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savreads28's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Addiction, Rape, Incest, Racism, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.25
Jesus Land is an absorbing memoir focussing especially on the author’s teen years. Her story had three main focal points - racism, child abuse in the guise of Christianity and her close relationship with her adopted brother David who was Black. So much about this story made me ragey- the racism David sufferered within the family and in the outside world, the physical abuse imposed on David both because abuse is clearly wrong but also because this had a racial element to it, the fact the parents were keen to wash their hands of their Black children as soon as parenting them became difficult, the fact the parents didn’t support their children, Black or white, in dealing with racism they faced in the community, the sexual abuse the author suffered but felt unable to disclose, and so much more. The physical, emotional and sexual abuses of the Christian reform school David and Julia were shipped to in the Dominican Republic was reprehensible. And what saddens me is that this sort of abuse can still continue today with many institutions not subject to any form of oversight. Stories like Jesus Land are important, even if they do not make for pleasant reading.
But I did love the relationship between Julia and David and the way they supported each other as best they could. Julia’s behaviour was not always perfect, something she owns, but I could understand what motivated it. I also loved the way the two of them resisted brainwashing at home and at school. They appeared to conform and comply in order to stay as safe as possible but resisted stealthily and managed to keep their hearts and minds free.
But I did love the relationship between Julia and David and the way they supported each other as best they could. Julia’s behaviour was not always perfect, something she owns, but I could understand what motivated it. I also loved the way the two of them resisted brainwashing at home and at school. They appeared to conform and comply in order to stay as safe as possible but resisted stealthily and managed to keep their hearts and minds free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
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