the_vegan_bookworm'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Gore
Minor: Rape
talonsontypewriters'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Outing, Child abuse, Violence, Dysphoria, Gun violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Death, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: War, Ableism, Cancer, Fatphobia, Drug use, Addiction, Vomit, Rape, Racism, and Death of parent
karcitis'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
3.75
Graphic: Gore, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Gun violence, Violence, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Blood, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Outing, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Cursing, and Classism
Minor: Self harm, Rape, Bullying, Fatphobia, Body horror, Deadnaming, and Vomit
brassmonkey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Outing, and Gun violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Fatphobia, Drug use, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
ankonyx'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
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, and Homophobia
Minor: Ableism, Rape, and Drug use
stacyaj'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
Minor: Rape
wynterwonderland'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: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
melbrooker's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Rape
lily1304'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
3.25
I like Danny and Sarah though! And the concept of a totally closeted trans girl transforming into a supermodel is hilarious. There's better YA out there, but it's really cool to have a trans heroine.
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Self harm
Characters use the wordbooksthatburn'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? It's complicated
3.0
I like how the world in the book is presented as morally grey, with various factions vying to Danny to join their side. For most of the book it felt like it really was a morally grey world, but I was disappointed that towards the end it seems to pick a specific side. I hope the sequel proves me wrong on that, if I decide to read it. Calamity is a great mentor, she's my favorite character. I also like Doctor Impossible but that got trickier as the story progressed. The worldbuilding works well, sketching the idea of this world that is very different from ours because of when the superheroes showed up, but recognizable enough because of what was chosen to parallel our real developments.
Now for the main reason I don't recommend this: I'm disturbed by the way it handles disability and ableism, both with the casual use of ableist slurs (from characters of all cape factions, so this wasn't just how to mark the villains) and with the treatment of physical disabilities. There’s a disturbing battle scene
Overall this seems like pretty good handling of trans stuff and domestic abuse by a parent, but mediocre to terrible handling of ableism and disability, and therefore I don't recommend it. Maybe the sequel could win me back, but that won't be enough to make me feel good about this particular book.
Graphic: Ableism, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Bullying, Transphobia, Blood, Gore, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Medical content, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Vomit, Excrement, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape and Drug use