
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager begins questioning the inherited biases of their family or feels disconnected from their own history and privilege. This surreal and deeply moving novel follows five estranged cousins who are all struggling with the toxic legacy of their racist, wealthy grandparents. Through shifting perspectives, the story explores themes of white supremacy, generational trauma, and the courage it takes to break away from a family's harmful past. While the narrative uses some absurdist elements, it deals with very real issues of identity and social justice. It is best suited for older teens (14 to 18) who are ready for a challenging, nonlinear reading experience that does not shy away from uncomfortable truths. It is an excellent choice for starting difficult but necessary conversations about how we can acknowledge our past while choosing to build a different, more equitable future.
Themes of emotional neglect and family estrangement.
Depicts drug dealing and use as part of a character's reality.
The book contains scenes of racist behavior and microaggressions, such as a character being called a racial slur and another being denied opportunities due to their ethnicity. A character experiences homelessness and food insecurity due to their family's financial struggles. It also touches on drug use and child neglect. The approach is realistic in its emotional weight but uses magical realism and absurdist metaphors to heighten the narrative. The resolution is realistic: it offers hope through individual growth and connection rather than a tidy family reconciliation.
A thoughtful 16-year-old who is beginning to notice the social and economic disparities in their own community and is looking for a story that validates their desire to be better than the generations before them.
Parents should be aware that the book includes examples of racist language and discriminatory behavior. Be prepared to discuss the history of redlining (which is specifically mentioned in the book) and how it continues to impact people today. Reading the first few chapters to understand the nonlinear style will help in discussing it with their teen. A parent might notice their child becoming cynical about family traditions or asking pointed, difficult questions about the family's history and how they acquired their status or wealth.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the individual struggles and the 'weirdness' of the plot, while older teens (17-18) will more deeply grasp the systemic critique of white privilege and generational trauma.
A.S. King uses a unique blend of surrealism and gritty realism to explore themes of family dysfunction, systemic injustice, and the legacy of wealth. """
The story centers on five Shoveler cousins, each grappling with a different form of isolation and family dysfunction. Their grandparents, who have withheld their millions to teach a lesson, have instead fostered a legacy of racism and emotional neglect. As the cousins' lives begin to intersect in surreal ways, they uncover the buried secrets of their family's wealth and the systemic injustice that built it.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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