Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

27 reviews

smallish_bird's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

One of my all-time favorites; first read as assigned reading in 7th grade and revisited after Yhara Zayd's YouTube excellent mini video essay reminded me of its existence. I'm a sucker for 1st person PoV books that explore both its PoV character's as well as its other characters' perspective in a nuanced and compassionate way. I dig its focus on platonic and familial love (aroace win), as well as how safe it feels in many regards despite how bleak the characters' situations are -- the horror is found within the isolation of circumstance, childhood, poverty, and capitalism, not so much in the cruelty of any of the characters.
 Cannot fathom that this was written by a high school student; S. E. Hinton joins Mary Shelly in being a teenager when they wrote books that I now hold dear to my heart. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder

Complimentary/Similar Books: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (about an emotionally repressed/traumatized teenager and how he navigates the world) -- 1st person PoV, teenage boy MC, emphasis on familial love/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, distinct voice/vernacular, healing, hopeful ending. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (about an emotionally reserved/isolated teenager's life and development) -- 1st person PoV, teenage boy MC, emphasis on platonic love/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, escapism, healing, hopeful ending. All The Water I've Seen Is Running by Elias Rodriques (about a queer man returning to his conservative hometown to mourn/confront/grow from his past) -- 1st person PoV, distinct and nuanced characters, violence/displays of force as normalized method of communication, emphasis on found family/community/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, distinct voice/vernacular, healing, hopeful ending.

bookiemonsta's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book had me confused and conflicted about what the characters were thinking and why they made the decisions that they did. Particularly Ponyboy.

And I kind of spoiled myself by looking up clips from the film version, which was something I really should have avoided doing. 

But ultimately I felt that the ending saved it.

Sorry this review is a bit weird, I'm typing it from my phone, I might update it at a later date.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Details to come.

ppp's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Medical content, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

ahen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

librayrian's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Racism

ilovegilmoregirls's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

jemappellecat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Police brutality, and Grief

reclusivebookslug's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I first read this with my seventh-grade Language Arts class. It is one of the only books I was forced to read for school that I actually liked. An otherwise good book can get ruined for me by having to read it that way, so I think my enjoyment of it is a testament to how great it is.

This novel encompasses for me the potential of the YA genre. Reading it again now as a college student with much more reading experience under my belt, it seems to me that this was a necessary predecessor to some of my other favorite YA novels (The Perks of Being a Wallflower in particular comes to mind). Coming-of-age stories are so important for people of all ages -- themes of self-discovery, learning to navigate the world around you, finding a place to belong, value formation, learning to empathize with people different from yourself, and dealing with new and difficult experiences will always be relevant.

I recently saw a clip of YA author John Green addressing criticism that real teenagers are not as well-spoken as those in his books. His response was that reflecting their internal sense of self and emotional reality was more important than being strictly realistic. Young people do not see themselves the way adults might. Their hopes and worries are real and important to them, no matter how trivial other people (i.e. unempathetic, out-of-touch adults) might think their problems and accomplishments are. I find this sentiment applicable to a lot of great YA fiction, including this book, which has also been accused of being unrealistic and melodramatic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent

anastasiamakes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started this not really sure what I was getting into, but by the end can absolutely see what all the fuss is about - this is a really important book. It really makes you think: bringing gang culture to life and helping you see the stories behind those involved, how good people can get themselves wrapped up in a bad situation with no real way out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail