racheldonna14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The characters start as 2D characters of a troubled teen, ward of the state, and religious tithe which allows the world to be the main character for a while. The world of this book feels familiar (because its mostly Ohio and Arizona) but the rules are different and it takes the reader on a journey to see what the USA has become post Second World War. Once the world is concretely established, the characters, and their relationships between one other, begin to blossom and become complex and whole. Each of their motivations and desires are unique leaving no room for confusion as to why they make the choices that they make even if the choice is wrong. The story is gut-wrenching and visceral from beginning to end.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
mokiethe_dog34's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Hate crime, Suicide, and Ableism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
mengzhenreads'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
3.0
Graphic: Child death and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, and Abortion
Minor: Sexual assault
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, War, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Medical content, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, and Racism
aligmich'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? Yes
3.5
All in all, I enjoyed it - but it’s certainly not perfect by any sense.
Graphic: Body horror, Abandonment, Abortion, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
oliverreeds'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: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Abortion, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Violence
snazz07'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: Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, Trafficking, Violence, and Bullying
Moderate: Abortion, Blood, Terminal illness, Confinement, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Kidnapping, War, and Abandonment
Minor: Mental illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
_mims_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Spoiler
Romance was not fleshed out at all. Shusterman should either have developed it more thoroughly or left it out entirely. However, it wasn’t just the romance that felt hollow. All of the relationships lacked depth. The dynamic between Lev and the other main characters felt particularly nonsensical. </spoiler >Graphic: Medical trauma and Medical content
Moderate: Confinement and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Abortion, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Car accident, Trafficking, and Violence
cepbreed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Body horror, Bullying, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Abandonment, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Abortion, and Sexual assault
Minor: Blood, Gun violence, and War
anniereads221's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Ableism, Blood, Murder, Medical content, Abortion, Body horror, Bullying, Violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Gore, Sexual assault, and Grief