Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann

4 reviews

emflipspages's review

dark hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Medical content

anne_shouseofdreams's review

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Sexual content and Xenophobia

saffyre's review

dark emotional hopeful medium-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Bullying, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, Excrement, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

lena_loves_reading's review

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-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

4.5

   » Unfortunately, today we are still undoing the damage created by the idea that diversity should be punished rather than celebrated. « 

What a well researched, important novel. The main characters were amazing. The book is less than 300 pages long and fast-paced but all of them got their own backstory and development. There was a romance full of yearning as a side plot, just how I like it.

The excellent writing and detailed situations make it easy to imagine what these girls are going through. I felt so many emotions while reading; from fury to hope to sadness.

This isn't a book about girls who beat the system and get their happy ever after. This is a realistic, heart-wrenching insight into the lives of the marginalized youth in the beginning of the 20th century. The only criticism I have for this book is that the conclusion came too soon.

I think this is one of the most important YA books out there. A while ago I've watched a documentary about an institution not unlike the setting of the book and I was very disturbed when I leant that the segregation and sterilization of "lesser humans" (disabled, POC, poor) in the US and Europe lasted until the 80s and even longer in some places. I think eugenics should be more talked about; we learn about the big genocides but places like the school in this book are overlooked. I was very thankful for the historical note and the author's note at the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Child abuse