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jennybeastie's review
4.0
It took me a while to get used to the 2nd person narrative voice -- I admit I find it a bit intrusive and distracting, but after while I just got used to the rhythm of it, and I think it works. I LOVED Ari's poetry, I loved how her teacher found ways to help her with dysgraphia, I loved the ongoing conversation about interracial marriage and how strongly the setting (just after the Loving v. Virginia decision) supported Leah and Raj's story.
It's kind of fascinating to imagine being young in a time when Hippies were this new unknown and dangerous countercultural movement, when the Civil Rights marches were on the news, and the Beatles and Elvis were big -- it's not that long ago, but somehow this book brings it home to me in a really big way. Ariel is going through a lot, but she brings her family to a better place.
I was surprised that one of the solutions in the end is that the family moves into an apartment over the bakery -- why did they never consider that before? Maybe it was a size thing? Was that apartment always there? If so, wouldn't that have been the obvious solution all along, to live in an apartment you own rather than rent? Anyway, that's a nitpicky sort of confusion when really I enjoyed the book very much. It's a powerful story about finding your voice.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
It's kind of fascinating to imagine being young in a time when Hippies were this new unknown and dangerous countercultural movement, when the Civil Rights marches were on the news, and the Beatles and Elvis were big -- it's not that long ago, but somehow this book brings it home to me in a really big way. Ariel is going through a lot, but she brings her family to a better place.
I was surprised that one of the solutions in the end is that the family moves into an apartment over the bakery -- why did they never consider that before? Maybe it was a size thing? Was that apartment always there? If so, wouldn't that have been the obvious solution all along, to live in an apartment you own rather than rent? Anyway, that's a nitpicky sort of confusion when really I enjoyed the book very much. It's a powerful story about finding your voice.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
nora_mcgowan's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.5
silvaajoyy's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
yeojinqueen's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-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
4.75
gossamerchild's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
anjali9's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.75
hjhill_55's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
abishop23's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0