marissasa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book has a very interesting premise, especially with the idea of human clones being raised solely to become organ donors or caregivers for other donors. However, the nonlinear storytelling jumping back and forth between present day and past memories of the main trio made it hard to follow the narrative. I didn't connect with any of the characters as much as I wanted to, which is ironic because the whole message of the story is showing the humanity and life within these humans who were othered and seen as a lower class because of their status as clones for donations. I also disliked the ending where the entire reasoning behind Hailsham was just explained to them by one of the teachers as it felt like an easy choice without the same emotional weight it could've had if they had found out on their own somehow instead of being told it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Bullying, and Infertility
chloecantspell331's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Literally loved this book and the plot twist is not at all what I was expecting! Would read again!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, and Bullying
Minor: Cancer
princessrosepr13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Death, and Grief
emcheym's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content
klutzy347's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Bullying, and Sexual content
saskiahill's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
halfpastsix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Soft and brutal and quaint and tragic. Loved it. I didn't expect it to speak to my experience as a minority, but it did.
"There are people out there [...], who don't hate you or wish you any harm, but who nevertheless shudder at the very thought of you--of how you were brought into this world and why--and who dread the idea of your hand brushing against theirs."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Terminal illness, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
librarymouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
I read this book once before, as a child, but I forgot how much it hurts. Beautifully written, heartbreaking, and begging the reader to confront and understand a horrifying ethical dilemma within the view of a pastoral childhood, this book is one that I will never be able to forget and one which will never stop hurting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Sexual content, Death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Classism and Cancer
frannyrdclark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Death, Medical content, and Sexual content
Minor: Infertility