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chemeducator's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Racism
Minor: Bullying and Abandonment
kxc319'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, and Outing
rockythefreak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and Outing
jmass's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, and Outing
gurnoor'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
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Child death
nytephoenyx'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
3.0
If I’m being honest, I was mostly just bored. That’s more of a genre issue, though, and a me issue. It’s important to have these kinds of books available, particularly in schools where students may be facing situations similar to King.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying
Kacen Callender is Black, trans, queer, and non-binary. They use the pronouns they/them. The protagonist of this book is Black and gay/questioning. There is another gay character and several other Black characters in this novel.greenlivingaudioworm'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
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Outing, and Abandonment
melissaisreading'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: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, and Outing
michaelion'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
But seriously, this is the second middle grade Callender book I've read and the only issue I have so far is the kids feel so young. King is uhh 13? In eighth or ninth grade? He feels much younger. I don't remember what I was like when I was in eighth and ninth grade, not fully, but I know I was a bit more mature. Then again, I am from a big city, and in hindisght I probably thought I was more mature than I was, but there are some things in the book where I thought "Okay now baby boy you should know about that by now." It's all perspective though I guess.
This book is perfect for readers of the same age, not old 20 year old hags like me. There's a little black 13 year old child who's gonna read this book and make it their entire personality. If it came out nine years ago, that child could've been me. And then when they turn twenty they'fe gonna look back and reread the book again for the first time in years and go, "Damn... he just like me fr."
Kacen Callender you will always be famous! ❤️ Call me.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Stalking, and Outing
Minor: Abandonment
nerfie'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
I find it crazy that this is marketed as middle grade. Such a strong, but heavy story—one that I don’t think could be told any other way, but might stress me out as a kid. I’m not sure if I would have been able to handle it while I was in the middle grade genre. Will be interesting to talk about it in class.
Books like this are so important to the canon. It’s a good way to introduce kids to diversity and grief.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Racism, and Violence