the_wistful_word_witch's review against another edition
5.0
I spent a good chunk of my life in the town that Monica Potts writes about, from around the time I was 10 or 11 to 24 (although it was only part time once I turned 18 and started going to the UofA in Fayetteville and travelling abroad during my longer holidays). I actually grew up in her periphery, being in the same grade as her middle sister, Ashley, although we weren't in the same friend groups. I know all of the people mentioned, some better than others. And I spent a good portion of my time there wishing I was somewhere, anywhere else.
It felt like Monica was telling a very similar story to my own. I ran away from Clinton as fast as I could, and spent years trying to forget it and Arkansas in general. And I left behind many people that I cared about but couldn't save, people who are stuck in cycles that are painfully similar to Darci's - more forgotten girls. I have since reconnected with some of them in one form or another. Others have been lost to time.
This book made me ache with sadness, rage, dispair... And it just solidified my determination to never move back - not to Clinton, not to Arkansas, and maybe not even the US. More power to those who are capable of doing so, maybe their ties were stronger. My experiences have changed me too much to fit in, if I ever did at all...
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
edhyndman's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Racism
cghegan's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Addiction, Death, Car accident, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment, Grief, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
greyt_things's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Child death
bschweig717's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Self harm, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Suicide, Abandonment, and Addiction
bookmaddie's review against another edition
3.75
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Graphic: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Child death, Confinement, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
rly's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
debussy's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Minor: Miscarriage and Physical abuse
sjanke2's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Addiction, Car accident, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, and Medical content