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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Set in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo regime, this is a tale of the Mirabel sisters who unintentionally became national heroes by standing up for what they knew to be right. A realistic portrayal of the sisters’ and their family’s struggles living under, and fighting against, a corrupt regime. Because you know the sisters’ fate at the beginning of the story it becomes more about how they get there than about how it will end.
emotional
inspiring
slow-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:
N/A
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars
I never knew about the Mirabal sisters until now. It was really interesting to hear their story through this book! If I wasn't annotating for school then I would have enjoyed this book so much more! Great read!
I never knew about the Mirabal sisters until now. It was really interesting to hear their story through this book! If I wasn't annotating for school then I would have enjoyed this book so much more! Great read!
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-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:
Yes
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
I’m not going to lie, the first couple of chapters can be quite boring; however, I believe that’s what made the book overall better. In her afterword, Julia Alvarez discusses why she created this fictionalized account of the Mirabal sisters, and I think the mundaneness of those first chapters really shows the sisters’ humanity. They weren’t superheroes; they were four brave sisters. I could relate to them. I saw myself in them. I saw my family and friends in them. So by the time I reached those last few chapters, I was bawling my eyes out. I felt like I knew them. I also love that it not only talks about the bravery of Minerva, Mate, and Patria, but also Dede’s bravery. As a Dominican, we always hear of the three who had their lives taken, but rarely the life Dede also lost in their death and how she had to continue to live without them, how she raised their children, and how she spent her life passing on their legacy. This was a beautiful way to honor all four of them.
read it in spanish, so i'm pretty sure i missed at least 20%. oops.
Feels a little YA in style and tone, even as the subject matter gets very heavy, but since the narration shifts among different characters at different points in their lives, it works.
An intimate look at the progress of lives that shape ordinary people into saints and martyrs.
An intimate look at the progress of lives that shape ordinary people into saints and martyrs.