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claraarianne'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? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
beatsbybeard's review against another edition
- 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
Set in a small town experiencing the depths of post-industrialization, war frenzy, and the opioid crisis, I was somewhat excited to read this because it focused on people only a little older than me reflecting on their high school experiences in this dismal place. It’s plenty dark, with varieties of addiction and emotional/physical abuse haunting each character in depressing ways. One of the book’s four sections is a particularly well written introspection from an Iraq/Afghanistan war vet, and there are luscious passages throughout that belie the author’s MFA writers workshop background.
My quibbles with the book unfortunately dogged the whole thing – the author is too often wordier than he needs to be (which ends up deadening the impact of some genuinely good writing), and his female characters seem hopelessly lost to his high school brain (in that they express/think little beyond social machinations, romantic prospects, and illicit sex). One particular character speaks only in Manic Pixie cringe and her Asian identity is examined only as a one-off thud of a joke at her own expense. (And none of the characters in high school speak like high schoolers!)
Although the book takes too long to get there, its climax hooked me. It reaches a double peak of cathartic violence, righteous on one hand and depressing on the other. High school can be ruthless, teenagers uniquely cruel as the looming slam of adulthood awakens them to their own power, and some people never escape that ghost. This book captures how much of a waking hell that is.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and War
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
angie_ray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail