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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
The words. The words, arranged so sharply--and suddenly I am crying twenty-seven names for tears.
What a beautiful book (it's left me raw).
What a beautiful book (it's left me raw).
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Blood, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a bit since I've read this book, but I can still feel the energy it left.
Somber, magical, lonely, hopeful, and raw. Pure, painful, raw.
Somber, magical, lonely, hopeful, and raw. Pure, painful, raw.
A powerful book with such strong female characters. Unfortunately most of them are messed-up examples of what not to do in life, especially to children. Astrid's mother is the prime example - abandoning her daughter, neglecting her and making her feel worthless in so many small ways, then even continuing to make her life more difficult from prison. Her various foster mothers are almost just as bad - starving her, using her as free labour or therapy for serious mental health issues, and exposing her to underage sex. I hope it's not too close to the truth of the foster-care system in America, but most of the stories have that ring of truth to them and are easily believable. The characters and the story in general are all so well written that even when the story is at it's most depressing, it grabs you and draws you in. Ultimately there is hope, as Astrid is able to find some freedom from her mother's hold over her and eventually have some power to choose her own life and love. That she is able to learn from the horrors of her childhood and not be completely messed up as a result of them is also testament to her strength and determination to love better than the examples she's been shown. Not an easy read but certainly a worthwhile one.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
medium-paced