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wordswritinstarlight's review
- 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
4.5
Now, on the subject of emotions. I am a deep, dyed-in-the-wool cynic and this book made me feel…like…hope? Made me entertain the idea of hope? This was the first book I’ve literally ever read where the main character is a post-top-surgery nonbinary person, never mind being disabled, and it’s so unfamiliar that I don’t really know how to respond. I think the last time I saw a protagonist and went “oh, it’s me” to this extent was maybe Furiosa in Fury Road. Moreover, this book has a super realistic take on how resistance is hard and often costs lives, and that makes the moments of just…small resistances hit so much harder. There’s a ton of really good emotional beats in this book but for some reason the one that made me need to put the book over my face and collect myself was
Final note: Gabe, you sound like you loved this book, why isn’t it 5 stars? The proofreading. Self-publishing means paying for your own editing and I totally get that, but people pay me money for editing and proofreading and I really struggled to un-see it. None of it is glaring, it’s all the kind of thing that naturally happens to everyone—missed letters, missing prepositions, that sort of typo. If you’re not, again, paid to notice it on the regular, it probably won’t even register. Olive, babe, hit me up for your next book and I will proofread it for you!!! Kick me $50 and being able to read it early and I’m your guy!!!
Recommended for anyone who says Rogue One for their favorite Star Wars movie, or anyone who loved Firefly when they were younger and then rewatched it more recently and went “😬.”
Graphic: Child death, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
bookish_hollyx's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, War, and Injury/Injury detail
madscientistcat'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
fizzy_reads's review
- 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
Minor: Deadnaming, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
irisestacansado's review
- 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
5.0
Every page of this book has something to further the characters and/or plot, leaving you always saying "Just *one* more page," even when you're in class or supposed to be going to bed or whatever else gets in the way of reading. While Junker starts with some serious flaws in this novel, they remain loveable from the start. I appreciate, as well, that Kelley doesn't insta-fix Junker - their changes come gradually and are not fully resolved by the end of the novel, because change is constant.
This is ultimately an uplifting novel, but balances well with the realities of end-stage, accepted bigotry. Death is given the space it needs, but doesn't drown out the hope and capacity this story's universe has for better. Junker Seven is the first of a duology, and I can't wait to read the next part.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Transphobia, Police brutality, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment