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A review by nehaperi
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
be sure to heed the trigger warnings for this one, if you read it! it is incredibly heavy.
this was just....so much, in the best sense of the words. so raw, and gritty, and just....messy, and i absolutely loved that? the characters were complex and unlikable and absolutely infuriating at times, and that felt like the point. i also really loved how asian culture kind of played into jayne and june's relationship. there were a lot of moments where what they were saying and doing, and what jayne was thinking, felt so relatable and specific to the way first gen asian american kids are raised.
as for jayne and june as a whole......just, wow. i've never seen someone do complicated sibling relationships so right. everything wasn't tied up neatly by the end, there were definitely things that still needed to be said and hashed out, conversations throughout were derailed and cut off and didn't feel finished, and all of it seemed really intentional. this is what having a sibling is like, and moreso, having a sibling you don't really get along well with, is like. reminded me of myself and my brother, for sure.
jayne's voice was so distinct and unique and i loved experiencing the world through her eyes. i was angry at her and then hurting for her and overall just hoping for the best for her. her struggles were so raw and so real. i loved how honest of a portrayal this was of struggling with disordered eating.
i was solid on a 4 until the last 100 or so pages, and then the last few made me cry, so....4.5, pretty much 5, for sure.
this was just....so much, in the best sense of the words. so raw, and gritty, and just....messy, and i absolutely loved that? the characters were complex and unlikable and absolutely infuriating at times, and that felt like the point. i also really loved how asian culture kind of played into jayne and june's relationship. there were a lot of moments where what they were saying and doing, and what jayne was thinking, felt so relatable and specific to the way first gen asian american kids are raised.
as for jayne and june as a whole......just, wow. i've never seen someone do complicated sibling relationships so right. everything wasn't tied up neatly by the end, there were definitely things that still needed to be said and hashed out, conversations throughout were derailed and cut off and didn't feel finished, and all of it seemed really intentional. this is what having a sibling is like, and moreso, having a sibling you don't really get along well with, is like. reminded me of myself and my brother, for sure.
jayne's voice was so distinct and unique and i loved experiencing the world through her eyes. i was angry at her and then hurting for her and overall just hoping for the best for her. her struggles were so raw and so real. i loved how honest of a portrayal this was of struggling with disordered eating.
i was solid on a 4 until the last 100 or so pages, and then the last few made me cry, so....4.5, pretty much 5, for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Cancer