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anarmandameg'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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Outing, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Deadnaming, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
kbweis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Car accident
annabelreadsandwrites'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: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Stalking, and Car accident
emmagalt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book tries to do far too much and it suffers because of that. The authors needed to pick one hobby, but there are so many tangents about Lily fencing, playing cello, absorbing facts, as well as Olivia keeping bees that it becomes boring and skimmable.
More than that they needed to pick one trauma. If you try to have a book about murder, domestic abuse, transphobia, suicide, self-harm, abortion, racism in the justic system, etc, then none of the topics are covered with the grace and nuance they deserve. The marginalised characters in the book like Selena and Elizabeth felt like educational tropes pulled from inspirational quotes than 3D people with lived experience.
I felt that the parts about Lily's transition was beautifully written and informative. This book could have been such a positive platform to talk about the love and support she was given to transform as a teenager, and the benefits of being able to act on this choice so young so that she could live as her authentic self for the majority of her life. Unfortunately, this was used as a plot twist to offer motive for Lily's death, instead of a full story about Lily's life.
Finally, the main plot of the book was the trial, but the case and arguments were so weak because too much focus was put on trying (and I think failing) to make the characters seem murky and mysterious.
Such a shame because I always love Jodi Picoult books, but this just didn't do it for me.
</ spoiler >
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident and Abortion
stephanieswilley's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Outing, and Alcohol
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bitesizedbeet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol