Plot Summary

We Love You, Charlie Freeman

Kaitlyn Greenidge
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We Love You, Charlie Freeman

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016

Book Brief

Kaitlyn Greenidge

We Love You, Charlie Freeman

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New England • 1990s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

870L

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Super Short Summary

We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge follows an African-American family who moves to the Tonybee Institute to raise and teach sign language to a chimpanzee named Charlie. As they navigate this unusual experiment, the family's dynamics and relationships with race, history, and the predominantly white institute unravel, confronting painful truths about the institution and themselves. Sensitive topics include historical exploitation and racial discrimination.

Melancholic

Mysterious

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.5

4,425 ratings

50%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge offers a compelling blend of historical fiction and social commentary. Praised for its nuanced exploration of race, family, and identity, it juggles multiple perspectives elegantly. Some readers find its plot and character development occasionally uneven. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and original debut.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Love You, Charlie Freeman?

Readers who appreciate We Love You, Charlie Freeman by Kaitlyn Greenidge are typically drawn to complex family dynamics and themes of race and identity. Comparable to fans of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, they seek emotionally rich narratives that explore societal issues.

3.5

4,425 ratings

50%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New England • 1990s

Publication Year

2016

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

870L

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