Scan barcode
sammykat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
The protagonist Charlene had me rooting for her from the beginning. Her story made me tear up; the way it can seem like the world is conspiring against you was perfectly written.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
Foster system_p0ssum_'s review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, and Blood
daffodildyke's review
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed and appreciated this story, providing an important insight into the foster care system, racial discrimination, grief, and the criminal “justice” system.
Throughout everything that happens, the importance of knitting in calming and stabilising Charlene feels calming and stabilising to me as a reader as well. I love that amidst everything, Charlene can focus on the click of her needles and feel a little bit safer. I think it’s really important to understand how the time where Charlene doesn’t have her knitting is when she feels the darkest, and how important it is that Annie is the one who gives this coping mechanism back to her. as someone who has recently taken up knitting, i found it so easy to be right there in that moment with Charlene - to feel calmed amidst the storm of the narrative when she focuses on her knitting, and that felt really powerful.
ultimately, i probably would have rated this more if i wasn’t such a sucker for more. i just wish this book was longer, i wish i got to explore the moments in Charlene’s life in more depth, I wish I got to see more of the rebuilding of the relationship with Annie, I wish I could see the slow rebuilding of a relationship with Kandi. I want to know whether Charlene stays in a PRU or goes back to mainstream school. i want to explore the content of Charlene’s counselling sessions.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and it’s honest and realistic illustration of the world according to Charlene. I just wish there was more, I suppose that’s a good thing - to be left wanting more, but it does mean some things feel under explored.
Throughout everything that happens, the importance of knitting in calming and stabilising Charlene feels calming and stabilising to me as a reader as well. I love that amidst everything, Charlene can focus on the click of her needles and feel a little bit safer. I think it’s really important to understand how the time where Charlene doesn’t have her knitting is when she feels the darkest, and how important it is that Annie is the one who gives this coping mechanism back to her. as someone who has recently taken up knitting, i found it so easy to be right there in that moment with Charlene - to feel calmed amidst the storm of the narrative when she focuses on her knitting, and that felt really powerful.
ultimately, i probably would have rated this more if i wasn’t such a sucker for more. i just wish this book was longer, i wish i got to explore the moments in Charlene’s life in more depth, I wish I got to see more of the rebuilding of the relationship with Annie, I wish I could see the slow rebuilding of a relationship with Kandi. I want to know whether Charlene stays in a PRU or goes back to mainstream school. i want to explore the content of Charlene’s counselling sessions.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and it’s honest and realistic illustration of the world according to Charlene. I just wish there was more, I suppose that’s a good thing - to be left wanting more, but it does mean some things feel under explored.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
booksjessreads's review
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this for the Carnegie Shortlist 2023 and it has been my favourite read so far. I think this is an incredibly powerful and eye-opening story.
The language used in this book isn't complex but it does grip the reader. Immediately, you are drawn into the mind and emotions of Charlene and I think Lawrence has employed such skill to get that right. I think the circumstances that Charlene finds herself in are also appropriately written and make the reader feel hopeful that things will get better, but they don't. The story just continues to go in a direction that you are not expecting and I think that unpredictability adds to the power of the storytelling and the investment of the reader overall.
I genuinely hope this one wins the prize because it so deserving of the medal. This book highlights the experiences of a black female adolescent in care in an authentic and original way.
The language used in this book isn't complex but it does grip the reader. Immediately, you are drawn into the mind and emotions of Charlene and I think Lawrence has employed such skill to get that right. I think the circumstances that Charlene finds herself in are also appropriately written and make the reader feel hopeful that things will get better, but they don't. The story just continues to go in a direction that you are not expecting and I think that unpredictability adds to the power of the storytelling and the investment of the reader overall.
I genuinely hope this one wins the prize because it so deserving of the medal. This book highlights the experiences of a black female adolescent in care in an authentic and original way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
bardicbramley's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Bullying, Blood, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
More...