moniipeters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Classism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Self harm
kathleenes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Self harm, Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Outing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, and Car accident
m0rdred_the_fallen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Mi niño, tú no estás en esta escuela porque tu padre y yo tengamos dinero, sino porqué te tallas el lomo todos los días. El día que dejes de hacerlo, todo esto se va
Es una cruda verdad que los problemas que enfrentan los protagonistas sigan tan presentes y que, parafraseando a Chiamaka, les molesta más que les digas que son racistas al racismo en sí mismo; y se puede decir lo mismo de la homophobia, del clasismo, de los juegos de poder enfermos de estos grupos de odio. Aún cuando se nota que muy en el fondo saben que lo que hacen está mal, es un pobre consuelo para cuando usan su poder y sus recursos para atacar a inocentes. Tristemente, cuando el virus del fanatismo llega a la cabeza no hay nada que pueda hacerse por esa persona sino huir, pues el fanatismo y la estupidez nunca afectan a los que lo tienen, sino a aquellos que les rodean. Y lo peor del caso es lo compenetrado que está el sistema de ello, este sistema que no sólo promueve y protege actos de odio irracional; los demanda para seguir funcionando. El mundo moderno está construido sobre la sangre de generación tras generación de inocentes para el beneficio de unos pocos que se creen con derecho a todo.
En esta lectura sólo hubo una cosa que me dejó con ganas de más:
Spoiler
El arrepentimiento Belle se me hizo que llevaría a un arco de autorreflexión y luego de redención en el cual los Chiamaka y Devon le dicen, tal cual, que no pueden perdonarla y ya no después de 4 años planeando destruirlos, y Belle aceptándolo.Que haya sido un grupo de manifestantes quienes los salven al último tiene mayor peso porque es una comunidad que los acoge y protege, en lugar un individuo de una clase opresora que tuvo una crisis de conciencia. Eso, estuvo genial.
Lo que a mí gustaría haber visto es Belle recolectando información de Ases, delatando a la periodista y exponiendo a todos los integrantes en Niveus, y quizá algunos de otras escuelas como es que haya conocido por cualquier cosa. Pero que aún así Chiamaka le diga que no, no es suficiente por todo lo que le ha hecho. Incluso cuestionarla sobre su cambio de corazón, ¿Y si no se enamoraba de Chiamaka? ¿Se le opone a Ases porqué es lo correcto o porqué están agrediendo a alguien que quiere como pareja?
Lo recomendaria 10/10
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic friendship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
123urmom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Stalking, Hate crime, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Sexual content, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Outing
Moderate: Drug abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcohol, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
hschlecht's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Death of parent, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Self harm, and Stalking
gabyleyendo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Classism, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Homophobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt, Outing, Police brutality, and Self harm
jasminealizae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Spoiler
Jamie clearly started the fire. Devon ended up with Terrell? What happened to Andre? What was the point of Devon’s father being on death row? What happened to Devon’s brothers? Chiamaka was just okay with her white father being racist? The whole family dynamic between all of the characters was unrealistic. How did Belle’s sister come back from the dead? What even happened with Belle? What happened with Jack?Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Car accident, Grief, Abandonment, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Biphobia, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
shaimahmad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Bullying, Racism, Toxic relationship, Outing, Murder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Colonisation, Car accident, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, War, Slavery, Self harm, Suicide, Rape, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Mass/school shootings, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Homophobia
filipa_maia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked this book, it addresses very important issues that our society tries to pretend that don't happen anymore: not only bullying and racism, but also homophobia and classicism - And I think that the author does it very well.
I think my problem with this book it that every single character (except Devon) is so unlikeable... I understand that that's the point but, apart from Devon, I couldn't really connect with any of them. Chiamaka's "friends" are described in the most despicable way; Jamie is red flags all over, since the beginning of the story; even Terrell is a bit weird...; but for me Chiamaka is the worst - she is the worst main character ever: dates guys and makes "friends" for social status, mistreats people that she considers "inferior", thinks the entire world revolves around her... ugh...
Even though I think that some of the situations described are a bit "too much", what made me give a 4-star review is the plot itself - what a brilliant storyline!
I don't want to reveal to much but - if you are looking forward to read this book - you are not going to be dissapointed!
Graphic: Murder, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Outing, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Classism, Homophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Drug use