Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson

6 reviews

kitty_may12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

as someone who has read and never really vibed with Wilson's writing when I was younger and much more of the target demographic, I didn't really know what to expect going into this one. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The exploration of grief and survivor's guilt is dynamic, complex and sweetly sinister as the reader is pulled and dragged through a narrative where Vicky is an omnipresent, unnerving presence in the life of her best friend Jade that loves to torment and tease her, calling Vicky's loyalty and love for her into question from the word "go"...

But, that's what makes it unique, wholly original and poignant, thoughtful and wise. 

Vicky Angel is a YA knockout filled with morally-grey characters, gratitude, resilience and hope!   

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Abandonment, Fatphobia, Medical content, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

madeleinebay's review against another edition

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Grief, Gaslighting, and Bullying

Moderate: Eating disorder and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Car accident and Vomit

coriblake's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Covers the topic of grief in a way that is surprisingly nuanced and might provide children with the language to explain what they are feeling. Though rather dark, this unsanitized view of grief may be something children in similar situations may have an easier time relating to. However, this book gets major marks off for the way it covers a grown man's attraction to an underage girl. Is there a way to cover a topic like this that may be beneficial for children? Yes. But having it included as a D plot that is never resolved or critically addressed feels weirdly trivializing and left a bad taste in my mouth. For that reason alone, I would hesitate giving this book to Wilson's target demographic. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Grief, Car accident, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pedophilia and Suicidal thoughts

rachelizx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Bullying, and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming

rory_john14's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Grief, Car accident, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Medical content, and Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

Minor: Medical trauma, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts

dawnnnm's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Always loved Jaqueline Wilson as a child and decided to give this a read as an adult because I never really got around to it and I was surprised at how, mature so many of the themes explored in this book are. I think it's a lovely book to get children and young adults to think about and examine their grief and I think that it's a great way for adults with children/youn  adults in their life to get a sneak peak into the some of the thinking patterns and coping mechanisms they can use when dreaming with something so raw. 

It definitely was a painful read but an ultimately informative and hopeful one too. Props to Jacqueline for always writing complex, relatable female characters. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief