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I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom
CCBC Review:
Marisol’s mom died following a car accident that happened after she and Marisol had a huge fight. Marisol, 16, blames herself and has been out of control ever since, fixated on her failures as a daughter, especially how she and her mom (Filipina) always fought and the fact that she didn’t say goodbye to her mom as she lay dying at the hospital. Marisol's been drinking heavily and getting into trouble at school, and she had sex with her (ex) best friend’s boyfriend. Her dad (white) is at his wit’s end, but he’s also unwilling to engage with his own feelings and memories, so that the silence around the grief in their home is all-consuming. This exploration of grief, guilt, friendship, and family starts with Marisol relentlessly angry and chronicles her slow catharsis. Relief comes in numerous ways and for many reasons: concern for her younger brother, Bernie, who’s been skipping school; time spent with new friends, even as she continues to mourn the lost bond with her former best friend and the Filipina heritage they shared; and healing through memory and ritual on the Day of the Dead, an observance that she learns is also part of Filipino culture. The transformation lets other, happier memories in—memories of times when Marisol and her mom were not at odds. For Marisol, taking control also means demanding that her dad do better in a story that ends with a sense hope and a new beginning. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Asian Americans
Drugs and Alcohol
Families
Filipinos and Filipino Americans
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Guilt and Remorse
Hope and Healing
Diversity subjects:
Asian
Latine
On CCBC Booklist:
Asian in America: Selected Books for PreK-Grade 12 to Support Hmong and Asian American Studies in Wisconsin
Publishers:
Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 312
ISBN: 9781250845665
CCBC Location: Fiction, Rogers