Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante

5 reviews

sewoller's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

hobbithopeful's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Would you take on someone else's pain and grief for a chance at a better life?
Marisol has little choice to do otherwise when she agrees to be a part of an experiment in exchange for safety for her and her sister. As the experiment progresses the burden of pain soon becomes overbearing, but she can't help but grow closer and closer to Rey, even though when she touches her the pain is all consuming.
A very real look at how immigrants are treated, this book was heartfelt, real, and full of grief. I do wish it was a bit longer, I still had so many questions, or maybe I just wasn't ready to leave these characters yet. I was afraid this was going to be a very heavy read, and while it does have pockets of sadness, it was nothing too difficult or graphic for me to get through.
It's very easy to forget the privilege we have for being in America, as bad as events and people here can be, there are countless others who works themselves to the bone and risk everything to come here.
I highly recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual harassment

Minor: Bullying, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

snowydaze's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

The ending was a bit rushed, otherwise I loved the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

kathsaph's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? No

4.75

"The Grief Keeper" is the story of Marisol, a seventeen-year-old girl, who flees El Salvador with her little sister under threat of death. Once in America Marisol is offered the chance to win asylum by participating in an experiment; taking another person's grief. What she does not expect is falling in love with the girl she is saving. 

This novel was personally difficult to read, but completely relevant and impactful. So many details were packed into 300 pages, all contributing to amazing character development and storytelling. The book is in the first person and often includes Spanish, I ended up looking up the words as I went along, and I recommend doing the same, it added another layer of depth. My response to "The Grief Keeper" was visceral, and although not all of the technology in the book exists, the societal views that would allow the experiment to happen do, making the book terrifying. Please check triggers before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Blood, and Alcohol

morganperks's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment