Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Into the Light by Mark Oshiro

18 reviews

jdgammons's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

2.5

I got this book from the library because I've loved all of Oshiro's previous books and I definitely will say that the plot, characters, and background really got me interested at the beginning of the book. In Anger is a Gift I thought that the plot twists were remarkably predictable (which it was written for a different, ie younger audience) but that even though I saw the plot twists coming the way that Oshiro writes those twists when they come up makes it feel like a fresh wound or understanding. I sobbed when I read Anger is a Gift. With Each of us a Desert I didn't find the plot predictable and thought that the nonlinear writing was really interesting and harder to follow. In this book I again liked the nonlinear writing and I completely didn't predict the plot twist. That being said I walking into this book expecting realistic fiction especially with how in the authors note Oshiro outlines his research. In the end it is not realistic fiction. I found the

whole splitting into two different beings completely lost me.

As I said I was expecting realistic fiction and that is not it lol. However,

I did love at the end that things were left open. It wasn't wrapped up with a neat little bow. Manny acknowledges that his life will change with Carlos is unknown. I also loved that it had to be Elena's choice to leave the cult. I found that very impowering and important to both Manny's and Elena's charater development.

Also as always with Oshiro's writing love the way he writes young gay relationships and love! Gave this book a low rating but I will totally read another of Oshiro's books when next published. The plot twist just ruined this book for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Minor: Incest and Abortion

readundancies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

It’s hard to put into words exactly why I resonated with this story so hard, but I adored it.

And the fact that it’s a YA contemporary read makes it rather impressive.

It’s queer cult tale with multiple timelines and some strong opinions on religion and as someone that grew up in a Catholic school board with decidedly differing opinions to what was taught - I wish I had access to this kind of read when I was younger.

Highly recommend but be prepared for a difficult experience, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the author and their experiences as noted in the Author’s Note.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

wolfenoot's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion

sgtz00's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual assault, Outing, and Abandonment

Religious trauma, religious cult organizations

happily_undignified's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

"I control what I can: the stories I tell. Who I tell them to." ⠀
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Mark Oshiro, Into The Light⠀
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Into The Light  by Mark Oshiro was a heavy book with a slightly supernatural twist that included difficult themes like religious cults, abuse of foster care children, homelessness, and conversion camps. ⠀
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Main character Manny is a jaded, queer, teen who is running from his past but also wants to confront it to try to save his sister from the evil people who have brainwashed her. The story follows his haphazard journey down the California coast as he comes to terms with his trauma and learns to trust the people who come alongside him to help. ⠀
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I enjoyed the first person narration and Manny's cynical yet hopeful personality. The religious trauma was hard to read through but I found it incredibly authentic. This is a remarkable story with an autobiographical feel and I loved the supernatural twist. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

sglance9's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

literarycavy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual assault

maranda_maria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Mark Oshiro will tear you apart just to put you back together in the end. Into the Light is a heartbreakingly beautiful reflection of the impact religious trauma has on queer people. There is a twist you will not see coming that ties the book together, and is as disturbing and unnerving as it should be. Overall, Into the Light is an ode to queer people who have or are in the process of healing from religious trauma with the overall message that hope is never lost. We are never too broken to find love and joy even after the worst of times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content

grimdark_dad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

delz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Mark Oshiro brings the dirty laundry of adoption and religious zealots into the light. The main character, Manny and his older sister Elena have been passed around to one foster home after another until Elena finds Deacon Thompson and Christ’s Dominion. They are adopted by a “nice” white “Christian” couple who want to take the evil out of their adopted son by doing something called “Reconciliation” that Deacon Thompson performs.  Encountering a cult religion is terrifying, but just imagine being a child with absolutely no recourse. The story is told in the present, after Manny escapes and meets up with a family who are determined to help him. In between are flashbacks, showing the reader how he reached his destination. There’s a twist about 80% of the way In which I would like to think of as more symbolism than fantasy. Into the Light s relatable to headlines in the news today.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape and Abortion