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w3nda1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Deportation
lizziaha's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Deportation
Moderate: Antisemitism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
alexxrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I struggled to connect with the main character's love of the artist Edvard Munch. This might be because I'm not well versed in art but I also felt like the paintings were supposed to be in reference to things happening in Lina's story but I couldn't make the connections very well.
I felt like the book shied away from some of the horrors of these camps. I don't know if this was a specific choice give the fact its a YA novel, or if the author didn't feel like it would be appropriate but it felt like it took away from the story. I don't need to see misery and death exploited on the page but it felt like there were grim undertones that were being purposefully looked away from. Which did disappoint me given the topic of the book.
The book also ended very abruptly.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, Suicide, and War
literary_lady602's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
jojo_'s review against another edition
- 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? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Moderate: Excrement, Antisemitism, Medical content, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
_mya_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The book begins immediately with Lina and her brother and her mother getting taken to start working in a camp.
The story is told rather methodically, “I said this, she did this, this happened then that happened” which I did not think I would like. However, I enjoyed the simplicity and that there weren’t a lot of purple prose or anything, nothing to distract you from the direct words you were reading.
This is Ruta’s first published book and it definitley sounds/reads different than her others that I’ve read. But I still enjoyed it, as much as one can enjoy such a heart breaking book.
I am not a crier but I did cry at the end, it moved and touched me so very deeply.
As Ruta is Lithuanian, this felt like an homage to those who endured in silence for so long. I’m so glad light is being shed on the truth of what so many that suffered in silence went through for so many years...
Quotes:
“Have you ever wondered how much a person’s life is worth? That morning, my brother’s was worth a pocket watch.”
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sofmar917's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book broke my heart. This is a very important book to me though because I am Lithuanian and my great grandmother was born there. I learned a lot. Like I didn’t even know this happened and it disgusts me. Like how did the world come to that? Everyone should read this!! I’m going to be shoving this down everyone’s throat telling them to read it.
Reread
I honestly enjoyed this more the second time. I think it’s because of the state of the world. I just love all the characters and how strong they are. I just can’t believe this even happened. I loved how these people found happiness or hope in little things to keep going. It’s very inspirational.
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
chivalryxsword's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Antisemitism