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lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the combination of indian, hawian and 90s hip hop cultures.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that I know that so many people need, and this is a book that I feel so privileged to have read. This book depicts discussions of trauma, rape, incest, drugs, rap, hip hop, friendships, and Indian culture. And that's not all! We also have topics of mother-daughter-father relationships through first- and second-generation immigrant families on colonized land.
This was such a well-designed and interesting book! It's phenomenal, intriguing, and depicted a world completely unlike the world that I know. Through that, I learned so much about Indian culture, language, and the ways in which families navigate their dysfunction. This book though, I'm sure, is something of a mirror for other readers out there who are more familiar with these topics and cultures.
That being said, if you're like me and not a part of the "in" crowd, I'd really recommend this. It's a great read, unlike so much that I've read, and a book that was so moving and personal and touching. Overall, definitely worth picking it up, reading it, and supporting it.
Review cross-listed here!
This was such a well-designed and interesting book! It's phenomenal, intriguing, and depicted a world completely unlike the world that I know. Through that, I learned so much about Indian culture, language, and the ways in which families navigate their dysfunction. This book though, I'm sure, is something of a mirror for other readers out there who are more familiar with these topics and cultures.
That being said, if you're like me and not a part of the "in" crowd, I'd really recommend this. It's a great read, unlike so much that I've read, and a book that was so moving and personal and touching. Overall, definitely worth picking it up, reading it, and supporting it.
Review cross-listed here!
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
Rani AKA Mc Sutra impressed me to no end through this YA novel about rap, Hawaiian and Gujarati cultures, sexual abuse, codependency, emotional isolation, and healing from trauma. The author's note at the end is very important.
golden_lily's review against another edition
DNFing at 30% for incest/sexual assault. Can't do it.
sidneyellwood's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free through Goodreads giveaways.
So one thing that I want to say before I review this is that I'm definitely not a part of all three cultures featured in this book, so it was insightful, but it made the book very hard to read. I didn't realize there was a glossary in the back, and there were some words that were not included in the glossary. So a lot of the time I had no idea what the characters were saying, which made it a bit confusing and hard to read.
The story itself packed a hard punch, though. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but Patel ties the main pats of the story together - Rani's family issues, her love of rap, and her sexual abuse. It was interesting and heartwrenching to read about and I admit I did get frustrated with her going back to Mark again and again, even when he had clearly hurt her and was going to hurt her again, but the author's note at the back cleared it up. I feel like this book made me understand a lot about sexual assault victims.
One thing I have to say about Rani's character was that her characterization seemed to jump back and forth between several different personas. She didn't feel like one person. She felt like a variety of people, reacting in almost opposite ways to the same sort of thing, which was kind of jarring.
However, all in all it was a pretty good book. I'm glad that Rani is starting to heal at the end and things are looking up for her.
So one thing that I want to say before I review this is that I'm definitely not a part of all three cultures featured in this book, so it was insightful, but it made the book very hard to read. I didn't realize there was a glossary in the back, and there were some words that were not included in the glossary. So a lot of the time I had no idea what the characters were saying, which made it a bit confusing and hard to read.
The story itself packed a hard punch, though. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but Patel ties the main pats of the story together - Rani's family issues, her love of rap, and her sexual abuse. It was interesting and heartwrenching to read about and I admit I did get frustrated with her going back to Mark again and again, even when he had clearly hurt her and was going to hurt her again, but the author's note at the back cleared it up. I feel like this book made me understand a lot about sexual assault victims.
One thing I have to say about Rani's character was that her characterization seemed to jump back and forth between several different personas. She didn't feel like one person. She felt like a variety of people, reacting in almost opposite ways to the same sort of thing, which was kind of jarring.
However, all in all it was a pretty good book. I'm glad that Rani is starting to heal at the end and things are looking up for her.
channers24's review against another edition
4.0
It was hard to read at times. The protagonist is so painfully naive and it can be very irritating. This is consistent with her trauma so you are aware you need to cut her slack but it’s hard.
I love the beautiful exploration of cultural clash, upheaval, intergenerational messaging and legacy.
She may be irritating in her naivety but she’s also a badass character who kicks goals!
It’s quite an emotional roller coaster and important read!
I love the beautiful exploration of cultural clash, upheaval, intergenerational messaging and legacy.
She may be irritating in her naivety but she’s also a badass character who kicks goals!
It’s quite an emotional roller coaster and important read!
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Finalist for the 2017 William C. Morris Debut YA Novel award from American Library Association. The best words I can find to describe this story are raw, brave, powerful and rich. This novel is not for the average YA reader and I have to include trigger warnings for rape and incest right away. For mature YA and adult readers, though, this is a heartbreaking look at life for an Indian-American teen rapper on the small Hawaiian island of Moloka’i in the early 1990's. The complex family issues and rare look into Native Hawaiian and Gujarti cultures made this an uncommon read for me, and one that I will likely never forget. The back of the book includes an informational section from the author (a psychiatrist) on teenage victims of family sexual abuse, as well as a glossary of the many, many hip hop, Hawaiian, Gujarati, Hindu, slang, and Hawaiian pidgin terms used throughout the book.
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
4.0
Man, this book deals with a lot. It was hard to read, but I was engrossed by Rani's journey and her mad rap skills. I appreciate the author's note about how parts of her story are unrealistic in terms of recovery time, but I think this is an honest portrayal of what abuse can do to someone and how to find your voice. Rani was supa fly, but I also found myself screaming inside my head for her to not make the choices she did. I loved the raps and I only wish that this book came with a soundtrack so I could hear what they are actually meant to sound like. Definitely deserves the Morris nomination.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Final copy from publisher - review posted at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/2016/09/review-rani-patel-in-full-effect/
blakehalsey's review against another edition
5.0
Raw, achy, and empowering. I need to print out Rani's raps and post them all over my room.