Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

81 reviews

wormiebrains's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious fast-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

5.0

Beautifully written story about a young child refusing to back down and protecting their own when the adults don't want to listen.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Grief

My favorite aspect about the book is the perspective of a child who has been raised with the ability to ask questions and truly study the world around them. Jam knows something terrible is happening and refuses to believe the adults telling all the children that their newly built society is perfect and without flaw. Because they have not taught the children what is not okay the children don't know how to tell the adults that something is not okay. It also shows that you are never too young to stand up for people, even if it is against your own family.

trollmila's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was an incredible read. I started reading and immediately thought, "This is so weird. I love it." It's not very long but packs a punch.
As a polyamorous non binary person, I felt very seen with a three parent household, with a similar structure of my partners and I. I love seeing a happy trans person where that's not the plot. The selective mutism is so good. I saw a lot of my queer community in this novel without that being the plot or point of conflict!
The themes include: not having black and white thoughts of morality/justice, not becoming too safe in your community that you ignore red flags and dangers, but also how important community is.
If you're interested in reading it, I will include a cw of child abuse, not detailed, but very much there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual violence

Minor: Violence

lesbegays's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

the child sexual abuse is not at all explicit, but it is a central theme

audaudaud's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Pedophilia

juliatindell's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was absolutely incredible. I will be recommending this to every teacher, parent, violence preventionist, transformative practitioner, and human I know.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual violence

I would not call it graphic, but there are descriptions of signs of child sexual abuse, and it is talked about explicitly.

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Medical content, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Incest

Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, War, Mental illness, Sexual content, Abandonment, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Ableism, Confinement, Gore, Suicide, Transphobia, and Vomit

Ableism warning is to err on the side of caution, for disability framed as a punishment near the end.

azalia's review against another edition

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, and Child abuse

Minor: Body horror, Cursing, and Gore

sofipitch's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-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

4.0

I feel like the main reason this isn't 5 stars is that it is YA and clearly written for a younger audience. There were lots of moments where the characters are clearly conveying the theme that were heavy handed but also this is for kids, they'll need it told to them directly. The message is good through and I only recently learned this book is being taught in schools, which is wonderful.

Otherwise Akwaeke Emezi has the most beautiful contemporary prose, they are absolutely one of the best writers around. Their dialogue also does an excellent job of making the characters feel real. And finally they like freak shit and there were some good moments, the descriptions of Pet and Pet coming out of the painting and what Pet does to the monster at the end 👌

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Content Warnings

Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

bookwormbi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

This was such an interesting take on the utopia/dystopia idea, I loved it! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Child abuse

pinkalpaca's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Sexual violence