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imskylow's review
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
simplyv375's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
bunnibeereads's review
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
tinareads'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
I'm rusty at writing reviews, but this book touched my heart directly, so I feel pulled to speak on it. Please check trigger warnings before getting into this, especially if SA is a trigger for you. It's a prevalent them throughout the book and could be very triggering.
This book made me feel right at home. I was born and raised in California, not Ohio like Echo, but the way she wrote the experience of growing up Black and seeing how your parents struggle-to provide, to survive, to battle their demons-sometimes by using substances to dull the ache. How those struggles, when unaddressed, can bleed onto you, the child and shape you how it shaped them all those years ago. But also how the same parents who hurt you and aren't always available have those moments where they are soft and loving. How you yearn for those moments and cling to them when they're cruel. Phew! But, the magic on these pages added something special to this otherwise sad and tense recollection of Echo's upbringing. I love the aspect of ancestral magic in Black YA books. It often stems from the violence and survival of our ancestors, but it always does something for me. I like to think we might have some of that magic here in the real world, if we're willing to be open to it.
Like another reviewer said, the storytelling is definitely unique. You might be confused at the start, but if you stick with it and are open-minded I think it's quite enjoyable. The way the timelines blend together as the main story goes along was interesting and I was really invested, knowing that this book was about Echo's life with a magical twist. I shed quite a few tears in the last quarter of the audiobook, and it's a shame that we lost such a gifted storyteller so young. I'll definitely be checking out her other novels in the future.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicide attempt
readswithrachel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism
jrascoe'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Drug use, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
srjennings's review
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Violence
ynit_g'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
I appreciate how the book uses magic in a realistic type of way which is unique to the kinds of books I normally read
The book definitely doesn't disappoint in making everything come together and addressing just about any and everything
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
fkshg8465's review
- 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? Yes
5.0
Child molestation, colorism, wizardry, incest, alcoholism, drug addiction, hijab, privilege, darkness vs. light, multiculturalism, stereotypes, Black poverty, imposter syndrome, religious hypocrisy, puberty, sexualization of children, rape, racism and systemic racism, LGBT, Black feminism, rising up, coming of age, (in)equity, forgiveness, mental illness, grief, healing
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Homophobia
rachelkreadsbookz'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Drug use and Suicide attempt