ajediprincess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
What a difficult book. I don't mean that it was difficult to read the writing or that it was overly complicated. No, this book was well-written and well-paced and written in a way that even middle schoolers could access. But oh my goodness was it uncomfortable at the best of times and painful at the worst. My feelings on this book are complicated.
The story was very, very interesting and I enjoyed seeing everything through Braden's perspective. This was definitely a book where the mix of present progressive and past tenses worked beautifully for the story.
All of the characters that we got to know were well-developed and multifaceted and flawed and interesting. I'm not sure if I would call it a character driven novel, but it was certainly emotional and the decisions Braden made were fueled by those emotions and thoughts.
This is in part a book about toxic relationships and emotional abuse. It's also a story about coming of age, questioning one's beliefs, drawing boundaries, healing from trauma, and accepting oneself and one's family as they are, warts and all, without comprising one's health and convictions.
This book was so heavy and so raw, deeply relatable, insightful, strange, and yet beautiful in a way. I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't my favorite, but I'm very glad I read it and I really think that it's kind of an unappreciated, little-known powerful, moving story that more people need to read.
The story was very, very interesting and I enjoyed seeing everything through Braden's perspective. This was definitely a book where the mix of present progressive and past tenses worked beautifully for the story.
All of the characters that we got to know were well-developed and multifaceted and flawed and interesting. I'm not sure if I would call it a character driven novel, but it was certainly emotional and the decisions Braden made were fueled by those emotions and thoughts.
This is in part a book about toxic relationships and emotional abuse. It's also a story about coming of age, questioning one's beliefs, drawing boundaries, healing from trauma, and accepting oneself and one's family as they are, warts and all, without comprising one's health and convictions.
This book was so heavy and so raw, deeply relatable, insightful, strange, and yet beautiful in a way. I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't my favorite, but I'm very glad I read it and I really think that it's kind of an unappreciated, little-known powerful, moving story that more people need to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, and Animal death
shrub_club's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, but I completely understand why others didn’t. With heavy themes of religious trauma, abuse, addiction, and violence, this would not be for everyone, and I can see why to others it might seem heavy-handed and preachy. However, to someone who lived a life like Braden’s (albeit with less extreme, but still present physical and verbal abuse), this book doesn’t just hit home. It hits me so hard it makes chills run down my back and stops me in my tracks. I have many personal anecdotes that let me relate to this story very well, and although this book isn’t perfect, I think it was incredibly well-written
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Murder, Addiction, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Drug use
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