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ivi_reads_books's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, and Pregnancy
arayo's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, and Classism
sadhbh2525's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
apthompson's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
c1aud55n's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookishevy's review against another edition
5.0
Sinclair details her upbringing by an unstable musician father who adhered to a strict, read: misogynistic sect of Rastafari. He was obsessed with his daughters' purity and believed they would be corrupted by the Western world, referred to as Babylon. He forbade them from wearing pants, jewelry, or makeup, and they weren't allowed to have friends or opinions.
I was going to rant about his hypocrisy and how he was everything he hated: an oppressor. Because he was especially harsh toward the author, as she was expected to be an example of the proper Rastawoman for her younger sisters, while their brother had more freedom. When she pushed back, her father became unhinged.
Out of respect for Sinclair, I will bite my tongue and instead focus on her mother, with whom I am enamored. There were times when this man wasn't booking gigs, and he refused to work for Babylon, saying, "Jah will provide." Meanwhile, it was their mother who foraged for food so they could eat. She never complained, but she wanted better for her children than this life of instability, so she gave them the gift of books.
But an education can only get you so far. Sinclair’s schooling had stalled. She was trapped by her parents' financial constraints, which is sadly true for a lot of bright, underprivileged individuals. Her journey was especially harrowing because she'd been under her father's many roofs far longer than her siblings. Sometimes, it takes more than intelligence to be successful. It takes opportunity, and her mother was always the one behind the scenes doing God's work and finding ways to get her eldest from under her father's eye.
Sinclair’s story is also an example of how the arts help us cope with hardships. Through poetry, she was able to process her trauma. And what a poet. The words practically leap off the pages. Words of sadness. Words of hope that one day, her father would take accountability and accept her as she is.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
el_be_readin's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Misogyny and Fire/Fire injury
qqjj's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
amberinpieces's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Drug use, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
_aurora_'s review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail