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jennamonaco's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was so heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. Not just for kids, this book is so necessary and so beautifully done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
avabudavari's review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
bookcaptivated's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal cruelty
cathgrin's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
LeZotte packs a lot into a small number of pages. Effie's story is based on a real-life case of a young Deaf child legally removed from the custody of their parents and placed in the care of their ASL interpreter.
In this tale, Effie and her sister have been living with their mom and stepdad until an incident leaves them in the care of their father, who struggles with alcohol abuse and routinely neglects his children. On top of this, nobody in Effie's family has learned any sign language, and have no active way of communicating with her.
A post-COVID return to school sees Effie repeating 5th grade, but granted the support of Miss Kathy, a Miss Honey-esque interpreter who keeps a close eye on her young charge.
The neglect and abuse that Effie suffers at the hands of her familyshe is sexually abused by her stepfather, and her mother's response is to send her to live with her father comes to light and Miss Kathy files for emergency custody while they take the issue to the courts.
A side plot involves Effie's developing friendship with Cait, a wheelchair-using peer with cerebral palsy who immediately starts learning ASL to communicate with her friend, which is a beautifully depicted reprieve from the traumas of Effie's home life. As well, there is Effie's distress at the dwindling deer habitat in her area, and her supportive teacher's encouragement of her writing. This ultimately creates a densely-packed verse novel with a lot to say.
It's a hard topic, but a beautiful read.
In this tale, Effie and her sister have been living with their mom and stepdad until an incident leaves them in the care of their father, who struggles with alcohol abuse and routinely neglects his children. On top of this, nobody in Effie's family has learned any sign language, and have no active way of communicating with her.
A post-COVID return to school sees Effie repeating 5th grade, but granted the support of Miss Kathy, a Miss Honey-esque interpreter who keeps a close eye on her young charge.
The neglect and abuse that Effie suffers at the hands of her family
A side plot involves Effie's developing friendship with Cait, a wheelchair-using peer with cerebral palsy who immediately starts learning ASL to communicate with her friend, which is a beautifully depicted reprieve from the traumas of Effie's home life. As well, there is Effie's distress at the dwindling deer habitat in her area, and her supportive teacher's encouragement of her writing. This ultimately creates a densely-packed verse novel with a lot to say.
It's a hard topic, but a beautiful read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism and Pandemic/Epidemic