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WHITE
“Brave, moving, and fierce, WHITE shows us the deep rot of a family’s white supremacist beliefs and a fearless daughter’s plan to infiltrate the racist groups she wants to bring down. Taut and compulsively readable, Aviva Rubin’s debut novel is as much a sharp psychological portrait of generational racism as it is an unflinching look at the realities and limitations of hope and change.” —Laura Zigman, bestselling author of Separation Anxiety and Small World
"Every action humans take plants a seed. WHITE brilliantly explores the yield of such seeds—good, bad, and ugly. While hate can be cultivated and passed from generation to generation, it can also be dispelled when the right people come into our lives at the right times." —Arno Michaelis, author of My Life After Hate
Sarah Cartell grew up in a White supremacist family, controlled by her grandfather whose beliefs and violence mark them all. When an unexpected friendship, and the town librarian, open her mind and expose those beliefs as vile lies, Sarah begins digging up everything she can about the haters her family celebrate . . . and her grandmother and aunt who fled long ago.
Determined to dismantle the White supremacist network in Canada, Sarah infiltrates a Neo-Nazi gang by beginning a tumultuous relationship with a skinhead that excites and confuses her. As Sarah races to stop the tide of hate crimes, her new friends are put in danger and a horrifying family secret begins to emerge. This unravelling lands Sarah in a psychiatric ward, begging the question—can anyone escape the love of a hateful family, unscathed?
"Every action humans take plants a seed. WHITE brilliantly explores the yield of such seeds—good, bad, and ugly. While hate can be cultivated and passed from generation to generation, it can also be dispelled when the right people come into our lives at the right times." —Arno Michaelis, author of My Life After Hate
Sarah Cartell grew up in a White supremacist family, controlled by her grandfather whose beliefs and violence mark them all. When an unexpected friendship, and the town librarian, open her mind and expose those beliefs as vile lies, Sarah begins digging up everything she can about the haters her family celebrate . . . and her grandmother and aunt who fled long ago.
Determined to dismantle the White supremacist network in Canada, Sarah infiltrates a Neo-Nazi gang by beginning a tumultuous relationship with a skinhead that excites and confuses her. As Sarah races to stop the tide of hate crimes, her new friends are put in danger and a horrifying family secret begins to emerge. This unravelling lands Sarah in a psychiatric ward, begging the question—can anyone escape the love of a hateful family, unscathed?
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 8, 2024
Read White for book club and I’m so glad I did!
The story is gripping, the setting is vivid, and the characters are intriguing.
I especially loved imagining scenes in cities I’m very familiar with. The world feel so real.
The story is gripping, the setting is vivid, and the characters are intriguing.
I especially loved imagining scenes in cities I’m very familiar with. The world feel so real.
July 25, 2025
I wouldn’t have expected to like this book, but the main character really pulls you in with her vulnerability and passion.
I did note a few editing errors, which is unfortunate. I hope the publisher tends to those before any reprints. I expect this book will be a big success.
I did note a few editing errors, which is unfortunate. I hope the publisher tends to those before any reprints. I expect this book will be a big success.
December 8, 2024
WHITE is a thought provoking, insightful work of fiction. Aviva Rubins writing is so effective, that it creates an unsettling, even distressing emotional response to the content, white supremacy, racism, and hate crimes. The reader is uncertain at times if this is actually a non fiction account, as she so beautifully blends her story and main characters with factual events and known individuals. Her knowledge and the research conveyed throughout the story is astounding. The author has an in-depth understanding of the psychology of her characters, some you love, some you empathize with, some you just wish were raised differently and the others make you wonder if there is hope for just evil. The story unfolds with the reader getting to know the main character Sarah the child and Sarah the young adult and as her life unravels you question her decisions, and the direction her life takes.
I highly recommend this book, as I'm sure like myself, not only will you learn from it, but the story and characters will stay with you long after you read the last page.
I highly recommend this book, as I'm sure like myself, not only will you learn from it, but the story and characters will stay with you long after you read the last page.
March 14, 2025
White is a gripping novel with a plot that is carefully constructed and very pertinent to our times. The main character and her struggles seem quite real to the reader. The Canadian locales are appreciated, especially in these times. What is presented as a once fringe issue is now center stage in the White House. Lots to muse over methinks.
November 1, 2024
A must read-beautifully written -a real page turner! Content so compelling -issues addressed are not only timeless but relevant regarding the challenges we face in our society as well as globally.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
October 18, 2024
Aviva Rubin’s new novel WHITE is a captivating read - a real page turner. It takes you back to the 1990s, which I enjoyed since I was in my 20s then, a similar age to the main character in the book, Sarah Cartell.
The story is clever and entertaining in the way it takes you in to Sarah’s unusual world - small town Ontario - but being raised in a family of active white supremacists, and the challenging path she takes to break away.
Although it’s a fictional story, it brings in some of the leaders whose names are familiar from the news of that time. Whereas those hateful extremists can easily be dismissed, Sarah’s born into a family where she grows up isolated and shaped by their racist beliefs. She’s an empathetic character who changes her worldview when it’s expanded by her friendships and new experiences at school.
I loved the way the story unfolds through Sarah’s discussions with her therapist, as she processes her upbringing and the events that lead to her breakdown and being in a psychiatric facility.
The story is quickly engaging, is suspenseful and the author injects wit and humour in the dialogue.
The book deals with important and timely topics of racism, anti-semitism and intergenerational trauma through a compelling story. It left me wanting to know what would happen next in Sarah’s life, if there was a sequel!
The book is now being passed around in my family. My almost-93-year-old mother picked up the book and couldn’t put it down during a recent trip. She’s an avid lifelong reader, yet has been finding that she isn’t finishing many books these days. WHITE came along and kept her reading to the end. Great for all ages of adults, young and older! Highly recommended!
The story is clever and entertaining in the way it takes you in to Sarah’s unusual world - small town Ontario - but being raised in a family of active white supremacists, and the challenging path she takes to break away.
Although it’s a fictional story, it brings in some of the leaders whose names are familiar from the news of that time. Whereas those hateful extremists can easily be dismissed, Sarah’s born into a family where she grows up isolated and shaped by their racist beliefs. She’s an empathetic character who changes her worldview when it’s expanded by her friendships and new experiences at school.
I loved the way the story unfolds through Sarah’s discussions with her therapist, as she processes her upbringing and the events that lead to her breakdown and being in a psychiatric facility.
The story is quickly engaging, is suspenseful and the author injects wit and humour in the dialogue.
The book deals with important and timely topics of racism, anti-semitism and intergenerational trauma through a compelling story. It left me wanting to know what would happen next in Sarah’s life, if there was a sequel!
The book is now being passed around in my family. My almost-93-year-old mother picked up the book and couldn’t put it down during a recent trip. She’s an avid lifelong reader, yet has been finding that she isn’t finishing many books these days. WHITE came along and kept her reading to the end. Great for all ages of adults, young and older! Highly recommended!
December 30, 2024
I loved this gripping, moving novel. If you’re concerned about white supremacy and the influence of intergenerational racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia, or are interested in historical fiction set in Canada in the 1990s (with its overlapping ties to the US), this extremely well-researched novel is an absolute must-read. The protagonist, Sarah Cartell, is a young woman who has grown up in a dysfunctional, white supremacist family. As Sarah starts to build relationships outside of her immediate family, her heart and mind begin to open to the kinds of people and ideas she’s been taught her entire life to hate. Sarah begins a painful journey toward adulthood - questioning the values and ideas she has inherited from her family and believed for so long to be true. Her journey to break free from her past eventually finds her embarking on a dangerous mission - both physically and psychologically - exposing some dark and disturbing family secrets along the way, undermining her family legacy. This is a very important novel about family ties, intergenerational trauma, and empathy. Sarah Cartell’s original voice is funny, wise, and memorable - this novel will stay with you for a long time.
October 8, 2024
Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Sasha Stolz Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
Content warning: this review discusses racism, white supremacy, and mental health.
When I finish a book, it may take some time for me to formulate my thoughts on it. This can be hours, days, or even weeks depending on the title. On average, it takes me a day or two to gather my thoughts on a particular novel. In the case of "White" by Aviva Rubin, this process lasted three weeks. I wanted my review to do it justice while still expressing my opinion. With much thought, I can say that it’s a powerful and layered novel about one woman’s fight against white supremacy.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
Content warning: this review discusses racism, white supremacy, and mental health.
When I finish a book, it may take some time for me to formulate my thoughts on it. This can be hours, days, or even weeks depending on the title. On average, it takes me a day or two to gather my thoughts on a particular novel. In the case of "White" by Aviva Rubin, this process lasted three weeks. I wanted my review to do it justice while still expressing my opinion. With much thought, I can say that it’s a powerful and layered novel about one woman’s fight against white supremacy.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
November 12, 2024
I really enjoyed reading White by Aviva Rubin. It is a coming of age novel set first, in small town Goderich, Ontario and later in Montreal. I loved Aviva’s descriptions of both places. I could particularly relate to scenes in Montreal from visiting there many times.
The book raises relevant and disturbing themes. What happens when a young person questions their family’s core values and beliefs? Sarah is a young woman, who sets out to bring justice in her world. The story is gripping and terrifying and eventually leads to Sarah’s mental collapse and the collision of her two opposing worlds.
I especially enjoyed the small details in the writing. The descriptions in the scenes were at times funny and very relatable. And these little details added a richness to the writing.
I think it would make a great audiobook and can’t wait to hear Aviva narrate it.
The book raises relevant and disturbing themes. What happens when a young person questions their family’s core values and beliefs? Sarah is a young woman, who sets out to bring justice in her world. The story is gripping and terrifying and eventually leads to Sarah’s mental collapse and the collision of her two opposing worlds.
I especially enjoyed the small details in the writing. The descriptions in the scenes were at times funny and very relatable. And these little details added a richness to the writing.
I think it would make a great audiobook and can’t wait to hear Aviva narrate it.
January 16, 2025
3.5/5 Stars.
This was a harrowing read.
Content-wise, some parts were some way too edgy for my liking, with some dialogue being quite cringey. The setting was very vivid, and the characters for all very alive. The blurb gave a little too much away however, and it tipped me off to something very relevant in latter portion of the book.
As far as editing, there were a couple of errors that made it past the editors, which makes me think of recent experiences I’ve had with indie titles. Nevertheless, this novel was well-structured and followed a clear path forward with the story.
All in all, a well-researched and written read filled with lots of momentum. Definitely some spots that could use refining but for a debut novel, this was very well done.
This was a harrowing read.
Content-wise, some parts were some way too edgy for my liking, with some dialogue being quite cringey. The setting was very vivid, and the characters for all very alive. The blurb gave a little too much away however, and it tipped me off to something very relevant in latter portion of the book.
As far as editing, there were a couple of errors that made it past the editors, which makes me think of recent experiences I’ve had with indie titles. Nevertheless, this novel was well-structured and followed a clear path forward with the story.
All in all, a well-researched and written read filled with lots of momentum. Definitely some spots that could use refining but for a debut novel, this was very well done.
April 2, 2025
WHITE is an unflinching and powerful novel that explores the weight of inherited beliefs and the courage it takes to break free from them. Aviva Rubin masterfully tells Sarah Cartell’s story—one of pain, transformation, and resilience—as she confronts the white supremacist ideology she was raised in. The emotional depth and psychological complexity of Sarah’s journey kept me captivated from start to finish.
The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult truths, but it also offers hope—the possibility of change, even in the darkest of circumstances. Rubin’s writing is sharp and compelling, making WHITE both a gripping and necessary read. Highly recommended for those who appreciate bold, thought-provoking fiction."
The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult truths, but it also offers hope—the possibility of change, even in the darkest of circumstances. Rubin’s writing is sharp and compelling, making WHITE both a gripping and necessary read. Highly recommended for those who appreciate bold, thought-provoking fiction."
November 25, 2025
Sarah Cartell was raised in a small town in Canada, in a family of white supremacists. As a teen, she begins to understand the idiocy and evil behind linked groups that are based on hate and that strive to destroy people and groups that aren’t White and Christian. Sarah decides to infiltrate one of the racist groups so that she can sabotage their despicable plans to hurt others. At some point, her duplicity becomes unbearable, but Sarah remains committed to what she thinks is right, even if it risks her health and life. I'm still thinking about this book long after I finished reading it....
https://newbooksnetwork.com/aviva-rub...
https://newbooksnetwork.com/aviva-rub...
December 4, 2024
This debut fiction follows Sarah, who grows up in a White supremacist family, and begins to question how and why she was brought up that way. Her journey and friendships are fraught with pain, trust and understanding, and she tries to fight, enlighten and heal herself, at a price. Necessary reading!
January 20, 2025
A compelling tale of a young woman’s awakening to the hatred inculcated in her from birth, the development of her moral compass and her bold action to try and end some of the extreme prejudice and violence surrounding the white supremacy movement in her midst. Despite the dark subject matter, I couldn’t help but cheer Sarah on. A true page-turner! I couldn’t recommend this book more highly!
September 18, 2025
Five well deserved stars. Such a moving, emotional, important read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews