Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

A Tiny Upward Shove by Melissa Chadburn

13 reviews

kain47's review against another edition

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This is more a story about trauma and abuse than looking into the lore of aswangs. Not quite what I expected and not really keen in reading in details about SA and death. 
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dulcgarc's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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ceilidh_ashcroft's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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capmoons's review against another edition

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ebscaggs's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Incredibly heavy but well-done read.
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soffafa's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

theres so many things to say about this. author is from the UK, doesnt seem to have a deep connection with being filipina. that being said, the writing within itself is so elementary especially with the clunky tagalog drops. the synopsis was not at all what i assumed, didnt need to continuously read child rape every few chapters. this was just a dump of trauma and torture. the parental relationships would have been nice to been explored more, but melissa wanted to highlight violence against women as if we dont experience it enough. 
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frogggirl2's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is a beautifully written depiction of some of the most horrendous things that happen in the world.  It's nauseating in it's depiction of the abuse, rape and murder of women and children.  Somehow, it still manages to find some optimism, which is miraculous.
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megwaslike's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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berls's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Man, oh man. This book was good. Really truly good. But I would definitely NOT say I enjoyed it. It was sobering and tragic, especially because there's no denying - except for the slight fantasy addition - that the horrible things that occur are based in reality. So, yes I highly recommend it, but I also say proceed with caution for the following triggers: 
  • child abuse
  • rape
  • sexual violence
  • drug abuse
  • trafficking 

Here's the thing - this book is essentially about generational poverty, racism, and immigrant life -  and the very real consequences on the children. We follow the life of one girl in particular - knowing from the start that it has a tragic end. And as you read her story and the story of her ancestors, you see how if she had just had this one opportunity, or if her mother had just had that one better decision, or if her ancestors had just had that one better chance, how things could have turned out some differently. And as her path crosses others, you see similar stories of poverty and resulting abuse that just breaks your heart for how tragically real you know it is. 

I don't think I would have ever picked up or finished this book if I weren't buddy reading it with my brother. But I'm honestly glad I read it, because it was impactful. And while I can't say it ended happily - how could it? - it does have a happy twist that I brought a happy tear to my eyes. 
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ka_cam's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is a heavy, dark, deeply sad read. The primary voice of the Aswang (/marina) was compelling and added a poignancy and semi-remove maybe ubique to the semi-first-semi-third person (if there’s a word for that I don’t know it). The love and attempts and love and care throughout really come through. I also personally liked how the title came through. I think the info abt the murderer was much less complex for the amount of time spent on it, though I realize she was working off a real person model there. There is some really tough explicit content here, so please mind the content warnings.  
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