Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

7 reviews

melaniemalsch's review

challenging hopeful sad medium-paced

• 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

This was sooooooo tough and awful but I could not put it down. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book centered on child sexual abuse. I think the author accomplished her purpose and examined the subject very well. I’m glad I read it, if I choose to rate it I’d give 4 stars but I don’t think it’s right to give it a rating. 

One qualm I had is there were several instances where I thought she could have used more knowledge of how to talk about a few of the minor topics, like race, for example (this may have been a symptom of this being written in the 2000s). 

That said, I certainly think she was overall appropriately sensitive and very knowledgeable when it came to the main topic of abuse and handled it realistically— the reactions, the questions, the recovery. The characters were sensitive but also clunky and awkward about it too, not knowing how to handle something so shocking. 

I think as readers it’s easy to have similar reactions to this kind of book as some of the characters had in the story. “Why is she writing about this?” “I feel bad for reading about this” “this seems too far-fetched” “how could someone do something like that?” The difficulty of understanding can so easily turn into disbelief that it does happen in real life and I think that was the point that was made very well. 

I also thought the exploration of being there for someone who has gone through something incomprehensible was very important. No one knows how to navigate that kind of thing but the choice to stay and give space and listen and try is what matters. 

Worth the read, with caution and understanding

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence

meaghanashley3's review

dark inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence

avilareads's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

one of my all time favorite novels. so much love and care is put into such traumatic and difficult topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

bloo_0's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer

cafereads's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• 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

one of the easiest 5 stars i have ever given. beautiful, devastating, and bittersweet all tied up in one. i wished the very happiest of lives for every main character and loved understanding each of them deeply. it was difficult to read at some points because it forces you to confront the dark and despicable things that humans are capable of that we usually turn a blind eye towards, which is exactly what the author wants. absolutely gorgeous novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

wecutthenight's review

medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying, Violence, and Police brutality

anntea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

My rating is 4.75 because it wasn't perfect, but im rounding up.

This book is not for everyone and please check the warnings first. Still, I found the story hopeful and extremely emotional. I still feel like I'm going to cry. I love Jordan so much and wanted the best for him and to give him a big hug and never let a bad thing happen to him ever again

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Self harm, and Suicide