alicemorrison1029's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Racism
magnoliabloomfield's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
cait'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
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Racism, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Blood, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
maddwomann'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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
jasmina124's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Racism
maecave15's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did a buddy read of this book with a close friend. 🤗
Honestly though, she enjoyed the book a lot but I thought it was just okay. I have seen this book being called a thriller in articles, but it was not even close to thrilling in any way.
The story was slow paced but I liked seeing how Kya survived on her own in the marsh. I don't think it deserved a whole movie but it was still a decent story. Her connection with the marsh and its flora and fauna was unique. I'm glad they explored that part of her and made it a central theme to her character.
I also enjoyed her friendship with Jumpin' and Mabel, and most of her relationship with Tate. Although it bugs me that the entire town is very prejudiced towards her and seemingly only her. There is no mention of the many other marsh people. She wasn't friends with the others living in the marsh, much less even noticed they existed.
Another irritation, why did all of her family leave her? I imagine at least one sibling would have taken her with them instead of leaving the youngest one (at 6yrs old) to deal with their drunk father alone.
This book feels like a mashup of nature writing, YA romance and coming of age, murder mystery, and dysfunctional families. Not in a way that was well thought out though.
The murder "mystery" didn't fit very well with her story either. It felt out of place, especially because all the chapters for that plotline where very short. It seemed as if they tacked it into the book to add some drama, but it was the least entertaining portion of the whole story. Everything about it from the initial chapters through the trial and to its conclusion, the whole thing was just not working for me. And even though the final end of this mystery was a plot twist, it just didn't fit with the character or story.
Her relationship with Tate was sweet, and I am happy with how that storyline ended up at least.
SPOILER -
I was happy to see her brother Jodie come back into her life and they reconnected and stayed in each other's lives. I don't understand how any of them just left Kya to begin with though.
Overall an okay read, and I am not mad that I read it, but I won't be going back to it or keeping on my shelves.
A quick aside, I did try to watch the movie but because I already thought the book itself was kind of slow paced the movie ended up being really boring for me. The scenes were done well cinematically but because the story barely entertained me as a book, the movie was worse. I skipped through a lot of it honestly.
Minor: Child abuse, Bullying, Cancer, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Classism, Injury/injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse
mxpringle'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
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, Death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Confinement, and Racism
foxes_need_to_be_tamed's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, Death, Physical abuse, Grief, Rape, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
loona0's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence
malloryrryan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Stalking