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A review by amandamagdic
Gutter Child by Jael Richardson
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
In Gutter Child, Richardson writes a poignant look at race and segregation that resonates with current world events. Written in a dystopian setting, we are brought into two worlds. The mainland for the privileged white people who came and took over the island, and the gutter - home to the dark skinned natives who were oppressed.
Our heroine Elimina ( or Lima), grows up on the mainland as a project child knowing she's different but not realizing the drastic differences between the classes. This all changes when as a teen her "mother" passes away and she's sent to am institution to learn job skills to help work off her "debt" to society. Having been told nothing of the Gutter System growing up this comes as a surprise to our MC and thrusts her into a whole unknown world of inequality.
Written in more of a YA format than adult fiction, this book takes a deep look at colonialism, racism, and injustice concurrent with the world today. It explores coming of age and choosing for ones self what you want from your life. It's a heart wrenching tale that will make you take pause and think. This was my first book by Richardson but it won't be my last.
Our heroine Elimina ( or Lima), grows up on the mainland as a project child knowing she's different but not realizing the drastic differences between the classes. This all changes when as a teen her "mother" passes away and she's sent to am institution to learn job skills to help work off her "debt" to society. Having been told nothing of the Gutter System growing up this comes as a surprise to our MC and thrusts her into a whole unknown world of inequality.
Written in more of a YA format than adult fiction, this book takes a deep look at colonialism, racism, and injustice concurrent with the world today. It explores coming of age and choosing for ones self what you want from your life. It's a heart wrenching tale that will make you take pause and think. This was my first book by Richardson but it won't be my last.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Torture