spec_tacles'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
4.75
It’s so beautiful that I was tempted to 5-star it, but there are two things that really bothered me, which is the reason for my .25 off. I’ll put them under spoiler tags.
Spoiler
One: Sadie’s continued refusal to talk to Sam was baffling to me and, the longer it went on, the more it became borderline painful to read. The same goes for Sam’s unwillingness to open up to Sadie. However, the conversation about generational differences at the end helped me understand this a tad more. But even so, I find it hard to understand this behaviour, and even if that’s just a personal disconnect, it affected my experience. Two: the way the chapter about the shooting started put me on edge in a way that wasn’t necessary. While the chapter is beautifully done, I wish I knew more going into it. I had no idea IF something had happened, let alone what, because the text from Marx at the end of the previous chapter honestly made everything sound fine. I’m not sure why he phrased his text that way, nor where it would have happened in the narrative. That text message could have set up the chapter with a better balance of anticipation and tension. As it was, I was irritated trying to flip ahead just for a quick spoiler on what I was dealing with. Is this meant to mirror the panic and uncertainty Sadie and Sam had? Maybe, but it could have done so without making me feel completely unmoored from the book and breaking the immersion.Those are minor critiques of a book that has so much to offer. I will now be recommending this to every friend who plays games, and many who don’t. Thank you to Gabrielle Zevin for sharing this piece of art with us.
Graphic: Gun violence, Cancer, Death of parent, Medical content, Death, Hate crime, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Car accident
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia
ksheaffs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, and Homophobia
Minor: Abortion
eralbesu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Murder, Abortion, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Cultural appropriation, Lesbophobia, and Xenophobia
flashandoutbreak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Car accident, Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Abortion and Self harm
gooddaykelly's review against another edition
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
ckincade'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Toxic friendship, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Grief, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Cancer, Blood, Homophobia, and Car accident
Minor: Abortion, Ableism, Drug abuse, and Cultural appropriation
Spoiler
depiction of a mass shootingajhowe2'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: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Body horror, Racism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
lemonflower'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
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/injury detail, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Murder, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Cancer, Misogyny, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Blood, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
martapsalvado'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? Yes
4.0
Loved some chapters but some of them didn't work for me (especially the second to last). I don't know much about gaming, but, for my surprise, I liked reading about the process of making a game, in addition to other themes that are greatly explored in this book like friendship and the development of the characters for 20+ years.
Overall a good immersive read, though, for me, it could be a little more fast paced.
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, Vomit, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Racism, Cancer, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Cultural appropriation, and Abortion
marosy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicide, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Death, and Car accident