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A review by katiemack
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was wholly unprepared for how devastating this book would be--if I were a parent, I imagine it would feel much worse to read about Frida's child being taken away from her and the lengths to which she must go to get her back. From artificial (but oddly sentient) surrogate children who pee blue liquid to chanting about their faults as parents and having their ties to the outside world severed, this feels very much like The Handmaid's Tale meets Orange Is the New Black. Chan's excellent debut also skewers stereotypes and problematic assumptions of parenting, including the different standards for mothers and fathers and parents of different races.
If you can stomach it, read this in the new year.
I was wholly unprepared for how devastating this book would be--if I were a parent, I imagine it would feel much worse to read about Frida's child being taken away from her and the lengths to which she must go to get her back. From artificial (but oddly sentient) surrogate children who pee blue liquid to chanting about their faults as parents and having their ties to the outside world severed, this feels very much like The Handmaid's Tale meets Orange Is the New Black. Chan's excellent debut also skewers stereotypes and problematic assumptions of parenting, including the different standards for mothers and fathers and parents of different races.
If you can stomach it, read this in the new year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide