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thebookishnarwhal's review
5.0
An impactful debut! In short, this book was not only beautiful and emotional, but covered important topics that are under-discussed. All The Yellow Suns is a coming-of-age story about a queer 16-year-old Indian-American girl who is exploring activism and identity through art.
Meet Maya Krishnan. She is fiercely protective but doesn’t rock the boat in her conservative Florida suburb. Meet Juneau Zale. She is a wealthy, white, and will capsize the boat. She invites Maya to join a secret society of artists, vandals, and mischief-makers who fight for justice at their school.
Maya descends into the world of change-making and resistance. Soon, she and Juneau forge a friendship that inspires Maya to confront the challenges in her own life. But as their relationship grows romantic, painful, and twisted, Maya begins to suspect that there's a whole different person beneath Juneau's painted-on facade. Now Maya must learn to speak her truth in this mysterious, mixed-up world-even if it results in heartbreak.
I loved everything about this book and it really did not disappoint. Kannan was able to create well-developed characters with realistic dialogue. This was paired with a unique writing voice and unforgettable metaphors as Kannan tackled important topics. I would get into what these important topics are, but I want you to read the book so go do that instead.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Meet Maya Krishnan. She is fiercely protective but doesn’t rock the boat in her conservative Florida suburb. Meet Juneau Zale. She is a wealthy, white, and will capsize the boat. She invites Maya to join a secret society of artists, vandals, and mischief-makers who fight for justice at their school.
Maya descends into the world of change-making and resistance. Soon, she and Juneau forge a friendship that inspires Maya to confront the challenges in her own life. But as their relationship grows romantic, painful, and twisted, Maya begins to suspect that there's a whole different person beneath Juneau's painted-on facade. Now Maya must learn to speak her truth in this mysterious, mixed-up world-even if it results in heartbreak.
I loved everything about this book and it really did not disappoint. Kannan was able to create well-developed characters with realistic dialogue. This was paired with a unique writing voice and unforgettable metaphors as Kannan tackled important topics. I would get into what these important topics are, but I want you to read the book so go do that instead.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
kelkelkelhart's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
michymoreno's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
triflesandvanities's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2.0 Stars
Summary
Maya is a high school sophomore living in a conservative suburb in Florida. She is used to following the rules and living life under the radar. When she intervenes in a fight at school and is invited to join The Pugilists, an underground guerilla art group, she breaks all her old rules, learns more about the role she wants to play in the world, and navigates her first love.
My Thoughts
I appreciate the author's attempts to address several timely issues affecting teens today. The author had a clear north star regarding themes and values she wanted to explore throughout this book.
Unfortunately for me, a lot of the characters fell flat. Side characters were not utilized to their full potential, and even central characters felt hollow at points.
It was not totally clear why Maya fell for Juneau and what caused her to tolerate so much mistreatment. Maya herself was a messy character that caused harm at points, but that was never addressed. Overall, the novel's ambition was its downfall as several plot points were abandoned or wrapped up quickly at the end in an unsatisfying way.
If this author continues writing YA, I hope she will get editing support to narrow in on the essential parts of her story, make characters more well-rounded, and utilize more nuance with certain discussions.
Summary
Maya is a high school sophomore living in a conservative suburb in Florida. She is used to following the rules and living life under the radar. When she intervenes in a fight at school and is invited to join The Pugilists, an underground guerilla art group, she breaks all her old rules, learns more about the role she wants to play in the world, and navigates her first love.
My Thoughts
I appreciate the author's attempts to address several timely issues affecting teens today. The author had a clear north star regarding themes and values she wanted to explore throughout this book.
Unfortunately for me, a lot of the characters fell flat. Side characters were not utilized to their full potential, and even central characters felt hollow at points.
It was not totally clear why Maya fell for Juneau and what caused her to tolerate so much mistreatment. Maya herself was a messy character that caused harm at points, but that was never addressed. Overall, the novel's ambition was its downfall as several plot points were abandoned or wrapped up quickly at the end in an unsatisfying way.
If this author continues writing YA, I hope she will get editing support to narrow in on the essential parts of her story, make characters more well-rounded, and utilize more nuance with certain discussions.
readinggeek's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
All the Yellow Suns is an awakening to what's around us. To the queer feelings within us - fighting against the homophobia - and to the comments and racist (micro)aggressions around us. It's about waking up and for Maya she changes and sort of opens her eyes in a short amount of time. This quick alarm clock jolt causes ripples in her family, in her friend group, and in what she will do to chase that feeling. To chase the feeling of control, of trying to take back the narrative, even when those actions lead us into manipulations, breaking the rules, and loss.
All the Yellow Suns is an awakening to what's around us. To the queer feelings within us - fighting against the homophobia - and to the comments and racist (micro)aggressions around us. It's about waking up and for Maya she changes and sort of opens her eyes in a short amount of time. This quick alarm clock jolt causes ripples in her family, in her friend group, and in what she will do to chase that feeling. To chase the feeling of control, of trying to take back the narrative, even when those actions lead us into manipulations, breaking the rules, and loss.
booksofastoria's review against another edition
5.0
this is one of those books that literally yanks my entire attention span. And It HEAVILY reminds me of Paper towns and I Kissed Shara Wheeler. Its full of actual real issues that happen every single day in highschool around the world, with insanely messy characters that feel real with hella flaws and a personality that makes them very easily likeable then just as quickly unlikeable too but in the end you love and root for them anyways. Of course there ain't no redemption for some of these assholes and i hope they step on legos but yknow you get those with every book. Its like actually shocking too because some of these insults its like damn that was rough but a good one! And then just wildly racist, mysogonistic and flat out ignorant takes its like oh wow they said that ok then. This one is going to stick with me for a little bit I think. I wish we could have gotten more closure on a few more characters like Mateo and Tess but overall I did love this a lot. I regret that I DON'T really have a lot more to say about it but some books are just like that for me I guess.
bookeateryum's review
2.0
in theory, should have been good. in practice, though, dialogue was wonky, prose was not as great as i’d expected from a graduate of the teen writer complex, and it was just all around not good.
at one point, a dress is described as being “menstrual”
at one point, a dress is described as being “menstrual”
hisparks23's review
4.0
3.5 but I’m rounding up because I’m on the fence—
Juneau drove me so crazy that it could’ve ruined the book for me. If you were Alaska girlie a la Looking For Alaska, you’ll probably love her. I was not.
The last 10% took a weirdly bad turn, but I loved Maya and her journey, although frustrating a times, was beautiful to witness. I also really loved her friendships—Silva especially. Boys like that just didn’t exist when I was in high school.
The injustices written about here made me want to scream and it’s so sad that it’s based off reality. The pugilists as a name/concept was a little cheesy, but I’m glad they stuck it to Mr. Harvey because dear god SOMEONE needed to.
Juneau drove me so crazy that it could’ve ruined the book for me. If you were Alaska girlie a la Looking For Alaska, you’ll probably love her. I was not.
The last 10% took a weirdly bad turn, but I loved Maya and her journey, although frustrating a times, was beautiful to witness. I also really loved her friendships—Silva especially. Boys like that just didn’t exist when I was in high school.
The injustices written about here made me want to scream and it’s so sad that it’s based off reality. The pugilists as a name/concept was a little cheesy, but I’m glad they stuck it to Mr. Harvey because dear god SOMEONE needed to.
zedseayou's review
5.0
Anybody could be invisible. The real miracle was to be known, to be loved as you were.
I think I tend to have a preference for invisibility. It's probably not my preferred superpower (that would be flight, also a revealing choice) but it's all too often I feel like being able to vanish would be the best option. I wonder what would have happened if I'd had a high school year like Maya's, or even a book like this. Perhaps I'd be a little less avoidant, or perhaps I'd just have more practice at it. The vexing thing with visibility is that I want to be seen, I want the validation just like anyone else. And yet it's agonising; every piece reminds of you of the lack, of your own awareness of your own flaws. It's particularly intolerable when it's coming from a parent, when you're their "whole hearts". There's no other time when I want more to disappear. And yet the nature of joy is apparently wrapped up in the intolerable - the distinction from pleasure is supposed to be accepting this kind of discomfort, the pressure of becoming known. That's the miracle, if I can let it happen.