Reviews

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline

natrobuck's review against another edition

hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

A good read. I loved characters. Quite sad tbh, but it had a good ending. I wish more time was spent with Mathinna, it would have been nice to see more about what happened to her.

cassmccaff's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this book alot. It was captivating and explored a history that I knew very little about. The aboriginals of Australia. It’s so interesting to me that some cultures and people were not just left alone to do their thing. The British, and later Americans, just thinking that they need their help to “civilize” them. I wonder what would happen if they were just left alone to continue their ways in living off the land. I can see modern medicine being a big blessing having saved many lives. But it truly is amazing that people since the beginning of time have created a way of life that is purely natural. No shoes, no technology. Just humans and the earth. But I digress, this book focuses little on that way of life, but they do tell the story of Mathinna who was taken from the her people in an attempt to “civilize” her. I later found out that while this book is fiction, Mathinnas story is a true one and really quite sad. You can find the portrait of her described in the book with a quick google search. Just an innocent little girl.

The other girls and their stories were interesting. I read this book very quickly and wanted very badly to know how it ended. I will admit that I was hoping for just a bit more “story” but again, I was never bored and I was happy with the ending.

I would recommend this book to anyone! It’s more on the mild side in terms of adult themes. And it is quick and captivating. Nothing not to like, really.

jacquelyn816's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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? No

4.0

sarareader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

ilonaiva's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

dunnadam's review against another edition

3.0

It was fine. There were some very good parts, such as in the prison in London and at sea. Overall though it felt disjointed and I think others will enjoy more than I did.

howfardoesthisgo's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

martinavb18's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

hazzardfreak02's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Abandonment, and Murder

readingonmountains's review against another edition

5.0

This was an amazing historical fiction work about a young governess in London named Evangeline who is falsely accused of theft from her employer and subsequently sentenced firstly to Newgate prison in deplorable, filthy conditions and then to convict transport to Van Diemen’s land, now known as Tasmania. Aboard the ship she faces more awful treatment & living conditions but befriends Hazel, Olive & Dr. Dunn, the ship’s surgeon.

This was a fascinating book about the early colonization of Tasmania, the treatment of the convicts, especially women, and the aboriginal peoples by the British settlers.

This was especially interesting for me to read as my partner was born & raised in Hobart.