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grboph's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
This was definitely one of the most depressing books I've read in quite a while, but I had to give it five stars because the premise and the way the story was told were both very intriguing. The story is told from the perspective of a five-year-old boy, which I felt added a lot of depth to the story - I was very impressed by Donoghue's ability to get inside this character's head and relate to him so strongly. This book nearly made me cry several times due to the pure emotionality with which Donoghue tells Jack and Ma's story. I found Jack's perceptions of the world around him to be very interesting, and thought a lot about all the tiny experiences and social conventions that I and those around me take for granted, and what navigating society for the first time at that age must be like. This was a very emotional and impactful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes true crime or stories about strong children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion
grainjordan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Excrement, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail