Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Summer in the City of Roses by Michelle Ruiz Keil

1 review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I wrapped up this gem today and my goodness, it was not what I expected. But it was lovely. 

The setting is early 90s Portland, Oregon. Biracial siblings, Iph and Orr are left alone with their father for the summer while their mother attends an artist dance residency. Things unravel when their father has Orr kidnapped and sent to boot camp. 

In response, Iph runs away from her sheltered suburban life in search of her brother who has escaped the boot camp and is now missing in the streets of Portland. Iph is aided by hew very own “Robin Hood” in the form of gender-queer George and George’s picket pittie. 

Meanwhile, Orr, who is neurodivergent and has difficulty breaking from his routine, finds refuge with the all-girl punk band The Furies. 

This is a coming of age take unlike anything you’ve ever read. It deals with some heavy topics as the siblings navigate homelessness, drug use, homophobia, sex-work activism, and child abuse, their own sexuality and budding romances. Despite this, the book is lighthearted and heartwarming. The book and it’s narrators are nonjudgmental almost past the point of believability. But I enjoyed it. 

It drips with magical realism, folklore, feminism, zines, and RIOT GIRRRL 90s nostalgia.  This book also made me extremely homesick for Oregon. 

Anyway, I highly recommend.

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