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lokes'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Dysphoria
jalexpulliamkepler's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Chronic illness
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Car accident, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
tinyplanet'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, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Car accident, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism, and Deportation
dominiq_ec's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Car accident, and Alcohol
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
- 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: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
caseythereader'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
- How does one even begin to review a book like CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS? I knew Adjei-Brenyah's debut novel would be something to behold, and even then all my expectations were blown away.
- This is a sci-fi novel, but it's also an abolitionist text. The way something awful will happen to a character and then there's a footnote with the U.S. law that makes the action legal...whew.
- Adjei-Brenyah makes the reader stay in uncomfortable places, both of physical brutality and of mental work. The lines we like to draw between "good" and "bad" people are smashed here, with the aim to bring the whole system down.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail