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hmwoodward'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book shows you a side of police brutality that we don't get to see - how those who are left behind process and respond to it. Star grapples with her responsibility to her murdered friend and the risk of speaking about it to the public. You watch as life goes back to "normal" as you follow Star to school and with her family. Though the death is no longer the only focus, it is a grief that weighs on Star and the community, on top of all the other trauma they experience in the form of poverty or drugs or gang activity, etc. The world stops at the news of a death at the hands of the police AND at the trial AND at the decision, but they're gone when the news cycle ends again.
Through the course of the book, you get to know and love (most of) the characters, despite their many flaws. You get to understand why people in challenging situations pick what appears to be a wrong choice since the odds are stacked and no choice is a good one sometimes. You watch as the people around Star grow and hear the stories of others who grew in their challenging environment.
I listened to this on audiobook and appreciated the narrator because it felt like I was in Star's head. The narrator brought these powerful and emotional moments to life so vividly.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
_ren'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
hairynigga365's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: War
Minor: Antisemitism
They get butt nakedejthephoenix'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: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
demetrius_bennett'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism