Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

5 reviews

justmys's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Incest, and Excrement

dblue236's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, racism, domestic violence. 

This was one of the best books I've read so far this year, for a number of reasons. I loved the setting and the beautiful descriptions of the time frame and rural Kentucky. The characters were well rounded and felt real, and the historical aspect of it that was clearly very thoroughly researched really added depth to the story. This was the first book I've read by this author, and if it was any indication, I definitely need to seek out more of her work. I cannot recommend this highly enough. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Incest, Miscarriage, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

marissa_roo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.75

Similar to where the crawdads sing... haunting and hard to reconcile to our understanding of humanity. Darkness and life, all comingle

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death and Suicide

omgmkg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

4.75

I really loved this book! Historical fiction, strong women, dealing with difference, and loving books are all my jam in stories, so that helps a lot. I really enjoyed learning about the Packhorse Librarians and the adventurous aspects of the story. I thought the narrative was well crafted and tied together well, and I felt like I understood much more about Appalachia in the Depression because of this book. I fell in love with Cussy Mary and her patrons, and with the ways she found to relate to them and gain their trust (not just as a blue person but sort of as a government social program representative). 

The harm that comes to people that are not Cussy Mary in this book could have been a bit melodramatic, but I think it was just realistic enough and well written enough to pass. I agree with others that the violence Cussy Mary faces is at times a bit gratuitous… but also realistic. 
I share concerns that perhaps this was not the author’s story to tell. I 
 do not believe that the author meant to imply that being Blue was just as discriminated against as being Black in Appalachia/Philadelphia at the time, but I agree that too many parallels were being drawn. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Miscarriage

ash_oak_crafts's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.25

 Troublesome Creek is certainly facing a lot of troubles in this harrowing, yet hopeful tale. I love Cussy. She reminds me of Anne of Green Gables trapped in a worse place and instead of carrot orange hair, her skin is blue. Cussy faces terrible circumstances (*Trigger Warning* for sexual assault, stalking, starvation, domestic violence, child/infant death, medical testing, racism with use of the N word and religious persecution) and remains steadfast in her place as a pack horse librarian. She is the kind of heroine that endures, she is your Jane Eyres, your Annes and whatever other fictitious ladies you think as possessing a strong inner strength. I was hoping this would be a lighter book, but I am glad that I took the time to read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Stalking

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy