Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Desconexión by Neal Shusterman

73 reviews

queencleo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This novel contains the single most horrifying sequence I have read in a decade. All of the stars are for that scene alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

serenabereading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

One of my favorite reads of the year. I finished this earlier and my mind is still reeling. OMG Connor, Risa and Lev were real ones. This took so many twists and turns. I’m excited about reading the rest of the series to see what happens because it’s definitely not over yet. I pray this type of thing never happens to our society.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Violence

spencellio's review against another edition

2.75

I will probably not be reading the next one. I would have rated it a flat 3 stars but points were docked for

the sickeningly uncomfortable full chapter of just a teenage boy being unwound piece by piece.

call me squeamish if you will but I had to put the book down several times just to get through the chapter

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Abandonment

Moderate: Trafficking and Medical trauma

Minor: Racism

bowlingforboots's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual harassment

brie__774's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Abortion

slowreader9999's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Extremely enjoyable read! The whole concept of the book is extremely unique and, though I will admit there are a couple flaws with the worldbuilding, it was smoothly written enough not to interfere with the plot itself. Speaking of the writing, it is very entertainingly and skillfully written. I am in love with Neal Shusterman's writing style and the way he portrays characters' inner thoughts.

Many storylines in this book come full-circle,

which makes for a very emotional and satisfying ending. I wish I could read this book again for the first time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Abortion, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

nafinboof95's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

I loved EVERYTHING about this book!
⚠️ Trigger warning! ⚠️ 
If you have issues with abortion or parents giving up unwanted children, this book might not be for you.
I started my adventures with Neal Shusterman with the Scythe series. It’s fun to imagine this in the same universe, way way earlier on in the timeline, one of humanity’s many “problematic times” before they put the Thunderhead in charge.
Pacing in this book was great. Stakes felt so high the whole time, and you had no idea how they could get higher until they did, and every time blew my mind. Pretty literally toward the end there. 😉
10/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse and Abortion

Children younger than 18 can be retroactively aborted, their bodies being separated into pieces that others need to live happy lives, arguably meaning the original child never dying, just living in a “divided state.” Makes you think about what “life” really is.

aruktai's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad 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? Yes

5.0

It's almost frightening that I'm reading this at a time where it isn't impossible for a future in the far off to happen along these lines. Like The Handmaid's Tale, it expands from a long time persisting issue, pushing human morals and creating a solution for the issue, which is ridding the world of abortion but also of unruly, unwanted children.

Schusterman has this way of writing which makes it difficult to put down. The chapters and done bite size, leaving you reading more and more before you finally discover you're at the end. These kids are people you could have, will have and may well know in the future - if society took a wrong turn then it could become a horror reality like what Schusterman has created.

The one scene of unwinding has definitely made me think. It's always been a tiny thought that comes out now and then, what makes a human alive, but the scene will stick with me.

The ending wasn't too great, but it has opened the story up for the sequels, which I'll have to read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

taylor_trevino's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide

acayton14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual harassment and War