Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

8 reviews

jenn_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War

shannonredwine8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

elaineh7's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Grief, and Death of parent

meixymei's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Grief

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War

k_galloway's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Pregnancy

very graphic child sexual abuse scene

morganperks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

good soup (partially set on an island 😏)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Classism

tpogin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

sarah984's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I don't really know what to think about this book. The true story of the orphan trains is interesting, tragic and important, but the author made every possible wrong decision.

The characters are all flat stereotypes (drunk Irishman, bitter Native American foster child, kind teacher with no characteristics) and the story follows very predictable beats. The constant use of "Indian" in the modern sections is mind-boggling. The story is written like a middle-grade book to teach kids about the orphan trains, but contains a graphic rape scene.

This is an important story to tell, but there must be better books about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Physical abuse, Grief, and Religious bigotry