Reviews

When We Become Ours: A YA Adoptee Anthology by Shannon Gibney, Nicole Chung

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Racism

itsjunghan's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

2000s's review

I wanted to like this but a lot of the writing is just bad, even for YA. Most of the stories are just too short and too shallow for the complexity of the topics they're addressing. 

It would be cool if there was a collection like this for adults, I need it in my life HAHAHAHA

rootholden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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

zainub_reads's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

2.5

claire1349's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective

4.5

imstephtacular's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I usually struggle with anthologies and story collection, but this piqued my interest. I was fascinated by the differing stories and found this collection helpful as a white woman for understanding and unlearning some of the harmful language I’ve use myself when interacting with adoptees in the past. I am glad this book exists, even if not every story was a knockout in my opinion. I appreciated the variety of stories even though they shared similar themes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Cursing, Abandonment, Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Pregnancy

Minor: War, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Violence, Colonisation, Animal death, Classism, and Infertility

_seashells_'s review

5.0

I LOVED this anthology. It's clear that so much love was poured into this connection. Many of the stories left me wanting to read more, especially Haunt Me, Then by Meme Collier. Fingers crossed that it becomes a full length book. I highly recommend this book!

gwynethburns21's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

aglclark's review against another edition

i was not the intended audience. It seems like its likely a very good book!