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xangemtheelibrarian's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
"Some do what's right, some do what they're told. I've been doing what I'm told for far too long." - Jørgen
This book is one I've been wanting to read since it was published, and I kept putting it off in favor of other things. It interested me because the blurb hints at a potential poly relationship, and that is so rarely seen in YA literature. This is even better than that.
This is a story of an entire generation reckoning with the harmful ideology of their hometown. Gunner and Erlend are gay. Asta is Ace. And the beautiful thing about this story is how they become family. The journey each of these three teens take to understand themselves and take charge of their own happiness is so touching. Then they find out it's NOT just the three of them against the world. They find almost as many allies as they do enemies in this town.
I loved the piety vs. sin theme that colored the backdrop of this historical fiction. Christianity destroyed so much in Europe by creating a system where any Outsider was going to hell. This town condemned an entire family because they did not follow the church.
Very slight spoilers ahead:
It ended realistically, and it was perfect.
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Transphobia
carolined314's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
celestriakle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
In spite of promises that these are disabled characters who are more than their disability, characters are never allowed to grow beyond their disability and the book plays into terrible ableist tropes. In the most egregious case,
Finally, it is CRUCIAL to know that this author runs a farm animal sanctuary. This attitude towards animals colors the entire novel, leading to all sorts of peculiar choices. Every single major characters ends up a vegetarian by the end of the novel. One otherwise-sympathetic character is villainized as soon as he reveals he eats rabbit for dinner. (And there is no mention at all of these characters' attitudes toward fish, which likely would have been a major part of these characters' diets.)
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Xenophobia