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A review by thebakerbookworm
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
2.5
Though this is described as a Snow White retelling, it is very very loosely based on Snow White. I'm not really sure it even qualifies as a retelling beyond the fact that there is a character named Snow and she has a stepmother.
Anyways, it was still an interesting premise. We follow Boy for most of the book, as she escapes a bad situation and makes her own way in the world. It was hard to get a true handle on any of the characters because none of them are super reliable as narrators. The truth seems very much subjective in this story. I liked Boy though, and her relationship with Snow and I thought there were a lot of cool things being done, particularly this mirror theme that was happening. The story dabbled with being fantasy and kind of leaves it up to the reader to decide if it's fantasy or if certain things are only happening in a character's mind. Like I said, the truth was very much up for debate. There's also themes of race and passing that get explored.
The book takes a turn about halfway through and we get Bird's perspective, which I enjoyed. I did feel that the relationship between Boy and Snow was put on the back burner though, and is no longer really delved into or developed for the rest of the book. It almost felt like all these characters were being seen from a distance; just when I thought we were getting close to one, it would turn out to be a trick and they were still really far away. Or I just couldn't trust what I was seeing/being told by said character.
And then the last twentyish pages happened, and it was not good. This may be considered a spoiler but I think it's important to know going in—an abusive character is revealed to be trans and it's heavily implied that they are trans because of a traumatic event, and when another character finds this out, they are determined to rebuild their relationship with them and "fix" them. And then the book just ends, very abruptly. I read this book for my book club, and when we discussed it, we could not figure out why the author included this last-minute storyline or what purpose it served beyond being problematic. We were also unable to find any author interviews that discussed it, so I'm left just feeling frustrated with this ending.
An overall interesting premise and story with a terrible ending. If you do pick this up, I recommend stopping about 90% of the way through.
Anyways, it was still an interesting premise. We follow Boy for most of the book, as she escapes a bad situation and makes her own way in the world. It was hard to get a true handle on any of the characters because none of them are super reliable as narrators. The truth seems very much subjective in this story. I liked Boy though, and her relationship with Snow and I thought there were a lot of cool things being done, particularly this mirror theme that was happening. The story dabbled with being fantasy and kind of leaves it up to the reader to decide if it's fantasy or if certain things are only happening in a character's mind. Like I said, the truth was very much up for debate. There's also themes of race and passing that get explored.
The book takes a turn about halfway through and we get Bird's perspective, which I enjoyed. I did feel that the relationship between Boy and Snow was put on the back burner though, and is no longer really delved into or developed for the rest of the book. It almost felt like all these characters were being seen from a distance; just when I thought we were getting close to one, it would turn out to be a trick and they were still really far away. Or I just couldn't trust what I was seeing/being told by said character.
And then the last twentyish pages happened, and it was not good. This may be considered a spoiler but I think it's important to know going in—an abusive character is revealed to be trans and it's heavily implied that they are trans because of a traumatic event, and when another character finds this out, they are determined to rebuild their relationship with them and "fix" them. And then the book just ends, very abruptly. I read this book for my book club, and when we discussed it, we could not figure out why the author included this last-minute storyline or what purpose it served beyond being problematic. We were also unable to find any author interviews that discussed it, so I'm left just feeling frustrated with this ending.
An overall interesting premise and story with a terrible ending. If you do pick this up, I recommend stopping about 90% of the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Transphobia