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ashsparrow'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
carojust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Colson Whitehead writes beautiful characters, ones that you love and mourn as if you've known them. While their time in an abusive, corrupt, and terrifying reform school is somber reading, Whitehead offers moments of hope through Elwood's friendships, and a peak into his future. There are repetitive themes, but I believe purposefully so, to reiterate the lasting trauma of a "prison within a prison" created by generations of racial violence, discrimination and hatred. Assaults and murders that escape justice for lifetimes. Poignantly, the characters talk about the free world and their world at Nickel, how there was no fence that kept them imprisoned.
I grew up in Tallahassee, and it was my first time reading a book set in my hometown and the Florida panhandle.
Give this a read if you're interested in Black history, plot twists, and characters you can root for.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
marisample'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
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
jennswan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
princess_marie'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Murder, and Abandonment
sophiabee3'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Vomit
blissfullyhannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
alyssav20'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gotnoculture's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Abandonment