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A review by cait_reads_and_drinks
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream by Jeannie Zusy
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you Atria Books and Simon & Schuster for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!
QUICK TAKE: A story of three sisters: one with special needs, one who becomes the caretaker for her sister with special needs, and the other living a seemingly glamorous life on the other side of the country.
I really enjoyed the story and the dynamic between the sisters. I felt like the author did a great job of describing the struggle of being a caregiver to a family member, which based on the acknowledgements it sounds like she has experience doing.
That being said, I felt like the descriptions of Ginny's weight and size were a bit overdone and unnecessary as they didn't really contribute to the narrative of her special needs in any significant way. There were also a few interactions with the surprising number of characters from Africa that were a bit cringey in the way that white women are so good at and overall I would've liked to see some more development in the side characters.
I didn't find as much humor in it as the description led me to believe and it is definitely not as lighthearted as it looks but in general I enjoyed it. I would not say this is a good example of representation of characters with disabilities based on how Ginny was portrayed but rather a good story of the ups and downs involved with a family member requiring constant care.
QUICK TAKE: A story of three sisters: one with special needs, one who becomes the caretaker for her sister with special needs, and the other living a seemingly glamorous life on the other side of the country.
I really enjoyed the story and the dynamic between the sisters. I felt like the author did a great job of describing the struggle of being a caregiver to a family member, which based on the acknowledgements it sounds like she has experience doing.
That being said, I felt like the descriptions of Ginny's weight and size were a bit overdone and unnecessary as they didn't really contribute to the narrative of her special needs in any significant way. There were also a few interactions with the surprising number of characters from Africa that were a bit cringey in the way that white women are so good at and overall I would've liked to see some more development in the side characters.
I didn't find as much humor in it as the description led me to believe and it is definitely not as lighthearted as it looks but in general I enjoyed it. I would not say this is a good example of representation of characters with disabilities based on how Ginny was portrayed but rather a good story of the ups and downs involved with a family member requiring constant care.
Moderate: Animal death