crizzle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Antisemitism
Minor: Cancer
noragoudie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Cancer
stepnic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Classism, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, and Alcoholism
zoecht's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Infidelity, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Drug use
Minor: Cancer
stressedoutreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Antisemitism, Drug use, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
mommarex1221's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Alcohol, Cancer, Classism, Cursing, and Drug abuse
trulydevious's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Racism, and Addiction
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Racial slurs
seawarrior's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Primarily, this is a story about Mary Jane discovering what it means to grow into an individual and an adult. The most dramatic shift in her thinking is realizing that the perspectives and customs of her white, upper class, conservative mother aren't objectively 'right', and that she doesn't want to abide by most of them. Though she's surrounded by adults who are almost always too rigid or too fluid in their thoughts and behavior, she sticks to her values as she's learning them, and often serves as the most reasonable person in both her households.
This isn't a story about a girl who spirals into drugs and sex too young and is exploited by people providing them to her. Mary Jane's acts of rebellion are much more tame, and are mostly risky only because of her extremely conservative parents. The Cones, and Sheba and Jimmy, aren't perfect mentors or wholly responsible adults, but they embrace Mary Jane with respect and affection she hadn't even realized was normal in other people's homes. My favorite part of this book was reading of how the Cone household danced together, repeatedly and openly showed affection for each other, and spoke honestly about the troubles they were having. It was also a joy to read about Izzy and her exuberance towards everything. It's easy to understand how Mary Jane never wants to be apart from her new family, as messy as they sometimes are. I will definitely miss these characters myself.
Graphic: Addiction, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Racism
nfarnworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spoiler
I would have liked to see Mary Jane acting more like a 14 year old, fawning over boys, chatting with friends. I know she's supposed to be secluded at the start but we all know what 14 is like. She didn't seem to have any friends outside the twins that are mentioned but never seen. I also felt that the Cones were really taking advantage of MJ. Mrs Cone spends the summer with Sheba and doesn't seem to think of her infant child. Sheba, MJ, Izzy and Jimmy were brilliant characters I loved reading their interactions. Overall it was a lovely heart-warming coming of age story. I wish they could have done a family therapy session, like they did on the beach, with her parents, I think her mom and dad would have benefited from that. I love the way her mother accepted her in the endModerate: Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Cancer