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rosalind's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Abandonment
lily_peach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, and Bullying
amelieeee's review
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Minor: Cursing
becca_thegrimreader's review
4.0
Hannah is ten years old and part of the class of children who are dying. She lives with her strict religious parents and begins to question everything as this epidemic begins. Jan Carson wonderfully creates Hannah’s young voice and her chapters tore me apart at times as she is burdened with things at such a young age. Her sense of guilt over what is happening is utterly heartbreaking and you would love to rush in and tell her she has done nothing wrong. Though we do get other points of view, Hannah’s was the most powerful for me as she dealt with such challenging and overwhelming thoughts and emotions while going through an horrific ordeal.
Carson explores many things within this book, from religion, to small community relations, to family, and much more. I found this book to be very powerful with many nuances to living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Carson’s writing evokes so many emotions while reading that you become utterly transfixed and end up reading on the edge of your seat due to the tension. This is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. This review is unbiased and honest.
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content
travelseatsreads's review
5.0
This is a story which at first glance just revolves around a mysterious illness that has overcome the small northern village of Ballylack, however becomes so much more as Jan delicately looks at the impact religion, politics, superstition and family dynamics can have on everyone from the young innocent child to the community as a whole.
In true Carson style this is done through the lens of belly bursting comedy, mixed with heartbreaking tear-jerking paragraphs intertwined with some moments which will honestly leave the hair on the back of your neck standing for days.
I'm going to be unpicking this one in my brain for a while yet, but that's ok since it will be it that lilting twang that Carson conveys so well within her writing.
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Abandonment