rickjones's Reviews (1.66k)

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. I don't remember exactly what I disliked so much about this book when I chose to rate it two stars, yet I know I was widely disappointed by it. I was actually reading it for a book club that I decided not to attend because I didn't have anything nice to say about this title they'd chosen. There were a few lines I felt were written well, but mostly it was a dull story with unlikeable characters and heavy-handed, repetitive prose. I expected something more from the book that's been a literary darling on my side of social media for over ten years. 

This was a wonderful and rewarding graphic novel to read. The book was created with the intention of empowering Black girls with curly heads of hair, but will be enlightening to every young person who reads it. 

Ortega skillfully writes Marlene with a voice that notices and resists the inconsistencies and unfairness that adults perpetuate around her. She feels confused, angry and unhappy each time she's made to feel ugly because of her curls, and eventually learns that these emotions should matter to herself and her loved ones, and that she has the right to present herself how she wishes. Marlene's confusion as to why her hair matters so deeply to her family is demystified away with a fuller understanding of her mother's past experiences with Anti-Blackness and her attempts to find respect in the midst of it. It's important for young people to understand how racism is held up by seemingly small ideas that multiply into larger hurts. This book provides a guide for young readers to not only understand that idea, but to realize that coming to terms with discomfort, and asserting your emotions surrounding it, is transformative. 

The illustrations for the book complement the writing perfectly. Each page contains detailed, expressive, and dynamic artwork that draws readers into Marlene's world. Marlene's hair is highlighted as a source of power and beauty in both her imaginative scenarios and her actual life. I highly recommend this book to readers of any age or race. It is written for its message to be accessible for children to absorb, yet adults have an equal need to understand how children think and why making them feel ashamed of their natural self "for their own good" creates a system of confusion and lost self-esteem. Hopefully in the years ahead of us more Black girls will grow up believing that their hair is beautiful, instead of a burden. 

While this graphic novel was beautifully illustrated and enlightening about the minds of artists, I was disappointed with how it handled the topic of Jade moving forward in her life without feeling like a traitor to Phoebe. It was difficult to grasp how exactly Jade managed to alter her outlook in order to quit feeling guilty and scared. The introduction to Phoebe's suicide attempt was also extremely abrupt, especially since she attempts a second time after being released from the hospital. As someone who has both been the hospitalized friend and the person who stays behind, terrified their friend will die alone for reasons I would never understand, I had hoped for more from this story. It's less about suicide and the anxiety surrounding it than it is about relearning how to express your emotions through the creative process. I wish the story had been less abstract in its handling of Jade's problems, as I wasn't entirely sure what wisdom I was supposed to have gained after I was done reading it. 

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. While this book could have easily been dull, I found its prose and descriptions of motherhood and nature riveting. There is some mystery regarding the lies our protagonist's husband is telling her, but due to the lack of a linear plot this book should be read mostly to appreciate its language. I really loved spending time with it and would recommend it to those who aren't discouraged by the slowness and subject matter. 

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. Though the first half of this book felt like a trudge, once it starts getting thrilling the grotesque terror does not let up until the end. Hendrix definitely found his stride in creating memorable characters and worlds for them to inhabit, and I found myself genuinely scared for these people. The sociopolitical elements of the book are a little rough, but that's fairly unavoidable when writing about racist and misogynistic neglect from the perspective of a wealthy white woman and the mind of a white man. Regardless, this is one of the grossest and most suspenseful horror books I've read, and I'd recommend it for those elements. 

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. I thought that Daphne was mostly a well-constructed allegory for how anxiety often feels relentless and never-ending. The characters were fairly simplistic, but they're mostly there to die anyway. The uniqueness and thrill of this slasher story are what make it worth reading. 

Reviewing this several months after I first read it, so I don't remember details. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, the eeriness kept me engaged, and I was satisfied with the resolution. I suppose it wasn't that memorable since I don't remember enough about it to write much more, but my memory is generally horrid so I'll assume that isn't the book's fault. I would recommend it and may re-read it eventually. 

I was assigned this book as a textbook for my Children's Rights course, and while I am not a law student and feel that some of my course materials have me in over my head, this book is presented with clarity and plain language that made complex historical, political and legal issues simple to understand. I highly recommend the book to people looking to learn more about the history of child abuse and family rights law in the United States.