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peelspls's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me realize what intergenerational trauma means. This book also made me understand what bio-mythography means.
This book is also the first of its kind. It merges fact, fiction, the act of writing, the act of uncovering a family's long-buried secret, the generations of women tolerating abuse and the devotion of reconciliation. Reading this book felt like a very meditative experience. The author was telling me a story, and yes stories are usually fiction, but fiction also pieces together historical fragments to make a whole. The author pieces her family together as a whole, and through this provides continuity to her children. Moving from narrative prose, to poetry, to lists, to quotes and even to puzzling games, the chapters unfold a difficult story of a young woman whose story was forcibly erased.
This is not usually the kind of book I read, but I am so glad to have read it. The book is the author's journey to piece together her family's history by uncovering state and federal laws that prohibit this history from being realized. The protagonist (V) is created through the combination of history, federal records, court rulings, diary entries and parole comments. She is also created through the "collages of girls" that the author must paste into her in order to complete her picture. Her story reveals the pain of families rife with abuse, the idea and penalties for being an "incorrigible delinquent" and yet being labeled a criminal for 15-year-old teenager who likes games and candy.
The final chapter of the book is an essay on delinquent penitentiaries in the state. While most of the work is research that the author did for her book, the essay also highlights what the nature of the state and penitentiaries can be in shaping moral views of women in society.
This book is also the first of its kind. It merges fact, fiction, the act of writing, the act of uncovering a family's long-buried secret, the generations of women tolerating abuse and the devotion of reconciliation. Reading this book felt like a very meditative experience. The author was telling me a story, and yes stories are usually fiction, but fiction also pieces together historical fragments to make a whole. The author pieces her family together as a whole, and through this provides continuity to her children. Moving from narrative prose, to poetry, to lists, to quotes and even to puzzling games, the chapters unfold a difficult story of a young woman whose story was forcibly erased.
This is not usually the kind of book I read, but I am so glad to have read it. The book is the author's journey to piece together her family's history by uncovering state and federal laws that prohibit this history from being realized. The protagonist (V) is created through the combination of history, federal records, court rulings, diary entries and parole comments. She is also created through the "collages of girls" that the author must paste into her in order to complete her picture. Her story reveals the pain of families rife with abuse, the idea and penalties for being an "incorrigible delinquent" and yet being labeled a criminal for 15-year-old teenager who likes games and candy.
The final chapter of the book is an essay on delinquent penitentiaries in the state. While most of the work is research that the author did for her book, the essay also highlights what the nature of the state and penitentiaries can be in shaping moral views of women in society.
izzyvb023's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great! The way that the author weaves in fact, fiction, and her own musings on the subject was so well done. I was enthralled with the equally fabricated and real life stories of V. It’s interesting to see the parallels between the girls’ institutions and the “camps” for troubled teens that exist today (often in secret). I learned a lot from this book and it was easy and enjoyable to read. Highly recommend for anyone who’s looking for a quick page turner this summer.
kelseywaters's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book club read. It started out a little dull for me, but as it went on I began to picture V in the streets of Minneapolis, walking through the snow. I could see her at Sauk Center with the other girls, being tough and plotting how to survive and get out. I felt her love for June and the way she thought of her every day. Also showed how this wasn’t just a punishment for V, but for all of her descendants; the trauma hasn’t stopped. It made me feel grateful for all the women who have fought for women rights and our equality over the years. And it was a pretty crazy history lesson.
soccermom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gisreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
kjboldon's review against another edition
5.0
A haunting, loving and lovely account of a lost girl, and the institutional, historical attempts to erase her.
rebeccamn's review against another edition
This was so interesting. I loved the piecing together of facts and fiction, and the recognizable places!
rachelthell97's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked how this book often switched between fact and fiction and historical memories. Also felt very special that it was in Minnesota and that’s why it’s 4 and not 3 stars. It was intriguing and horrifying to read about what would happen to young women at this time in history and at times it made me infuriated and feel helpless for the main character.
ldcornell's review against another edition
4.0
I first gave this a "4" because it is so hard to categorize, but the more I think about it, the author has presented this story in the best way possible. \
The novel is primarily the story of the author's biological grandmother, who became pregnant in Minneapolis at the age of 15. She was sent off to the Minnesota Home for Girls in Sauk Center, to remain there until the age of 21 or until "reformed".
It consists of the fragments of factual material found in historical records dealing with her grandmother, the author's own questions about what things must have been or could have been, and a story told filling in a story that is as true as it can be.
It is sad that such a relatively short time ago we managed to create such horrific institutions.
The novel is primarily the story of the author's biological grandmother, who became pregnant in Minneapolis at the age of 15. She was sent off to the Minnesota Home for Girls in Sauk Center, to remain there until the age of 21 or until "reformed".
It consists of the fragments of factual material found in historical records dealing with her grandmother, the author's own questions about what things must have been or could have been, and a story told filling in a story that is as true as it can be.
It is sad that such a relatively short time ago we managed to create such horrific institutions.