Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

4 reviews

normandie77's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-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

4.0

Intriguing story of a Chinese American boy who's mom returns to China under vague circumstances and he is adopted by a white American family.  

My heart broke for this young boy who was expected to give up his Chinese identity, name, language, and food and assimilate into a different culture.  Watching him struggle with feelings of abandonment, racism, people-pleasing behaviors, and apathy was so sad.  As he learns the circumstances under which his mother left and returned to China he comes to forgive her.  Through it all, he realizes he can't live for his adoptive parents or his mother but must carve out a life of his own.
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grboph's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

This was simply a great book. I loved all of the characters, the story was captivating and emotional, and Ko is a wonderful writer - I'd definitely seek out other books of hers. It also sheds light on an important societal issue, and I think it's a very important thing to be aware of. I'd recommend this book to anyone who lives in the United States or anyone who likes good stories about families.
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sakisreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

I was looking for books that centred around joy for people of colour and found this on someone’s ‘Must Read’ list. I absolutely cannot wait to put it on mine either! 👏🏼 I only put it down to laugh (at some of the pure audacity of some of the characters) or cry (about Peilan and Deming and the adversities they faced).
Ko including Peilan’s deportation after 2 years in ICE immigration camps made me want to throw my Kindle across the room! I was livid. It is atrocious that America still allows this to happen.
I wasn’t sure if there was actually going to be any joy but it was definitely scattered throughout. If anyone is looking for a beautiful book, this one is it. I am so excited to ask friends to read this one to discuss with me! ✨
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hearth_hobbit's review

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adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is about a mother and son who are separated by deportation  eventually are reunited again .
This book focuses on subjects such as transracial adoption, poverty, addiction, the inhumane treatment of people during deportation in the U.S., and family (found or otherwise). The story is beautifully crafted but extremely heavy emotionally. 
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