Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann

5 reviews

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

sunnylain's review

emotional informative sad tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

calamitywindpetal's review

adventurous emotional informative 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Miscarriage, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Terminal illness

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

piperlee's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Degenerates follows the narratives of four girls who are institutionalized against their will in a “school” claiming to protect both the girls and the community from harm. The author grounds the story in the historic reality of the horrors that result when humans try to forcefully remove certain people groups from society under a false pretense of “betterment.” I found myself drawn to the characters and gaining a new understanding of the history behind force institutionalization and eugenics through their story. I especially appreciated the dignity with which the author portrayed several of the main characters who had various disabilities - even centering the voice of a girl with Down Syndrome as one of four primary protagonists. Overall, this book is eye-opening and challenging, while maintaining a sense of hope.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Police brutality

While this book deals with numerous challenging and potentially triggering topics, I found the author approached it in an accessible and non-overwhelming manner.