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
sassolinosassoletto's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Trafficking, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Violence, and Medical trauma
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Medical content, Child abuse, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Abortion
daphrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Child death, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual harassment, War, Abortion, Car accident, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
besotted's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Medical content
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Violence, Kidnapping, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Torture, and Confinement
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
ronniek's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Murder, and Child death
dark_marble_eyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
However, it comes across to me as a work written by someone who is either not invested in the issue or only invested in the way that it's a profitably inflammatory subject.
I cannot speak to the original intentions for the book and its sequels, but the opinion I personally have formed after reading the book, some interviews of the author, and the reactions of others, is that it lacks integrity of belief. I do believe that books written with intentional ambiguity can be helpful and valuable -just not this one.
Graphic: Medical content, Suicide, Child death, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Death, Abortion, Pregnancy, Police brutality, and Suicide
Minor: War
in relation to my tag on mass/school shootings- I do not remember there being specific mention of school shootings themselves, but there are people called "clappers" who are essentially suicide bombers in this universe who will go to schools or public areas and clap, activating [nitroglycerin?] in their bloodstream causing combustion and explosion.veraamber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, and Child abuse
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Self harm
moonytoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Bullying, Child death, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death, Confinement, and Body horror
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail