sierraburrell'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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
literaryintersections'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? It's complicated
5.0
If I could give this book 100 stars I would.
I brought Chain Gang All-Stars with me to Scotland not knowing how timely this book would be. Yes this book highlights a dystopian America that feels like it could be right around the corner - a privatized system that pairs corporal punishment with entertainment, pitting incarcerated people against each other in weekly “Death Matches” where only one can survive. This doesn’t feel too far off and Adeji-Brenyah confirms that with key footnotes highlighting the horrific ways our current system strips people of their humanity. But what struck me, especially reading this book during the humanitarian crisis in Palestine was the idea of freedom and if we can ever be free when our governments, systems, policies and practices can take our rights, our families, our lives at a moment.
The quote above really struck me - I actually put the book down and had to take a visible breath because this is happening right now. A state engaging in immense violence in the name of murdered citizens being looked at as justified while any type of resistance or protest is condemned. And we are witnessing this. We are watching it unfold, maybe not as entertainment but it’s everyday, consistent violence, gaslighting, us vs them rhetoric. A complete loss of humanity.
I never want to get to the world that is described in Chain Gang All-Stars. But I fear that in many ways we are already there. And there is so much blood everywhere.
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Do yourself a favor and read it. You will learn something. Your ideas of punishment and criminal justice will be challenged or nurtured. And you will feel deep empathy and sadness: for the people in these pages (Loretta and Hamara and Hendrix and Simon and Sunset and Mari and Razor and Bells and…..) and for the people in our world currently being stripped of their humanity every second of every day. And you will be sad for yourself - being complicit in the systems that make this horrible world turn.
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Death, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Slavery
lycheejelly'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? Yes
4.5
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
jhbandcats'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? Yes
5.0
The character development is focused on the now - very little attention is given to the lives the people had before they entered the killing-as-entertainment program. We learn just enough to know that these are not the same people who earlier committed murder, rape, and arson. The irony is that they’re now being told to kill, and to do it in a spectacular manner to make the games masters and the promoters as rich as possible.
As pointed out in an interview Mari gives, there’s no good solution to the problem of incarcerating so many people. But clearly the current situation isn’t working and there needs to be change.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
fruitbatflora'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Suicide, Murder, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Self harm
Moderate: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, Rape, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Domestic abuse
sarahbeydoun'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Grief, Cursing, Sexual content, Murder, Gore, Body horror, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, and Medical content
texashippie'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Classism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Lesbophobia, Gore, Homophobia, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence
othersociologist'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts
sariereads'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
3.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Torture, Murder, Gore, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Classism, Cursing, and Slavery
Minor: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
daniellekat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, Blood, Torture, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Rape, Racism, Death of parent, Transphobia, and Sexism