol, Cursing, Infertility, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts

bookpals's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Following the return to her biological family, a young girl finds herself in a completely different environment than her privileged and quiet life of her childhood. Navigating complicated familial and class relationships, the narrator begins this new life. Out of this confusion arises a close relationship with her younger sister, Adriana, who brings her comfort and something new. At the same time, the confusion around her return is the main impetus for plot in this story, what happened to her mother and how does she even begin to create a relationship with "the mother" (her biological mother)?

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Immediately, the narrator pulls you in with her trauma and confusion of her return to her being dumped into already complicated family dynamics. While I think the story draws you in with the nuances of motherhood and the mother-daughter relationship, the true heart of this story is Adriana and the love that the two sisters have for each other. It is through her sister, that the narrator is able to start healing. I loved their bond and think it was make this book so remarkable. Di Pietrantonia does a great job of capturing the narrator's inner feelings and thoughts, her navigation of an impossible situation. A Girl Returned captures girlhood in such a painful and realistic way as we come into our relationships with our mothers, sisters, and friends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Abandonment

Moderate: Racial slurs

xbernadette's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Grief, and Child death

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Classism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Ableism

Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail