This book can be a good read if you can put the lack of noted diversity aside. I enjoyed the road trip format, and the increasing connection as the trip went along. The younger sister is quite naive at the start of the story to an extreme level but given her circumstances and personality as they become apparent through the story it doesn’t read as overly off. There is significant character growth in sometimes abrupt ways, but it doesn’t read as overly jarring in the storyline. The descriptions of food and flavors are lovingly and wonderfully done; my mouth watered, and I wished I could really taste some of the dishes. I loved how food is related to family and heritage, as well as to personal connections and sharing one’s self with others. I grew up with food as a point of heritage and a family connection as well, and this brought back good memories. Overall, there are a few flaws, but it is a good story.
Author: Sami
Story Tests
In evaluating character agency and diversity, I use the following tests in my reviews:
Violence Scale
When setting a violence score for a book, I use this scale:
Scare Scale
In choosing a scare (fright, horror) score for a book, I use the following scale:
Heat Rating
In choosing a heat (spice) rating for a book, I use the following scale:
Book Grading Scale
Each book is given a grade, based on this scale:
Book Scoring Elements
These are the elements that go into figuring a book’s score. Each element is scored on a 0-1 scale, then all elements are added together to create the final score. The elements I use are: