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chaoticnostalgia'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Abandonment
Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy
kaerene'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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
kyrstin_p1989'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cestnicka'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
4.0
I appreciated that she kept it very current with what is going on right now in the real world. I also thought she paired down the “issues” she was trying to tackle in one book so I felt like the message she was trying to convey was a lot easier to follow. And it felt more heartfelt. I could tell she did a lot of research for this book and wanted to make sure that the scenarios and the characters felt as realistic as possible.
I also felt like this book is probably the book kids would relate to the most out of the two because reality is that most of these troubled kids are “quans” and not justyce’s”. What I loved is how she connected the two books/characters at the end and finished off the storyline.
The few things I didn’t love about the book was that the ending felt very fairytale. I just don’t see it being super realistic for him to have that big of a support system. And she does address that at the end of the book and stated most kids wouldn’t have what quan ended up having, but she wanted to write the story like that. But I do think it makes it feel a bit less authentic.
I also find some of the conversations between the two boys a bit juvenile,And a bit cringy. So sometimes I had a hard time getting through their conversations cause I feel like people just don’t talk like that. And I felt that way reading the first book as well. So maybe it’s just the style but it’s not my favorite.
I definitely think people should read this book as it gives a really really good perspective into what these kids are going through and what happened in their life that put the on the “troubled path”. I think it could help people understand this population better and help “check their privilege” as Jared would say
Graphic: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Abandonment
mandi4886'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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
rayraymakay'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
4.75
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
hermithailey'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
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders