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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book took me a little bit to get into because the main character starts out extremely abrasive. Over time I came to understand her more and got invested in her story. I was incredibly moved by what I found to be a painfully accurate description of learning to live with depression.
My only issue isn’t actually with the story but I’m going to address it here anyway. I’ve seen some reviews that say things like, “oh this story was so interesting! I never knew that Mexican parents don’t want their kids to get educations!.” To which I say, that is a gross generalization. This story absolutely shows a truth about the difficulties of being economically disadvantaged and an immigrant, but I hate for people to read one book about a culture and assume that the point of view is universal.
My only issue isn’t actually with the story but I’m going to address it here anyway. I’ve seen some reviews that say things like, “oh this story was so interesting! I never knew that Mexican parents don’t want their kids to get educations!.” To which I say, that is a gross generalization. This story absolutely shows a truth about the difficulties of being economically disadvantaged and an immigrant, but I hate for people to read one book about a culture and assume that the point of view is universal.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was definitely a very powerful book delving into the life and inner thoughts/struggles of a teenage first generation Mexican girl as she tries to finish school and survive after the death of her older sister. There are a couple of trigger warnings, so I’d be very careful reading it. I think it was handled well overall, and is definitely a good book to have deep discussions over, especially teenagers and minorities.
I truly enjoyed this YA book about Julia, a Mexican teenager living in Chicago and struggling with the loss of her sister and dealing with her immigrant parents. The setting feels alive to me and the descriptions of Chicago in the winter and the scenery in Mexico are great. A realistic coming-of-age story with a tiny bit of mystery thrown in, I recommend this for those who like the genre.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Easy to read and compelling book involving hard-to-read topics (poverty, suicide attempt, immigration.) Characters were multi-dimensional and likable even when they weren't at their best.