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ashleyyy27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Classism
bookdrunkard78'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
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
aloe_v'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? No
5.0
The book was well structured and paced. It had a good balance of tougher moments and joyful moments. There was a lot of love between the characters, and I was grateful to see them empowered and heard. The narrator was brilliant.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Murder
oceanbluetay'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
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
hmwoodward'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book shows you a side of police brutality that we don't get to see - how those who are left behind process and respond to it. Star grapples with her responsibility to her murdered friend and the risk of speaking about it to the public. You watch as life goes back to "normal" as you follow Star to school and with her family. Though the death is no longer the only focus, it is a grief that weighs on Star and the community, on top of all the other trauma they experience in the form of poverty or drugs or gang activity, etc. The world stops at the news of a death at the hands of the police AND at the trial AND at the decision, but they're gone when the news cycle ends again.
Through the course of the book, you get to know and love (most of) the characters, despite their many flaws. You get to understand why people in challenging situations pick what appears to be a wrong choice since the odds are stacked and no choice is a good one sometimes. You watch as the people around Star grow and hear the stories of others who grew in their challenging environment.
I listened to this on audiobook and appreciated the narrator because it felt like I was in Star's head. The narrator brought these powerful and emotional moments to life so vividly.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
musicalpopcorn'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
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
fortheloveofbooks95'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
sirch'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: Child death and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
turidt'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: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse
hjb_128'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity