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andreamhi'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
hazel_lee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing
ifwyshay'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Outing
nabaraditi'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
3.0
I can't exactly put my finger on what I didn't exactly like in this book. Hence, 3 stars.
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Death of parent
petethecatsdad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
sky_lar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
that_book_lover's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, and Blood
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As with Thirteen Reasons Why, I know many would say this book glorifies suicide, but I think the language used that talks about why people felt the need to attempt to tale their own life and the specific thoughts that went through their head (which often are ones of peace, and yearning) are critical to being realistic and helping people connect with the characters. People who experience mental illness and suicidal ideation do not get to sugarcoat their thoughts and feelings and often don’t realize they are not alone, so I applaud the raw emotion and deep dive into the suicidal mind. That being said, I really think there should be a forward to this book that addresses what readers will witness in the book, in a way that promotes safe messaging around suicide. And I do agree it may be detrimental if someone DOES NOT finish the book as some individual moments in fact would be read as glorifying suicide but again, it is all part of being authentic in portraying the characters experiences.
The only thing I truly did cringe at was some of the unaddressed ableism, such as with the use of the “r” word which I know in 2008 was more widely thrown around but that does not make it any less gross.
Anyway, I think this book takes a bold approach towards addressing very realistic but stigmatized experiences, that while being written with a lot of dark humor, involves a wide range of the strongest and most powerful emotions. There are horrible things that happen but also things that made me so hopeful and glad. I did love the book but also was unsettled by it and uncomfortable… but that was what I needed to feel. I just really need to stress the importance of knowing where you’re at mentally and emotionally when reading this book and checking content warnings if needed.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Alcohol
k_kubistova's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
amariereadsss'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
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis