cameronreads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Child abuse
alexisgarcia's review
- 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
Graphic: Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Blood, and Grief
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Blood, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Racism, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical content, Abandonment, and Body horror
Minor: Trafficking, Antisemitism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
lana72905'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
3.5
Graphic: Cursing, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, and Blood
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse
eni_iilorak'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Cursing
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Homophobia, and Biphobia
stefhyena's review
- 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
4.75
The romance had its problematic aspects like instalove will. The love interest was too good to be true initially and tended to love-bomb which in real life would be a red flag but he was likeable nevertheless. Later in the book he acted like an immature jerk and this was smoothed over a bit too easily I thought. In books people go from really deep conflicts to forever love all too easily and I don't think this is a healthy thing to teach youth...but there was a lot else going on.
There was acceptance for physical and mental disability, meltdowns/anxiety. It was clearly shown that where parents are not available you can have an intergenerational community of care (I found that very beautifully portrayed and the fact it was matriarchal didn't bother me too much). There is moral complexity in that just killing the bad guys is not the answer, but wanting to is portrayed as understandable. Art is rightly shown as significant but what I thought was more problematic was the easy conclusion that not being in the frontline because you are an artist is as good as giving your life or body to the struggle. I don't disagree with aspects of how this played out but I think noone actually wants to be in the trenches doing the hard yards they tend to (in real life) feel lonely and unsupported and the portrayal in the book was idealised to the point where people will feel affirmed in doing nothing.
I wondered if some issues were glossed over or simplified because of the perception that teens won't read it if you add more depth (or if it was a wordcount issue). A few other minor issues too but overall nothing detracted from the fact I was enjoying this book all the way through and keen to know what happened next. An interesting and worthwhile book.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use
Despite the content warnings, and not to make light of them it was a positive and hope-filled bookrachellle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Spoiler
From Bitter's indifference towards the protests, to Bitter's guilt about the angels and not supporting her friend's, to the exhaustion the Assata members face. It's really important that the novel highlighted the structure of organizing and the exhaustion that the work leads to. The conflicts between Bitter and her friends was complex and demonstrated how the world affects interpersonal relationships (Eddie ending their friendship).The only part I wish the novel spent more time explaining was the resolution of the overarching conflict.
Spoiler
Obviously the mega rich guy is killed and the mayor is spared, leading him to abolish the prisons and replace the entire city council. But what conversations led to that? I know not much of a conversation would have went down but I wanna know what was said.Overall, this book was so good. What really drew me in was the honesty of the relationship dynamics; their interactions are not isolated from the larger world. It was interesting to see how they all did their best to hold each other up and even fail sometimes. And Bitter's character development was layered and amazing to watch unfold.
Minor: Ableism, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gun violence, and Homophobia
cerilouisereads'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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Ableism
puggreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Police brutality, and War
kbairbooks'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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent