Sign in with Facebook
Amy's Reviews > One of Our Kind
One of Our Kind
by
***
Before I get too far into a review, Nicola Yoon joined the Book Gang podcast to discuss her book. She stayed for a bonus spoiler-filled episode to discuss the One of Our Kind ending, talking us through her turn-by-turn decisions and, most importantly, why she chose this for her reader. Any reader curious about the motives behind the story should tune in, not because it is my show but because it is a privilege to hear her process.
This book is a social horror novel, meaning its story is deeply rooted in our problematic society. The endings of social horror novels are often unsettling, enraging, and unsatisfying. The story was inspired by Yoon's deep dive into The Stepford Wives, a backlist novel that people may not recall as a feminist-forward piece of fiction. Written amidst the despair of the pandemic, I believe these emotions come through on the page.
A wealthy young family decides to relocate into a newly created Black utopian community explicitly designed for its residents. As Jasmyn faces growing worries for the safety of her children, she is excited for the freedom from worry this will offer them. The problem is that their family's newly earned wealth often clashes with Jasmyn, who feels removed from the dialogue and conversations around social justice issues within her old stomping grounds.
But as she settles into her home, she discovers that the new neighbors seem removed from real-world issues and have a bizarre fixation on self-care and wellness. The truth about the intentions of this seemingly idyllic space starts becoming more troubling as she uncovers the origin story of the neighborhood and its people.
The ending does evoke a response, much like The Other Black Girl, which had me reeling when I finished that book. "Am I supposed to be angry?" was my question. I didn't know what to do with an ending like this or the simmering rage I felt when I shut the book.
Her answer: Yes, we are supposed to be angry. But we are supposed to talk about why it evoked that response and discuss these broken systems as they exist. She created this novel as a launching pad for readers to confront uncomfortable truths in the safety and context of warm reading communities.
I hope you'll give this author's adult debut a shot, especially if you have a book club that needs a book that will provoke conversation. I've found that a polarizing ending ALWAYS yields the best kinds of conversations!
If this isn't a perfect fit, keep her imprint, Joy Revolution Books, in mind. She co-founded it with her husband, David Yoon, to celebrate love stories by and about people of color. After hearing about the time, love, and devotion that goes into book selection, I'm amazed by their efforts to bring these stories to life.
by
Listen to Nicola Yoon on the Book Gang Podcast NOW! We discuss Her Provocative Debut Thriller Click here to tune in! If you love the show, please consider joining my Patreon.
***
Before I get too far into a review, Nicola Yoon joined the Book Gang podcast to discuss her book. She stayed for a bonus spoiler-filled episode to discuss the One of Our Kind ending, talking us through her turn-by-turn decisions and, most importantly, why she chose this for her reader. Any reader curious about the motives behind the story should tune in, not because it is my show but because it is a privilege to hear her process.
This book is a social horror novel, meaning its story is deeply rooted in our problematic society. The endings of social horror novels are often unsettling, enraging, and unsatisfying. The story was inspired by Yoon's deep dive into The Stepford Wives, a backlist novel that people may not recall as a feminist-forward piece of fiction. Written amidst the despair of the pandemic, I believe these emotions come through on the page.
A wealthy young family decides to relocate into a newly created Black utopian community explicitly designed for its residents. As Jasmyn faces growing worries for the safety of her children, she is excited for the freedom from worry this will offer them. The problem is that their family's newly earned wealth often clashes with Jasmyn, who feels removed from the dialogue and conversations around social justice issues within her old stomping grounds.
But as she settles into her home, she discovers that the new neighbors seem removed from real-world issues and have a bizarre fixation on self-care and wellness. The truth about the intentions of this seemingly idyllic space starts becoming more troubling as she uncovers the origin story of the neighborhood and its people.
The ending does evoke a response, much like The Other Black Girl, which had me reeling when I finished that book. "Am I supposed to be angry?" was my question. I didn't know what to do with an ending like this or the simmering rage I felt when I shut the book.
Her answer: Yes, we are supposed to be angry. But we are supposed to talk about why it evoked that response and discuss these broken systems as they exist. She created this novel as a launching pad for readers to confront uncomfortable truths in the safety and context of warm reading communities.
I hope you'll give this author's adult debut a shot, especially if you have a book club that needs a book that will provoke conversation. I've found that a polarizing ending ALWAYS yields the best kinds of conversations!
If this isn't a perfect fit, keep her imprint, Joy Revolution Books, in mind. She co-founded it with her husband, David Yoon, to celebrate love stories by and about people of color. After hearing about the time, love, and devotion that goes into book selection, I'm amazed by their efforts to bring these stories to life.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
One of Our Kind.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Started Reading
July 3, 2024
– Shelved
July 3, 2024
–
Finished Reading
