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sarah_speaks's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Sexism, Abortion, Medical trauma, Ableism, Child abuse, Racism, Classism, and Infertility
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Cancer
bmpicc's review
- 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
4.5
"Mama says, 'You're warping that girl with your guilt, Civil.' when she says this, I'm silent. There are a lot of things a mother can say to hurt her child, even long after the child is an adult."
Graphic: Medical trauma, Abortion, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness and Cancer
mal_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Abortion, Racism, Ableism, and Mental illness
Minor: Blood
khaben31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Racism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Mental illness, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Cancer
cdoubet's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion, Body horror, Cursing, Alcohol, Blood, and Slavery
Minor: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Terminal illness, and Violence
bookishmillennial's review
This is based on a real lawsuit & on the true story of Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf who, in 1973 at ages 12 and 14, were surgically sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Alabama. 💔
Dolen Perkins-Valdez painted such a rich story with important historical context! I had no idea about the lawsuit that inspired this book & while I was horrified & devastated for the women, I was not surprised that the horrific racism that seeped into our health care system. I really don’t understand how the federal government felt these were ever rooted in “good intentions”🤮
I related to Civil a lot because you already know I can be sanctimonious and self-righteous😅 However, she had damn good reason to be! She spoke up about the unethical, immoral shit that happened because she deeply cared not only for her patients but for Black women everywhere. She knew how important having a choice was & she never wanted that taken away from anyone.
If you’re a historical fiction girly, please give this one a go! The audiobook was FANTASTIC btw👏🏽
Graphic: Racism, Classism, Mental illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Ableism, and Sexism
jtaylor0701's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, and Classism
kelly_e's review
- 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
Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: April 12, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Delicate • Devastating • Illuminating
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.
But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.
Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Take My Hand was one of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends for 2023, and one I was most looking forward to after so many glowing reviews from trusted historical fiction readers. Honestly, I am not sure 5-stars is nearly enough for this powerful and emotional book.
One of the things I appreciate most about historical fiction is how it allows the reader a glimpse into history through so many different lenses. Although Take My Hand is a fictionalized account (based on true events), the writing and characterization brought everything to life. Told in dual timelines and exploring the haunting history of eugenics, this novel is incredibly well-written and eye-opening. The characters were three dimensional and I was sucked into their lives from the very start. There were moments of pause, there were tears, there was anger - it was just an incredible reading experience. Yet knowing this happened, and continues to happen, is so unsettling.
Take My Hand will be easily be finding its way onto my forever shelf, as well as my year-end 2023 favourites list! It's a novel offering another much needed layer to the discussion of reproductive rights and justice. It is sure to spark discussion, raising moral and ethical questions. I will be thinking of this one for a long time to come. So far my friends have been hitting it out of the park with their recommendations.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• fans of Necessary Lies
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Our bodies belong to us. Poor, disabled, it didn't matter. These were our bodies and we have the right to decide what to do with them."
"There is no greater right for a woman than having a choice."
"I had never known that good intentions could be just as destructive as bad ones."
Graphic: Medical trauma, Infertility, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Classism, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, and Abortion
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Genocide, Car accident, Child death, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Sexual content
adoptionem815ily's review
- 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
Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Abortion, Infertility, and Racism
kelboo's review
- 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
Moderate: Abortion, Medical trauma, Medical content, Racism, Infertility, and Mental illness