Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

17 reviews

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.5

I had to hold back tears by the end.

What a heartbreaking story that, despite in my heart of hearts  knowing something like this would befall Kofi and his loved ones, from an unassuming, slice-of-life first half it still shocked me!

This was full of laughter, friendships and childhood rivalries between cousins, a glimpse of life in upper Kwanta and suddenly a series of tragic events pertaining to accidental death, a sick sense of justice and slavery. My heart kept skipping over the anguish I felt.

This story was beautifully and perfectly captured within the art of prose and the layout of the words on the page helped to emphasise certain scenes through the power of the words used to describe them and how they were fashioned.

A sorrowful tale, but not withot hope. One that is important to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ambermariebee's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

imsoverycool's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

It's a blend of an emotional rollercoaster, a diary of a young boy, and a history-inspired novel, which I really enjoyed. I recommend this heavily!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Deportation

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

styxx's review

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

queer_bookwyrm's review

dark emotional tense 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? No

4.0

4 ⭐ CW: Violence, slave trade, death, death of a child 

"Dreams are today's answers for tomorrow's questions." 

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander is a historical fiction written in verse about a young Twi boy (modern day Nigeria). This was a beautiful and quick read. It kind of reminded me of Things Fall Apart. 

We follow Kofi, an 11 year old boy of Upper Kwante, who asks many questions, has a crush on a girl, and has a rivalry with his cousin of the same name. Kofi has a good life with his family until he and others in his family are kidnapped by people from Lower Kwante in retaliation for something Kofi's older brother did. 

I loved Kwame Alexander's writing in this. It was so accessible and beautiful and poetic. We learn a lot about how history and wisdom is wrapped up in oral storytelling. We also see the affects of the slave trade with England and America. The emergence of guns, and the brutality the people of the Gold Coast faced. Although it was a sad story, it ends on a note of hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Slavery, and Violence

paigereitz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Oooooof. This book packed a PUNCH. It was a beautiful novel, but hard to read. I can only imagine how hard it was to write.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Colonisation

aplis's review

informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

auraylee's review

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

lit_with_lauren's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

sandsing7's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Rape