The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt is about Gretchen and Phoenix. Both have experienced extreme trauma resulting in mental health issues that plague them and prevent them from moving forward in life. Despite Phoenix inadvertently triggering a panic attach in Gretchen, they come together and support one another as they battle through extreme anxiety and halting guilt.
What I loved about the book was that the author, Marie Marquardt, is an active member at El Refugio - a non profit that serves detained immigrants. When she tells Phoenix's story as he makes his way out of El Salvador with his younger brother, and awaits the US Courts decisions about remaining in the US, it is authentic. She knows the stories of people like Phoenix and writes his story with compassion and empathy.
What I did not understand was why Gretchen seeks out Phoenix, after fleeing from him when he appears out of nowhere at the park. Not only does she take off with her little cousins, but she has a full blown panic attack, literally ending up in a ball on the floor. Her father has to come and help her through it. If Phoenix is such a trigger because he resembles her attacker, is it Stockholm Syndrome that compels her to find him and enter into a relationship with? I am not sure I buy the need to apologize. There are even moments in the novel when Phoenix questions Gretchen about this. Of course she denes it.
In addition, when Phoenix resigns himself to his fate of being deported back to El Salvador despite the Green Light death threat, it is Gretchen that comes to the rescue. The thought of the white savior took root in my mind. In the end, I decided against it because both Phoenix and Gretchen support one another through out the novel.
Out of five starts, I would rate this book a 4 star.
#theradiousofus #sketchnores
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