piaa157'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Blood, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Violence, and War
skiaakari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Murder, War, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
saraaaa's review against another edition
4.75
I feel like the author went for an explicitly didascalic approach, unambiguously denouncing the horrors of the war through the first person account of the young protagonist's personal experiences and reflections.
The strong accent on the loss of youthful dreams and teenage convictions makes it, in a way, a hybrid between a war novel and a bildungsroman.
The style was poetic at times, especially when reporting the protagonist's considerations, then moving to a kind of matter-of-factly journalistic style when describing the soldiers' routine and daily sufferings.
Last but not least, it's the first – and so far the only – war novel I read that managed to give a realistic account of a teenage boy's perspective on women and sexual attraction without falling into misogyny.
Graphic: Body horror, War, Blood, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Excrement, and Racial slurs
mme_carton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
opinkb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Gore, Animal death, Violence, War, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
izzallgood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
Minor: Excrement
A really thought-provoking book, with rich, devastating imagery and equally deep and devastating reflection from the protagonist throughout. A deeply human, moving and raw experience. I found myself shocked at how well I was able to relate to these enormous emotions, despite never having experienced anything remotely close to what is described throughout - this is a testament to how authentic and human the writing is. I felt as Paul felt as he felt it. One of the best books I’ve read.mrbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Murder, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and War
Moderate: Colonisation and Grief
silver_star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, War, Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Genocide
valleylore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, and War
sunnilee's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: War, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Animal death