Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

30 reviews

karissabubble's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This really dived into deep topics, even though it was fairly short! I loved the discussions on what is a monster, and what is an angel and how it's not always how they look that gives it away. It is the unseen and the ignored. I think everyone who is concerned about topics of justice and revolution should read this! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Child abuse

Moderate: Emotional abuse

olpapi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Death

clhtdr's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

modernmatilda's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Hmm I have mixed feelings about this. 

On one hand, NPR compared it to Wrinkle in Time (my fav) and I very much think it's a readalike. It has biblical undertones, kids having to handle things with the adults help, and this overall feeling of doom.

As another reviewer wrote, "Pet is the gorgeous story of a young black trans woman taking it into her own hands to see the unseen, and to protect the vulnerable, even when it means upsetting the balance of her life.".

I loved the first half; watching Pet come out of the painting, getting to know Jam, seeing them interact with other characters through sign language, it was all fantastic. 

But I had no idea this story was explicitly about child abuse. The emotions in this book were heartbreaking and big and messy and raw and HEAVY. I don't know if the message was clear and helpful for a middle grade reader... 

I thought the "perfect world can still be impect, need to grow, and have hidden flaws" was another sad part of the book. The story deserves the accolades it has received for its originality, representation, and heart.

But overall, it made me feel hopeless...

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was a really interesting read for me. I found it really hard to be fully invested in the story until around chapter 9. Once chapter 9 hit, I was sold and couldn't this book down. 

Part of me wonders if maybe I am just not smart/academic enough to full understand what was happening throughout. The angels were really throwing me off. I understood the part about the monsters, but the angels coming out of the painting had me a bit confused. 

Overall, I believe this story packs a huge punch and brings an interesting spin on some extremely heavy and important topics. It may not have been the book for me, but it is one I will remember and likley recommend. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

grrrlbrarian's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Vomit

Although it’s heavily implied that

Redemption’s uncle Hibiscus

is a paedophile, it is never explicitly stated, nor described in detail. There is some fairly graphic violence towards the end of the story.

urlocalhethey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, and Incest

nialiversuch's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child abuse, Blood, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia

Moderate: War

Minor: Vomit

hyperpension's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-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? Yes

4.5

Imaginative but hits terrifyingly close to home. Couldn’t help but think I wish I had this book as a kid. Beautifully written in a heart-wrenching way that makes you fall in love with Jam, Redemption, and Pet. The ways Emezi writes humanity is so lively and you can feel warmth in every page. Recommend to anyone!! Monsters and angels look like all kinds of things.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Body horror

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, War, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Mental illness, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexual violence, Transphobia, Ableism, Addiction, and Rape

criticalbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence