A review by thenovelmaura
Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It pains me to give this a low(ish) rating, because I love historical YA fiction and the Greenwood Massacre is such a devastating and often overlooked piece of U.S. history. I really liked Isaiah and his character arc, as well as the last section of the book where the attack was described and the people of the town made heart-breaking sacrifices to try to protect one another. The build-up paid off because as a reader, you grow attached to the people of Greenwood and their tight-knit community.

Unfortunately, the initial two-thirds of the book really bored me. Basically every page was dedicated to discussing Angel's angelic qualities and how much she did for the town. I thought there was going to be some kind of twist or moment of growth where she stopped being so self-sacrificing, but that trait stayed consistent throughout. She was a full-on Mary Sue, and her characterization really ruined the rest of the story for me. Without Isaiah and the countdown to the Tulsa massacre, I don't think I would have kept reading.
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