A review by michelles_book_nook
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

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

5.0

⚠️ CW: racism, violence, bullying, homophobia, murder, mental health, suicide, abortion, incest, rape, sexual abuse, paedophilia and child death ⚠️ If you're looking for a beautifully devastating and complex coming of age story then this one is for you! Born in a bathtub in 1954 to a white mother and a Cherokee father, Betty is the sixth of eight siblings. The world they inhabit in the rural town of Breathed, Ohio, is one of poverty and loss, of lush landscapes and blazing stars. Despite the hardships she encounters, Betty is resilient. Her curiosity about the natural world, her fierce love for her sisters and her father's brilliant stories are kindling for the fire of her own imagination. And in the face of everything she witnesses, including the horrors of her family's past and present, she discovers an escape in writing. This book was everything I hoped for and more. It is so tragic, but also so beautiful and I don't really know how to explain what I mean by that right now but if you've read this you'll understand. Betty is the most incredible character who will stay with me for a very long time. A lot of the themes running through this book really hit hard for me and I definitely needed some tissues to get through it, but the resilience Betty built through her own will and the teachings from her father about life in general and her Cherokee ancestry were just so incredibly powerful. To put it simply I adored this book and it may easily be my favourite of the year. Overall, I highly recommend this book but please check the CW's before diving in.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings