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A review by inkdrinkerpdx
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Penelope Prado wants to follow i her father footsteps, sharing her love of food and Xander Amaro is trying to find a place where he belongs.
I loved this book!
I loved how the author didn’t make Pen’s depression+anxiety the main focus of the book but instead it was another aspect of Pen. How she got through her tough and regular moments every day. It’s realistic for the culture and how someone deals with it day to day. Her parents and siblings knew of it but didn’t ask her every moment of every day if she was doing ok. Xander broke my heart. The way both parents essentially abandoned him and he has no ill feelings towards them. He is fighting to find a place where he belongs and has family but at the same time terrified that someone will find out he is undocumented and send him back.
I also really enjoyed that it has an open ending. Stories like these rarely have a happy ending and this ending felt real. This story has real things things that happen to undocumented immigrants in this country that stay silent and I liked that the author highlighted that an have no happy ending cause more often times than not there are no happy endings.
I loved this book!
I loved how the author didn’t make Pen’s depression+anxiety the main focus of the book but instead it was another aspect of Pen. How she got through her tough and regular moments every day. It’s realistic for the culture and how someone deals with it day to day. Her parents and siblings knew of it but didn’t ask her every moment of every day if she was doing ok. Xander broke my heart. The way both parents essentially abandoned him and he has no ill feelings towards them. He is fighting to find a place where he belongs and has family but at the same time terrified that someone will find out he is undocumented and send him back.
I also really enjoyed that it has an open ending. Stories like these rarely have a happy ending and this ending felt real. This story has real things things that happen to undocumented immigrants in this country that stay silent and I liked that the author highlighted that an have no happy ending cause more often times than not there are no happy endings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm