Reviews

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

martasbooktherapy's review

informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

Historical fiction at its finest - King of the Armadillos is filled with memorable characters navigating an important time and place in history. Victor Chin was only 16 when he was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease (a.k.a. leprosy) and forced to leave behind his family in the Bronx to attend a quarantine facility in Carville, Louisiana.

It’s the second time in his young life he’s had to leave everything behind, the first being when he emigrated from China to the U.S. with his dad and brother. 

The author brings the story to life with lovable main and supporting characters, timely cultural references, and enough tension to keep the pages turning. I especially loved the way she described Victor’s love for music (playing the piano and singing). Often Hansen’s patients were dehumanized but Chin-Tanner did just the opposite - she made her characters uniquely human through their positive attributes and flaws, successes and failures. Beautifully written and I love her personal connection with the story that was revealed with her interview with her dad at the end of the audiobook. 

sophiearaujo's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

catbrigand's review

1.0

I truly feel like I missed something. I actually kept having to check that this wasn’t YA. Victor is a tremendously passive character, a main character with NPC energy.

princemackerel's review

reflective medium-paced

4.0

really interesting facet of history i've never learned about, spent the whole book going "someone is going to die"

herblueglasses's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

lilbrusselsprout's review

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.25

katienunnery's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

vicezim's review

emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

graysonbax's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked the overall story but not the ending. I did not love how the flashbacks were woven in but everything else was okay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Alcohol

clevelandy99's review

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0