njh_books's review
- 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
Reading this story also over the dates they happened added a bit of extra magic to it. Finishing the story in the early morning/late night hours of Dia de Muertos was like being in the story.
Spoiler
I will say I saw Tio Catriz as the murderer pretty quickly. I had my suspicions earlier on, but my red flags went up when Lita told the legend of Bahlam. By the time we got the half heard argument between Catriz and Enrique (which Yadriel thought was about him), it sealed the confirmation for me...and that was 100+ pages before we actually found out Catriz was the murderer.I enjoyed all the friendship shown in the story and the interactions the characters had. It felt so realistic and also just kids being kids in the circumstances they find themselves in. Maritza was wonderful and I enjoyed the scenes with her dogs.
Julian and Yadriel are quite cute and the playful teasing is fun. The slowly blooming relationship was reminiscent of teenage years and I loved that Yadriel's mom, Camila, got to meet him in the epilogue. The reunion with his mom was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
Apparently the book should have sequel in 2024, so looking forward to that!
Graphic: Blood, Death, Torture, Murder, Transphobia, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Deadnaming
Minor: Car accident and Alcohol
melist6's review
- 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: Blood, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Deportation, Transphobia, Death, Dysphoria, Murder, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Animal death, and Deadnaming
folded_between_pages_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, Deadnaming, Death, and Grief
aerietta's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Transphobia, Death of parent, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Physical abuse, Car accident, Child death, Deadnaming, Medical content, Alcohol, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Kidnapping
psydneigh's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, and Deadnaming
ctara2123's review
- 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: Violence, Transphobia, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Deadnaming
lunep'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Physical abuse, Deportation, Xenophobia, Deadnaming, and Child abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Classism, Bullying, Grief, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Abandonment
jodierose14'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
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Deadnaming, Death, Blood, Murder, Torture, and Death of parent
styxx's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
atsuanna'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
"You ready?" Julian asked.
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Transphobia and Deadnaming
Minor: Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Death of parent, and Car accident