kileyglispie's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
June's crush on her gay uncle, and later his boyfriend, was not handled super well. Every adult in her life pretended to not see it or treated it in a very "oh ho ho she'll grow out of it" way. This inappropriate crush on adult figures is a way neglected children reach out for attention. As June and her sister are left to their own devices during tax season you can really see where the susceptibility to substance abuse (alcohol and cigarettes) and need for adult attention comes from. This acceptance/ignorance of the crush gives the story an incest or 'attraction to minors' feel when it was June primarily reaching out for romantic attention and the adults around her redirecting her but not outright rejecting her.
Spoiler
There is a scene where she kisses an adult on the mouth or fantasizes about doing so. June pretends Toby is her lover when she takes him from the hospital via taxi to her home, where he dies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Homophobia, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, Ableism, Hate crime, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship
About 88% through the book it is mentioned that 'the wolves in the woods' were several feral dogs that ended up being shot. It was an unnecessary detail.buffy87's review against another edition
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.0
The first half of the book I really was confused about where the plot was heading. I felt pretty uneasy reading it... almost like I was expecting a jump scare of SA trauma. But as the story unfolds things become a bit clearer.
Plot wise, I wasn't too invested. I kept getting jarred out of the flow by June's confessions towards Finn. It made me want to stop.
However, the writing makes you want to keep going. There are some beautiful moments of prose dangling throughout this book that it was a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed the conversation between the sisters via art. In fact the sister relationship was intriguing for me to read as it was complicated but also wholesome.
Suitable for junior high and up.
Plot wise, I wasn't too invested. I kept getting jarred out of the flow by June's confessions towards Finn. It made me want to stop.
However, the writing makes you want to keep going. There are some beautiful moments of prose dangling throughout this book that it was a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed the conversation between the sisters via art. In fact the sister relationship was intriguing for me to read as it was complicated but also wholesome.
Suitable for junior high and up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
tetedump's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Incest
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