Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

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

1 review

magpie4's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

This was a much need anthology and a very personal read for me. That alone, necessitates 3 stars. I’ve never felt so normalized about my own life. I was just amazed by the collection of authors, all adult transracial adoptees, who felt so adamant for the need for a book like this. Where a fellow adoptee sought out a voice like mine to tell story. While I had a universal affinity for these stories and characters, I learned about many experiences outside my own, which is worth the read.

With personal bias out of the way, I had a huge critique with this anthology. The writing was juvenile. It’s branded as a YA anthology, yet middle grade seems more accurate. The themes and conflicts were spoon fed to the reader making little room for nuance and inferences. Every story was pretty short, which did not help the character development. Some stories were stronger than others. However, despite the gripes, I cherish this collection, if not for its prose and writing, but as proof that someone values our voices and experiences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt