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imstephtacular's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
Tough read, but well executed. Beautiful and heartbreaking and nuanced and complex and compelling with great writing
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death, War, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Murder, Blood, Racism, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Vomit
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
enakasone's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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? Yes
4.0
This was a hard read, but it was worth it. I think every trigger warning applies here. However, I think it gave a complex and mature view into how the Vietnam War affected the refugees and their descendants. Like it was stated in the book, I've never thought about the POVs of the refugees and the trauma many experienced as they left their homes; I've only really thought of the War in terms of US sentiment. To learn that much of the story is based on the author's parents' experiences as well is a lot to swallow. I wouldn't recommend it to EVERYONE, but I think there are teens out there who are mature and interested enough to read this book. And it gives voice to a group of people who are discussed but rarely seen as anything other than a statistic.
Graphic: War, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Violence
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