Too plotty, the characters were written inconsistently for my taste, it reminded me too much of The Silent Patient.

The narrator sounded like a mix of Holly Hunter and Beth Moore, and it was hard for me to believe a college student would sound like that.

This book has barely anything to do with banned books, let alone any books. It is decently plotted, in a soap opera style way. There is major family drama, with some spousal abuse, a sexual abuse scandal of a minor that happened when the main character was in high school, and an ill parent. These issues are serious, but again, written in a melodramatic way. I just wish it was marketed correctly, which is why I’d give it 2.5 stars.

Heartfelt and emotional, this book is an attempt to expand the understanding of the American frontier that is portrayed Little House on the Prairie, by referencing the many other immigrants who came to the Dakotas at the time, including many from China. Racism and grief over the loss of a parent play a huge part of the plot, but Linda Sue Park navigates those painful moments gently. I can tell how personal this story was to her.

4.5 stars.

This debut poetry collection, recommended by Kendrick Lamar, was published 2018 when Shauna Barbosa was 30 years old. As I read I listened to Cesária Évora. Her song “Sodade” encapsulates the longing and nostalgia found in the pages of this slim volume.