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op3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Often times I take at least an hour or two to pick out books I want to read so I can enjoy what I read. This is one of those books I avoid when I spend that time searching. This is a testimony that I should keep doing that. But the ending was okay. The fluff was ok if you consider there to be any.
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Self harm, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Outing, Death, Bullying, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Sexism, Car accident, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, and Child death
Minor: Violence, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Drug use, Blood, Gore, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, and Eating disorder
melist6's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Racism
jkprie001's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, Self harm, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
ricksilva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
All of this plays out over a tumultuous two years in which Julia grieves while finishing high school, having her first romantic relationship, and trying to find her voice in a place she feels like she never truly fits in.
The pacing was slower than expected at first, and it really took about half of the book before it hooked me. The mystery of what was going on with Olga is not entirely the payoff that it at first seems to set up, but I did appreciate that the plotline was resolved in a way that felt both ambiguous and very real.
The details of setting and culture, both in Chicago and Mexico are excellent, and the characters are multifaceted with most of them showing growth and change as the story moves along. The main character's voice in a nice mix inner-city tough and intellectual, and she is easy to root for even when making some very bad decisions.
I felt like the ending didn't completely resolve all of the character tension, but still managed to leave things off on a good note.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder, Self harm, Abortion, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
samiswanhorst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol and Abortion
amanda884's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Animal death, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Rape, Homophobia, Self harm, and Pregnancy
tracamiller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Poor, Mexican girl meets upper-class white boy. Older sister who seems “perfect” and quiet and reserved, but whose secrets reveal a girl that was not as she seemed. Younger sister who is loud and imperfect, but whose secrets remain deadly if they aren’t revealed and dealt with.
Parents whose dreams of life in the US lead to heartbreak, and a daughter who needs to return to Mexico to find her own dreams. An older generation that wants their children to have it better, yet doesn’t want them to change. A younger generation that wants change, yet doesn’t want to disappoint their parents.
And no one talks about their feelings or listens until they are forced to! A push and a pull between two countries, two sisters, two generations, and a whole lot of emotions!
Moderate: Abortion, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Grief, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, and Sexism
whoolie3's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Car accident, Stalking, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Rape, Deportation, and Self harm
gem114's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As an adult reader, I did struggle at times to be sympathetic to Julia. Maybe it’s my age and personal experience talking, but I do think there are some basic responsibilities that teenagers should have regarding chores, communication with parents, etc that she pushed back on more than was reasonable, and I think Olga’s secrets were unnecessarily over the top, but I can see how this will all make it more appealing to young readers.
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, Car accident, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Deportation, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Pregnancy
joisaddler's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Abortion, Grief, and Sexual content