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eloy080508's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
anthama's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
evavstheworld's review
challenging
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
This was a good coming of age story, quite engaging, but I found there to be content that I hadn’t expected. TWs below, list might not be full.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
kellysch01's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sel_28's review
4.0
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, so it was nice to get completely captivated by a book again.
This is the story of Ri Fernández, a biracial Mexican-American teenager who struggles with her cultural identity and with her family. Her mother left her when she was young, and the only family member she has left is her strict grandmother who wants them to assimilate, so she kept her from exploring more about her culture and didn’t even let her learn Spanish. She decides to take Spanish II so she could learn, despite how her grandma feels about it. When she has the chance to reconnect with her mother, she takes it, hoping that it will help her as she is on the journey of figuring out who she is, and she also hopes that her mother accepts her for who she is. But there is so much more to her family history than she thought.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. A lot of Ri’s story was very relatable. I’m not white-passing like she is, and I wasn’t completely kept away from my culture, but being born and raised in America meant that my experiences were different from those of my parents and other members of my family. I know what it’s like to not feel Latine enough and not as connected with your culture. My Spanish isn’t perfect either. I’ve felt the embarrassment of messing up in Spanish class, which is something that a lot of people would assume should come easy to me, like how they assumed with Ri. I also know how it feels to have trouble focusing on the mistakes your family makes because you know how hard they work to give you a better life. There’s the pressure to make them proud, especially when you’re reminded how everything they do is for your future. Then, they tell you how this is why you have to get a good education and a good job. The expectations can be a lot.
There were also a lot of times where I wanted to yell at her because of the choices she was making. I know, she’s a teenager, and they make mistakes. She could still be frustrating at times. But I’m glad she later acknowledged her mistakes.
The talks about colorism in the Latine community were something that was needed. It’s something that should be discussed more, and it can be hard for a lot of Latines to admit that it exists. There are issues in our community, and colorism is one of them. Ri is white-passing, so she didn’t realize this problem existed. I’m glad that she acknowledged the privilege that she had. People are going to treat her differently compared to how they treat her grandmother. It’s something that she needed to be aware of.
Brittany’s behavior wasn’t excused, which was good because there were a lot of micro aggressions. She did care about Ri, and she didn’t seem to realize her behavior was problematic, but that doesn’t make it okay. She needed to recognize her mistakes and change. Words aren’t enough; action is needed. It would’ve been nice to see more of that change happening, especially since this was a breakthrough for their friendship, but I understand that the author wanted to wrap things up.
Then, there was the romance sub-plot. Was it completely necessary to her arc? Not really. But I’m a romantic, so I still thought it was cute.
What really shined here were the friendships and family relationships. I really liked that Nina and Ri talked about what happened in the past. Ri messed up; there is no excusing that. Nina doesn’t lie and say it never hurt. Like how Brittany’s behavior wasn’t excused, I’m glad that Ri’s wasn’t either and that she acknowledged that she needs to do better.
Everything that happened with her mother was heartbreaking. The conversation she had with her grandmother after everything that happened with her mother had me tearing up. She finally told Ri more of their family’s past. I know how much it hurts to hear about the struggles your family has gone through and how it eventually all lead to where you are now. It was a difficult conversation, but it was one that they needed to have.
That being said, the letter that was included at the end was a nice way to end it. She misses and loves her mother, but she knows that she needs to change. She’s determined to persevere, whether she’s in her life or not.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars.
CW: parental abandonment, sexual harassment, abusive relationship, alcoholism, drug use, micro aggressions, colorism, racism, teen pregnancy, mentions of sex
This is the story of Ri Fernández, a biracial Mexican-American teenager who struggles with her cultural identity and with her family. Her mother left her when she was young, and the only family member she has left is her strict grandmother who wants them to assimilate, so she kept her from exploring more about her culture and didn’t even let her learn Spanish. She decides to take Spanish II so she could learn, despite how her grandma feels about it. When she has the chance to reconnect with her mother, she takes it, hoping that it will help her as she is on the journey of figuring out who she is, and she also hopes that her mother accepts her for who she is. But there is so much more to her family history than she thought.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. A lot of Ri’s story was very relatable. I’m not white-passing like she is, and I wasn’t completely kept away from my culture, but being born and raised in America meant that my experiences were different from those of my parents and other members of my family. I know what it’s like to not feel Latine enough and not as connected with your culture. My Spanish isn’t perfect either. I’ve felt the embarrassment of messing up in Spanish class, which is something that a lot of people would assume should come easy to me, like how they assumed with Ri. I also know how it feels to have trouble focusing on the mistakes your family makes because you know how hard they work to give you a better life. There’s the pressure to make them proud, especially when you’re reminded how everything they do is for your future. Then, they tell you how this is why you have to get a good education and a good job. The expectations can be a lot.
There were also a lot of times where I wanted to yell at her because of the choices she was making. I know, she’s a teenager, and they make mistakes. She could still be frustrating at times. But I’m glad she later acknowledged her mistakes.
The talks about colorism in the Latine community were something that was needed. It’s something that should be discussed more, and it can be hard for a lot of Latines to admit that it exists. There are issues in our community, and colorism is one of them. Ri is white-passing, so she didn’t realize this problem existed. I’m glad that she acknowledged the privilege that she had. People are going to treat her differently compared to how they treat her grandmother. It’s something that she needed to be aware of.
Brittany’s behavior wasn’t excused, which was good because there were a lot of micro aggressions. She did care about Ri, and she didn’t seem to realize her behavior was problematic, but that doesn’t make it okay. She needed to recognize her mistakes and change. Words aren’t enough; action is needed. It would’ve been nice to see more of that change happening, especially since this was a breakthrough for their friendship, but I understand that the author wanted to wrap things up.
Then, there was the romance sub-plot. Was it completely necessary to her arc? Not really. But I’m a romantic, so I still thought it was cute.
What really shined here were the friendships and family relationships. I really liked that Nina and Ri talked about what happened in the past. Ri messed up; there is no excusing that. Nina doesn’t lie and say it never hurt. Like how Brittany’s behavior wasn’t excused, I’m glad that Ri’s wasn’t either and that she acknowledged that she needs to do better.
Everything that happened with her mother was heartbreaking. The conversation she had with her grandmother after everything that happened with her mother had me tearing up. She finally told Ri more of their family’s past. I know how much it hurts to hear about the struggles your family has gone through and how it eventually all lead to where you are now. It was a difficult conversation, but it was one that they needed to have.
That being said, the letter that was included at the end was a nice way to end it. She misses and loves her mother, but she knows that she needs to change. She’s determined to persevere, whether she’s in her life or not.
Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars.
CW: parental abandonment, sexual harassment, abusive relationship, alcoholism, drug use, micro aggressions, colorism, racism, teen pregnancy, mentions of sex
thechristinereads's review
5.0
Let me start by saying that this was an emotional coming-of-age story.
The author has done an excellent job of balancing a personal coming-of-age narrative full of shifting friendships and loves with a larger picture of history and community.
A contemplative, insightful look at the lives of a multiracial kid striving to regain her heritage and establish her identity in the face of conflicting messages regarding race, skin color, education, family, language, friendships, and addiction.
The author has done an excellent job of balancing a personal coming-of-age narrative full of shifting friendships and loves with a larger picture of history and community.
A contemplative, insightful look at the lives of a multiracial kid striving to regain her heritage and establish her identity in the face of conflicting messages regarding race, skin color, education, family, language, friendships, and addiction.
readingwitherin's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warning: Addiction, colorism, and racism.
Everything Within and In Between follows Ri (Maria) Fernandez's teenage life. Ri is a white-passing Latinx who has been raised by her grandparents due to her mom not being around. Because Ri is white-passing that of course means that she has privileges that others around her do not, but she also lives with her grandma who is not white-passing and because of that she sees how Latinx are treated who aren't white-passing.
Ri's best friend is a white girl named Brittany whose family is rich, and because of that Ri lost touch with the friends from her neighborhood and only hangs out with Brittany now. While this isn't a bad thing necessarily it is something that Ri realizes when she switches to Spanish class in school and reconnects with her old friends. This reconnect has her looking into her life and trying to figure out who she really is and why her mom left all those years ago for her to be raised by her grandparents. Ri is also dealing with high expectations from her grandma who wants the best for her, but also wants her to do better and go to a fancy school, and get a really good paying job.
All of this ends up piling up on her and she ends up making some rash decisions. While some of them weren't the best they did end up with her finding out the truth about everything.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Ri was a character that I think so many people will be able to connect with. Ri is a teenager who wants to start doing what she wants to and not just what her grandma or her best friend Brittany wants her to do. Because of that, she starts hanging out with her old/new friends again in Spanish class and because of that she goes to parties, and finds a way to get in contact with her mom. While both of these things lead to her learning things about herself, she also learns things about her mom, things that her grandma had kept hidden from her. These things make her grandma finally tell her everything and actually start listening to her for a change, and while the conversations aren't always the nicest or the easiest they are needed. They also show through the love of someone who is caring for a child and only wants the best for them, the love that wants them to have more and to have a better chance at life. While Ri starts to see that because of actually seeing someone treat her grandma differently, she also realizes fully the privileges that she has because she is white-passing, and its the privilege that her grandma has been trying to convince her to use in order to have a better life than they have had and been able to make for her.
While they both still have a ways to go by the end of the book, they do see each other's point of view and start actually talking about things for a change.
I highly recommend this book.
Content Warning: Addiction, colorism, and racism.
Everything Within and In Between follows Ri (Maria) Fernandez's teenage life. Ri is a white-passing Latinx who has been raised by her grandparents due to her mom not being around. Because Ri is white-passing that of course means that she has privileges that others around her do not, but she also lives with her grandma who is not white-passing and because of that she sees how Latinx are treated who aren't white-passing.
Ri's best friend is a white girl named Brittany whose family is rich, and because of that Ri lost touch with the friends from her neighborhood and only hangs out with Brittany now. While this isn't a bad thing necessarily it is something that Ri realizes when she switches to Spanish class in school and reconnects with her old friends. This reconnect has her looking into her life and trying to figure out who she really is and why her mom left all those years ago for her to be raised by her grandparents. Ri is also dealing with high expectations from her grandma who wants the best for her, but also wants her to do better and go to a fancy school, and get a really good paying job.
All of this ends up piling up on her and she ends up making some rash decisions. While some of them weren't the best they did end up with her finding out the truth about everything.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Ri was a character that I think so many people will be able to connect with. Ri is a teenager who wants to start doing what she wants to and not just what her grandma or her best friend Brittany wants her to do. Because of that, she starts hanging out with her old/new friends again in Spanish class and because of that she goes to parties, and finds a way to get in contact with her mom. While both of these things lead to her learning things about herself, she also learns things about her mom, things that her grandma had kept hidden from her. These things make her grandma finally tell her everything and actually start listening to her for a change, and while the conversations aren't always the nicest or the easiest they are needed. They also show through the love of someone who is caring for a child and only wants the best for them, the love that wants them to have more and to have a better chance at life. While Ri starts to see that because of actually seeing someone treat her grandma differently, she also realizes fully the privileges that she has because she is white-passing, and its the privilege that her grandma has been trying to convince her to use in order to have a better life than they have had and been able to make for her.
While they both still have a ways to go by the end of the book, they do see each other's point of view and start actually talking about things for a change.
I highly recommend this book.
alliegutie's review
3.0
I think the story in this book is important, but I struggled with the main character SO MUCH. Ri was so combative and just plain mean to the people in her life until the last bit of the novel. If you can put your feelings over the main character’s actions aside, the ending is really lovely and bittersweet.