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ellie_o
May 06, 2016ellie_o rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
There are books that you read because you know that they're good for you, even though you know they'll cause pain. This is one of them. I just finished bawling my eyes out after finishing it (I knew as soon as I read the blurb that tears would be inevitable), and I have to say that I am still in awe of the way that Perez tackled so much in a single book. Let's see, the book includes family obligations, first love, racism, sexism, sexual abuse (including that of a minor), rape, domestic violence, lynchings, Christianity in the South, segregation, "passing", violence against minorities, hateful slurs and so much more. I had a pit in my stomach throughout the entire book - it talks about things that are ugly and immoral and hurtful and made even more so because of the underlying historical reality of it. This will be a book that comes to mind when we talk about how books help readers gain empathy; it's a reminder to those of us who are white what incredible privilege we and our ancestors have experienced. It's a cautionary tale, especially when our current political situation has brought out the worst in some people. I found this book particularly strong paired with the graphic novel series "March" - my teen book club has had some incredibly powerful discussions about race and oppression and injustice.