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carojust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Our narrator is a young boy who has a lazy eye, the victim of intense bullying and physical violence from the popular students. His fellow student Kojima reaches out to him one day through a letter, and she is revealed to be a similar victim of bullying, and is described to be unkempt and unwashed. Their friendship grows through sweet and simple letters, and soon conversations outside of school. In contrast, we experience their helplessness, as they are shells of themselves at school, bracing for the beatings each day.
There is a conversation with one of the bullies, who proves to be a complete nihilist. He symbolizes the cold, emotionless, male antagonist who's all too familiar in our lives. It's every man for himself. Empathy is weakness. Kill or be killed.
I can't praise enough Mieko's artistry, and her way of pulling us through emotions, and the confusion her characters feel. She is THE master of female characters, as always. I especially loved Kojima and her strength, her frailty, her intelligence, her heart. I wanted to save her, though she was saving herself.
You'll appreciate this book if you like dark, intricate writing and characters, coming-of-age stories, and have been in an isolated period of your life.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
fairytomie'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Justice for these characters and the fact we don’t know what happened to Kojima is so heart-wrenching.
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Vomit, and Death of parent
saoreads'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
lou_christie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual violence
carinaisabelle's review against another edition
5.0
When we first meet the 14 year old boy, he is beeing beaten up and bullie for his lazy eye. And Kawakami, through her narrator let's us know that this is a normal occurrence for him.
In the novel we also meet Kojima, a girl in the same class as our main character who is also bein bullied. She reaches out to the MC, and at first it feels like our MC finally get a friend. One that truly understands him and supporst him. But alas, it was not meant to be.
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder
milkteeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
miss_chief's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual violence, and Violence
pickledponyo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Classism
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
amy_mansaker's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
firuz'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder