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owie_jowie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
a_cera_t0ps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In alternating perspectives, our cast grows and shrinks.
The characters are well written. The book shows many of the different arguments/reasoning/stories without drowning out plot A or disrupting the collective pace of the story. The characters feel like real people, with real connections. While there is a crush and romantic connection, it never once cuts into the action. It only presents itself as a motive: a catalyst for an even and consistent amount of the story. The ending is realistic while still having a satisfying conclusion.
The Shusterman authors worked to gether to create a compelling dystopian story much in the same way George Orwell worked time and time to do. They wrote the book with a message. However, instead of creating an atmosphere of hopelessness, the Shustermans help to build a future, to show the fall out of if and when disaster passes. They don't water down (ha) the message, the importance, or the level of disaster, but they leave the reader with an enjoyable story. It's believable, even if extreme in nature.
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and War
bill369's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
My favourite character is Jacqui. She's the typical outcast cool character and from all the characters she was the most fun and relatable. All the characters are forever changed by the end of the book, the character development is there. Despite all this, I didn't grow to love any of the characters and soon or later I will most likely forget them. They aren't undeveloped, but they aren't strong characters either.
On the other hand, the theme of the book is awesome! I enjoyed all the facts and how fast it all happened. It kept me hydrated throughout the whole book! Also, it was quite fascinating to see how quickly people turn on each other in just a matter of days. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
There isn't any line/scene in particular that caught my attention, but there is a term „water-zombie“, strongly dehydrated human, I liked that one.
I like that the ending was clear. It was known what happened to who, therefore I didn't have to wonder for hours to come.
Lastly, there isn't anything I disliked, but the book isn't emotional/deep enough for me to give it more stars. So overall fascinating, fast and dry read which is great for a reading slump.
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
kaidoz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Edit: I’ve realized a few things I’ve missed. There were a few points in the book where characters mentioned how bad communism was which I thought was so strange. It seemed forced and like a political statement when no one even asked for it. Also, the reason I stated that the cast of characters being diverse was complicated is because their personalities are diverse, but they really aren’t. The main girl and her brother are of unidentified origin for like half of the book, and they end up being like, a quarter Jamaican and the rest European. Another female character is also very light-skinned but I honestly couldn’t tell you what she is because it was so forgettable. I think Greek? Roman? The rest were completely white. Also I believe there was a singular mention of one of the male characters not liking men, but other than that gay people didn’t exist. No POC or LGBT people in California? This truly is a fiction novel. Anyways, I still thought the story was great, so I’m not changing my review or anything.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
I will be giving more detail on some of the warnings while withholding as many spoilers as I can. I’ll label them. Car accident (very minor spoilers):