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theknitterwithabook's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
I might have been slightly too old for it, it would be perfect for a 14-16 year old, but I still wnjoyed it. It was a quick read, a little bit spooky.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, and Mass/school shootings
kat42's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.0
Overall just okay, but I found the look at Sawyer's character really interesting. At no point is his shooting justified, but you understand why he became what he did. It didn't come out of nowhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Body horror
pickpoppies's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Jake Livingston is not like the other kids at St. Clair, he’s black and he sees dead people. Seeing ghost has become easier for him but one day a ghost stands out from the rest, it has bad intentions.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER:How did he get away with murder/arson tho? After that fire wouldn’t the cashier mention the kid that came in? The kid that later cashed his car possibly not that far from the fire… and there was kerosene all over the place? No? Also wished there had been an resolution between Grady and Jake.
It was kind of funny because I picked this book a little on a whim. I wanted to do Blackoween despite half of the month being over, had seen this book mentioned and then I saw it by accident at the library so I grabbed it and liked it!
I haven’t read YA in a long time, might have to change that. It came across a lot more mature than plenty of fantasy I have started and DNF and plenty of cozy mystery.
It’s a pretty dark book and brings up suicide and school shootings. For me the spooky elements were not very spooky but the dark world view was in a way.
There were areas that could have been better, the magic was a little unclear and even the writing at times were a tad confusing but I just thought, “F it” and went with it.
SPOILER:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Bugs (couldn't find a tag for that)blewballoon's review against another edition
I don't enjoy this writing style, the constant similes and metaphors feel like interruptions while I'm trying to decipher what's actually happening. I really dislike the Sawyer POV chapters in general, I don't want to read more of them. I think this would work best for younger readers who are currently in the throes of teen angst and like feeling dark and literary but want something more urban than dark academia.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Minor: Child death
eniahreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
It's not like it was that bad... there were ideas, it was interesting. Sawyer's side, while the most cliché of a school shooter background, was intriguing, as well as how Jake and Sawyer were connected in their feelings, seeing how someone could understand him.
But it was also extremely low paced, boring, and with such confusing descriptions that it turns out I couldn't even grasp the horror from what was happening. There were stuff going on I couldn't understand what it was exactly. There's also no explanation of what Jake's capable to do, what the ghosts are capable to do, and the "rules" of that other world etc ; so you don't know the limits, you don't know if something happening is special, extraordinary, can't be happening, or totally normal.
I honestly gives a big feeling of the author totally understanding his world and how the story happens, while having no idea on how to explain that to the readers. I felt lost, I felt let down, I felt confused.
But it was also extremely low paced, boring, and with such confusing descriptions that it turns out I couldn't even grasp the horror from what was happening. There were stuff going on I couldn't understand what it was exactly. There's also no explanation of what Jake's capable to do, what the ghosts are capable to do, and the "rules" of that other world etc ; so you don't know the limits, you don't know if something happening is special, extraordinary, can't be happening, or totally normal.
I honestly gives a big feeling of the author totally understanding his world and how the story happens, while having no idea on how to explain that to the readers. I felt lost, I felt let down, I felt confused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Mass/school shootings
maregred's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol
winglesswarrior's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
pigegesy's review
3.0
I wasn't really feeling a school shooter's perspective. While Jake's comments on experiences of Black kids in predominantly white schools and how they endure so much systematic mistreatments and racial abuse from peers and teachers, bc schools are designed to oppress with what they teach, what they don't but should have, and how they just let microaggressions happen. It was well-done here (my white european arse think). Parts of it reminded me a bit of ,,Ace of Spades" how straightforward, ruthless and no-bullshit-taken it treats the subject. Those were my favourite parts, though the book was taken over by a white boy's cruel but meaningless inner thoughts. Some may say Sawyer has colonised the story that belonged to Jake. Given the ending... does anyone else interpreted the body possession as a literal take on colonialism and imperialism? I loved it!! Maybe because I really hate today's state of the world where Black identity is used as a prop for maintaining power structures. Where it so common to endorse systems of oppressions if they are made by diverse leaders. White supremacy is always the wrong choice, no matter which face is representing it. Maybe I just deeply hate liberals and made my own freak interpretation of what the scene meant, but isn't it what art is about? Uhh, about the book, thougg... I disliked one-dimensional characters and the love story with very boring, very forced-to-be-cool love interest, too. But good for them boys, it actually cured Jake's anxiety 🤍 There were also super YA story devices that were too cheesy and ridiculous for my liking, like Allister's hacking skills and the breaking in scene , but well, am I not ridiculous myself blaming YA for being YA? Don't mind me, it's me-problem 😔 Anyway, I gave it 1.5 stars originally, but fuck it, it was actually okay. Up to 3 stars we go! This opinion has no structure and conveyed very little about the book itself, and I don't know how people stay on topic and are actually useful for potential readers. Sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
the_vegan_bookworm's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
robi_locksley's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Transphobia