I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, because there's something about Poston's style that I don't quite jibe with, and I'm not a big fan of the sweet, small town romance subgenre this celebrates. But I do love me a high concept story and this was very clever and pretty touching.
#BookSpinBingo
pickA mother seeking vengeance for a murdered child finds herself serving an older woman and her family haunted by a strange curse. An investigator with an unusual gift is asked to explain a spate of recent deaths, but cannot find his dearest friend. Fate brings these characters and others together against a backdrop of modernization and political turmoil. I enjoyed this 4/5 ⭐️ pick immensely.
so-soI appreciate the authors unique take on showcasing depression, grief, and trauma and the back sliding that people can face when trying to overcome that. Especially as people of color and the weight of having to deal with racial discrimination on top of that. I recognize the points the author is trying to convey but the way it was delivered through this grim fairytale style didn‘t hit for me the way I wanted it too.
This book would be a great tool for students to use in order to practice reading comprehension skills and practice the skill of understanding the author‘s deeper meaning with this story as well as recognizing the authors purpose. This would also be a good diverse read for people to understand the harsh realities of the way black families view/ deal with mental health.
So far I am interested in the story in regards to mental health among black teens. The whole whimsical aspect that the author is going for to symbolize what Whimsy is going through feels almost dream like. However sometimes I‘m finding myself being a little lost within the story due to the excessive symbolism and it being too abstract.
I finished this on the eleventh of June, but wanted to weigh the story...then reality became extra crazy...and remains frightening.
Warning, the following is a long babbling review.
This read was good, yet nothing like I expected.
There's no rhyme or reason to which book I investigate, nor how much I investigate, before reading.
I didn't give this book much research beforehand. I had learned that it had been banned, possibly even burned.
👇🏼
My favorite part of this book was the three perspectives on the death of Faerry and Whimsy‘s siblings. Not only was this a crucial turning point in the narrative, but an important statement in guilt, forgiveness, and atonement. I was left wondering if their parents felt the same guilt Faerry and Whimsy did, and if they were able to finally forgive themselves (or at least remember) when the younger children returned home.
