Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

6 reviews

brookey8888's review

dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• 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

This was such a weird book. I was invested the whole time and wanted to know what happened and why everyone was such a freak. It is very open ended though and it is kind of depressing. I do not have bipolar disorder so I don’t know if the representation is good, but from what I know I think it was done fairly well. It was just so sad to me to see how the townspeople treated her. I also loved the asexuality representation in this. Overall I will probably never think of this again, but it was entertaining. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend because it’s just fine(even though I’m giving it a four). This was also sometimes told in a weird way which I didn’t understand. It was like a movie script for no reason for like 4 chapters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, Murder, Bullying, Child death, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

valpal77's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Grief, and Self harm

bookcaptivated's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Ableism, and Mental illness

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement and Self harm

anniereads221's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, and Murder

redbookpanda's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Okay this was more fucked up than I thought it would be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Ableism and Bullying

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

2.0

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp follows teenage Corey (aromantic asexual) returning from boarding school to the remote small Alaskan town where she grew up when her friend 17-year-old Kyra (pansexual) dies in an apparent suicide. Kyra, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder was regarded as an outsider, despite being the daughter of the most prestigious family of the community. Along with becoming a source of conflict for residents during manic episodes where she could paint prescient pictures or wander the forest for days on end. Yet, Corey after seven months away from a place she considers home finds much changed in the town. Including the views of residents when it comes to herself as well. All this only adding to Corey’s more desperate need to seek answers along with making sense of the haunting presence that has arose with her grief and guilt. 

This tragic YA title with a dose of magical realism is difficult. Kyra, ostensibly centered as the character whose death the story revolves, is much characterized by her illness and the denial and tautologies of others. Painfully so that I cry when I read this novel. For a story that grapples with perception, truth and bearing witness, I was as the book progressed left wanting more of Kyra’s POV that is relegated to short intermittent correspondences to Corey. At times the novel also switches to parts of script like a play, an effect that can cause differing receptions for the reader. The way this novel takes on very complicated subjects— I don’t know if reading it hurts me more than it benefits. But I’ve been unable to discard this book outright. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury

This novel strongly features a cultish community.