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jennylee_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
gedlek'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
junglejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The characters aren't loveable but they're incredibly relatable. They're not prefect but make a great comparison to how high expectations are held for mothers in this world.
I found the plot gripping but predictable in the way that I wasn't surprised at what came next. I've read a few reviews saying the events are not believable but I found them to be a little too believable (e.g.
As someone who is not a parent, I still felt the devastation come from the characters. It was hard not to relate to them all (yes even Gus and Susanna) under such awful circumstances.
Overall a very good but sad book with contrasting features making it a compelling read.
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
jessiejonesbentley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
laurenlee2158's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
beebalm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual harassment
ehmannky's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I think that while the middle school sections were a bit too long (I think this book could easily be 50 or so pages shorter), this is still a fabulous book.
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse
ohheytaylorrae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
mktaylor15'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
4.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcoholism and Abandonment
savannah98's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CPS is already almost to this point in America, and that’s what makes this story so haunting. Aside from the reeducation camps, CPS can do any of the things shown in this book. They can rip children out of homes with little to no evidence of abuse or neglect. They can place children in foster care for differences in opinions on parenting tactics. For clutter in a home, for a parent failing a drug test for marijuana, for getting a second doctors opinion on a medical issue. You thought SIDS was scary enough as is? What if I told you that CPS can use that as an excuse to take your other children out of your custody as well, even though the cause of SIDS is still undetermined and is not in any way linked to parental failure?
This novel is not haunting because it tells of some dystopian world that could never exist where lives can be ruined and families ripped apart over any reason the government picks. It’s haunting because it is so adjacent to reality and the horror that many families are currently facing due to government overreach.
Graphic: Misogyny and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol