eyedoc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Murder
jamiejanae_6'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
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Hate crime, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Racism, Bullying, Infertility, and Sexual content
spinesinaline'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
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Abortion
kimveach'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
3.5
Graphic: Racism and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Addiction, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Abortion, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, and Sexual content
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Cancer, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Abortion, Violence, and Gun violence
threeundertwopnw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Infertility, Medical trauma, Racism, and Drug abuse
ekmook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racism, and Toxic relationship
katsbooks'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
4.0
“She wanted Gee to know this music was for him, that irreverence and rage weren’t just for white boys."
“Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know.”
I must be getting old because this is one of those books that I would never been able to enjoy five years ago. It is so realistic. The characters feel raw and real. They're lovable, yet utterly fallible. I felt like I was reading a memoir; that's how realistic it was. Following that vein, it also meant that there wasn't necessarily a big reveal or climax per se. I was honestly stunned when I turned the final page because I felt like it could just keep going and going. I think the reason this book was really compelling to me is because it explores so many of the subtle nuances of racism, even when it's internalized. It wasn't portrayed as this character fault that is eventually triumphed over. I could see pieces of the Ventura girls, and especially Lacey May in so many of my own relatives. This is the type of book that could be read in a classroom. There are so many layers.
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Abortion, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
internationalreads'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
4.0
Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
caseythereader'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Abortion, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence