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corngod31'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
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
edebaca'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
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Death
princessm'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
Some of the lines in this book were so profound and accurate to the point of personal experience. I was floored by some of the wisdom in this book, it made me feel very seen.
I also love how there's multiple issues being addressed with even side characters, it shows the complexity of each of our lives and how people may think or notice one thing but it's not enough to tip the scale, until it is. True so real life and when it's thru the eyes of a teenager, even more real.
I was nervous there would be some kinda cheesy ending that wraps up everything in a nice bow but it was so much more realistic than that and I have a ton of respect. Happy I waited for the hype to die down, made it now worth it.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
op3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Often times I take at least an hour or two to pick out books I want to read so I can enjoy what I read. This is one of those books I avoid when I spend that time searching. This is a testimony that I should keep doing that. But the ending was okay. The fluff was ok if you consider there to be any.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
arisol'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
In the end, the weight of intergenerational trauma and how it comes down on us as mental illness felt heavy to me, but not in a way that was unappreciated. I am grateful for this book and how it puts so much of my own life, pain and joys, into the world.
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, and Sexual harassment
kcohrs19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Deportation
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
ricksilva'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
4.0
All of this plays out over a tumultuous two years in which Julia grieves while finishing high school, having her first romantic relationship, and trying to find her voice in a place she feels like she never truly fits in.
The pacing was slower than expected at first, and it really took about half of the book before it hooked me. The mystery of what was going on with Olga is not entirely the payoff that it at first seems to set up, but I did appreciate that the plotline was resolved in a way that felt both ambiguous and very real.
The details of setting and culture, both in Chicago and Mexico are excellent, and the characters are multifaceted with most of them showing growth and change as the story moves along. The main character's voice in a nice mix inner-city tough and intellectual, and she is easy to root for even when making some very bad decisions.
I felt like the ending didn't completely resolve all of the character tension, but still managed to leave things off on a good note.
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Abortion
amanda884's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, and Pregnancy
whoolie3'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
4.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Deportation
serotonin_farm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicide