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A review by eniahreads
Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I loved all the characters, except Hazel - and as she's our main character with her pov, the reading was difficult to me!
Hazel was unbearable, obnoxious, and that even for a 13 year old teen. I had a hard time bearing all of her thoughts, that was sometimes really hard and harsh against the other characters or a certain group of people (I got in my mind this example: saying that cheerleaders and football players don't have any sign of intelligence). All other characters around her were really lovely, may it be her mothers, her older brother, or even Catarina and Yosh - I loved them all, and they are the ones who made me smile or touched me.
Overall the story was pretty classic and based on her new school's life, her best friend distancing herself from Hazel, and the fact that one of her moms is pregnant and everything around risky pregnancy.
I got sold this book as a good aroace representation, but to me, besides a quick talk from Mimi in the last chapter that came out of nowhere, and the author's note, there were no real representation. Yes, we could see it that way, but if you don't read the author's note telling us Hazel's aroace, you couldn't tell: there's no introduction of asexuality and aromantism, Hazel isn't questionning, we barely bring the subject. All we know is that Hazel is a nerdy girl and has a more scientific approach on this, like everything else in her life.
Of course as the author says it, she is. But I also disliked the fact that in that note, the author said she thought about writing the words clearly and wished to bring it with Hazel but didn't do it - why not? Why not doing a rightful representation and introduction of both, specially in a middle grade book, where it's needed for youngers that age questionning themself and thinking they're weird??
Anyway, I was glad it was easy to read because it was a very meh book to me.
BIG TW: miscarriage, and grief related to it.
There are harsh words and thoughts said about all of this. For people who can relate to one or the other, it might be difficult. More details:Mimi is pregnant with Baby #3 after 2 miscarriages (at 3 months and 6 months if I recall), so obviously Hazel's afraid, which is normal, but she has hard thoughts and reactions about it. She refuses hope, refuses going to an ultrasound stating how things could go wrong, saying they would go wrong so she doesn't need to get attached, saying things like "if it doesn't die until then" and such. There's also another person -her archenemie- belittling Hazel grieving after the miscarriage, saying harsh words about it.
Hazel was unbearable, obnoxious, and that even for a 13 year old teen. I had a hard time bearing all of her thoughts, that was sometimes really hard and harsh against the other characters or a certain group of people (I got in my mind this example: saying that cheerleaders and football players don't have any sign of intelligence). All other characters around her were really lovely, may it be her mothers, her older brother, or even Catarina and Yosh - I loved them all, and they are the ones who made me smile or touched me.
Overall the story was pretty classic and based on her new school's life, her best friend distancing herself from Hazel, and the fact that one of her moms is pregnant and everything around risky pregnancy.
I got sold this book as a good aroace representation, but to me, besides a quick talk from Mimi in the last chapter that came out of nowhere, and the author's note, there were no real representation. Yes, we could see it that way, but if you don't read the author's note telling us Hazel's aroace, you couldn't tell: there's no introduction of asexuality and aromantism, Hazel isn't questionning, we barely bring the subject. All we know is that Hazel is a nerdy girl and has a more scientific approach on this, like everything else in her life.
Of course as the author says it, she is. But I also disliked the fact that in that note, the author said she thought about writing the words clearly and wished to bring it with Hazel but didn't do it - why not? Why not doing a rightful representation and introduction of both, specially in a middle grade book, where it's needed for youngers that age questionning themself and thinking they're weird??
Anyway, I was glad it was easy to read because it was a very meh book to me.
BIG TW: miscarriage, and grief related to it.
There are harsh words and thoughts said about all of this. For people who can relate to one or the other, it might be difficult. More details:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage