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miromie 's review for:

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
3.0
challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

This novel was taut. It is told quickly and efficiently without losing character dynamics or depth. However, I only thought the story itself was okay. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The idea itself seems tired, and while the narrative was told in a way that seemed new, I felt that the overall feeling was trite. Yet, Woodson’s characters are quite remarkable. They are well-developed and have emotional depth that jumps off the page and allows readers to really feel like they understand the character’s world and life. Overall, I liked it well-enough, but it wasn’t as stunning as I expected it to be.