Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

35 reviews

paigebypage__'s review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've been torn open and left hollow. This book is harrowing in ways that will never leave me, and I think that's for the best. Easily one of the best books published this year. Absolutely groundbreaking, and the first time I have ever described a book as a Must Read. It is unmissable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Hate crime, Confinement, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Classism, Death, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Blood

malongorose's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Extremely disturbing on so many levels. Thoughtfully written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Blood, Mental illness, Death, Confinement, Self harm, Physical abuse, Murder, Slavery, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

kshertz's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• 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

4.25

What a powerful book. It takes every issue we’re dealing with in modern society and blows it up to monumental proportions. The circle comes back around with chain gangs that fight gladiator style. It’s so smart I’m sure a lot went over my head. But the ills of society are on full display. Prepare to be amazed at the talent ! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Gore, Physical abuse, Body horror, Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, and Death

tinyplanet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Torture, Murder, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Blood

Minor: Antisemitism, Infidelity, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Classism, Cursing, Homophobia, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Alcohol, Death of parent, Deportation, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

dominiq_ec's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

I mean, this is just one of the best books I've read in a while. Considering another dystopian / apolalyptic favorite of mine, Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin, its so rooted in human rights issues in the United States, and is just dystopian enough to convince you that we may not see this come to fruition. But what if we do? How will you think? 

I thought that Thurwar and Staxxx both died at the end, but I was wrong and now my heart is broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Cancer, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Self harm

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Hate crime, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident

I mean, this book does force you to take a relatively deep look at the United States penal system, which does include reading about the crimes some of these characters committed, as well as how they are (mis)treated by those that are responsible for their care. At the same time, these incarcerated folks are fighting to the death for entertainment's sake, so there's a lot of gory, violent descriptions. There is mentions of rape, but no graphic details. There is torture, and loss of life. It's a troubling book, so read with caution.

lycheejelly's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma

smolo1993's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A dark forecast on what the U.S. criminal justice system could become. Written from multiple points of view, it follows the struggle to survive, captures the indifference of the masses to inhumane behavior, and highlights the hope for reform via the social justice movement. This book will inform, enrage, inspire, and break you. Truly an incredible and impactful work. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Violence, Racism, and Physical abuse

thedreammachine's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Classism, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, Suicide, Racism, Self harm, Police brutality, Mental illness, and Medical content

Minor: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Ableism, Sexual assault, and Addiction

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

This book is tough. A unique, dystopian look at the flaws of criminal justice system. This book is gross and heartbreaking and frustrating and beautiful and powerful beyond words. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Rape

jennat's review against another edition

World-building is a complete mess. The concept is great, but the execution has far too much explaining than actual storytelling. Absolutely exhausting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder