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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This was such a sweet, sad story of a set of twins separated at birth. There were so many heart breaking examples of slavery i found myself crying on multiple occasions. The magic system was interesting and was just sewn into the story perfectly. It didn’t take a front seat really but it was always there spurring Charlie and magnolia on. I will definitely read anything written by this author.
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A brilliant historical fantasy about twins Magnolia and Charlie, separated not long after their birth. Magnolia, light skinned, was raised white in Eureka, Georgia, and lives a life of class, wealth, and white privilege; Charlie was taken north to Harlem with her grandmother, her dark skin unmistakeable as anything other. When Nana, Charlie's grandmother, is dying, she and Charlie return to Eureka for her death. It's here when Charlie learns she has a twin sister, and Magnolia discovers that she can no longer see her shadow. Nana had warned about death leading to the thinning of the veil, but it'll take the sisters finding one another and working together to lift the curse settled over both of them.
McWilliams knocks it out of the park with highlighting colorism, as well as the tensions and differences between Jim Crow racism in the south and racism as it played out in a place like New York City in 1953. Charlie and Magnolia are well-rounded with distinct voices, and their cultural upbringings really work to showcase what Black means both in the south at this time and in the north. Magnolia faces a choice in embracing her newly-learned Black heritage, as well as her newly-discovered twin sister, and it's one that can't -- and doesn't -- come easily. While Charlie wrestles with not understanding why her sister can't make the right decision, she herself struggles with what she's seeing around her and why it is her feelings for Darius may be unable to be requited (thanks to the curse).
The use of a ghost train in this story reminded me a lot of [b:I Am Alfonso Jones|34099859|I Am Alfonso Jones|Tony Medina|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508173255l/34099859._SX50_.jpg|55120502], which was fascinating and a genius way to pull the plot through. The exploration of Black joy amidst suffering was powerful, as was the ways in which both girls were able to set free the stories of their ancestors from their status as being tied to white people.
Smart, savvy, and haunting.
McWilliams knocks it out of the park with highlighting colorism, as well as the tensions and differences between Jim Crow racism in the south and racism as it played out in a place like New York City in 1953. Charlie and Magnolia are well-rounded with distinct voices, and their cultural upbringings really work to showcase what Black means both in the south at this time and in the north. Magnolia faces a choice in embracing her newly-learned Black heritage, as well as her newly-discovered twin sister, and it's one that can't -- and doesn't -- come easily. While Charlie wrestles with not understanding why her sister can't make the right decision, she herself struggles with what she's seeing around her and why it is her feelings for Darius may be unable to be requited (thanks to the curse).
The use of a ghost train in this story reminded me a lot of [b:I Am Alfonso Jones|34099859|I Am Alfonso Jones|Tony Medina|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1508173255l/34099859._SX50_.jpg|55120502], which was fascinating and a genius way to pull the plot through. The exploration of Black joy amidst suffering was powerful, as was the ways in which both girls were able to set free the stories of their ancestors from their status as being tied to white people.
Smart, savvy, and haunting.
I was in Target one day looking for a new book to pick up organically and not recommended via TikTok
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
So amazing! 4.25 stars! It had an amazing plot and characters and was both heartbreaking and hopeful. However, the pacing was a bit too fast for me, which the characters do acknowledge. I also always love a bit more backstory, so maybe more about how exactly the magic in this novel worked and came about would have made this a five star for me. Highly recommend regardless!
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
First Impression: During the Jim Crow era two biracial twins were born. One looks white like their father and the other Black like their mother.
I had high hopes for this book. I really enjoyed the premise and the start was really great. However the ending was just not as strong as I had hoped. For one how is this a curse on the two of them if it only impacts Magnolia? Also why are the ancestors mad at Magnolia, she didn’t know she was Black and was raised to be racist and still ended up not racist probably thanks to grandma’s friend. I also felt like the “gothic” elements presented themselves more as magical realism. I wanted more spooky elements and more than just the power of love can save us at the end.