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rebeccaelizabeth'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Colonisation, and War
spookytaco'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
jackieom4'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
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
isabell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Trafficking, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation
musingsbynitika'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and Colonisation
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child death, Genocide, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and War
kerrygetsliterary'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
veronicats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
serendipitysbooks's review
- 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
4.0
What stood out for me in this story was it’s exploration of colonialism from an unexpected angle. Dikembe lived in the Congo until he was brought to England almost as a souvenir by Sir Richard Babbington, a famous explorer. Babbington insisted on changing Dikembe’s name, treated him as something of a party trick, and used him for his own ends, something Dikembe realised and silently railed about. Upon Babbington’s death Dikembe’s life worsened considerably. Taking a risk and using his own initiative he was later able to right some of the wrongs done to him and build a good life for himself in England, although it was inevitably marked by racism.
We are accustomed to looking at the impact of colonialism on the countries that were colonised, on the people who lived there. And this book does outline some of the horrific actions of Belgians in the Congo, actions that Dikembe was fortunate in missing. However, I don’t think I’ve read about colonisation through the lens of an individual removed to the country of the coloniser. And, as the author’s note makes clear, the character of Dikembe, was inspired by a real person. While Lowra’s childhood experiences are also tragic, they are much more familiar, and so didn’t carry the same impact for me. Dikembe’s story also highlighted the early history of Blacks in Britain, before the arrival of the relatively well-known Windrush generation.
From the depiction of Babbington (pompous and entitled), to the issues raised about how museums obtain, display and treat many artefacts and whose needs they are serving, the author’s barely suppressed rage at colonialism was always bubbling just below the surface. I loved that passion.
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Colonisation
thesapphiccelticbookworm'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
alisha94'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation