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allyem_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is not at all what I was expecting when I picked this book up. Whether that is a good or bad thing, I can't tell you. What I can say is that the ending was really unsatisfying? I feel like we didn't get any closure. But I did like how the author portrayed grief and depression. This whole book was really a study of grief, and it was well done.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Death, and Drug use
Moderate: Medical trauma, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, Homophobia, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
hhashisaka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Minor: Medical content, Death, Drug use, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Blood
kathrynjbrand's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Drug use
dianna_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Cultural appropriation, and Car accident
Also detailed look at poverty and generational trauma of always living paycheck to paycheck without financial security_cararichardson's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
hflh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really think this book is something special — It’s nothing and more than what I expected so I’m going to keep this review vague to try to maintain the mystery factor for other readers.
First of all, the PROSE. I wish I had the words to better describe Washburn’s style beyond that it feels so sharp and tactile. He also has a way of making the most mundane or unromantic things beautiful. This style is maintained across POVs while still keeping each character’s voice distinct.
For the story itself, the magical realism element is less of a focus and more of an avenue to deeply explore complex family dynamics and trauma (particularly related to colonization and poverty). The book switches between the POVs of three siblings as they grow up in a home where one gifted sibling carries the burden of helping financially support the family and the other two are in his shadow and, then, as all three try to ‘make it’ in some way on the mainland while separated from their family and dealing with old and new trauma. And it’s done so well.
It’s definitely heavy and emotional, but the characters also bring a lot of light and humour.
Unfortunately, I thought the last third lost itself a bit. I liked where it went, where it was going, and where it went after that, but that middle ‘where it was going’ part felt rushed compared to the care and depth in the first 2/3. This might have been what Washburn was going for, but it didn’t work as much for me. That being said, I’m excited for a future reread to see if my thoughts change and I’m eagerly awaiting Washburn’s next work.
Moderate: Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Mental illness, Death, Drug use, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual violence, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, and Animal death
Major spoiler TW:kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Dementia, Ableism, Drug use, Grief, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
askxtine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Drug use
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Lesbophobia
urmelmitflossen's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug use