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rballenger's review against another edition
3.0
Type of read: Weekend Read
What made me pick it up: Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors and I've enjoyed previous books of hers written in a similar style.
Overall rating: People Kill People is a six degrees of separation story highlighting how a gun isn’t always necessary to kill, all it takes is intention. I think the fact that it took me so long to finish this book, even with the library loan lapses, says something about how it was (or wasn’t) able to capture my attention. Which is rare for a Hopkins book. I don’t mind books that have a purpose or provide glimpses of, or even unapologetic, educational nuances; however, People Kill People seemed to be a bit forced and superficial. I did like the variety of characters and the way they are each built out without being too focused on one over another. Additionally, I appreciated the ending and final pages. Overall, not my favorite, but still a good read.
It took me an extended time to finish this book because I let my library loan lapse multiple times and had to wait for it to become available again. This was not due to the content/interest in the book, more because it's in high demand, going on vacation, and checking out more books than I could finish in my allotted time.
What made me pick it up: Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors and I've enjoyed previous books of hers written in a similar style.
Overall rating: People Kill People is a six degrees of separation story highlighting how a gun isn’t always necessary to kill, all it takes is intention. I think the fact that it took me so long to finish this book, even with the library loan lapses, says something about how it was (or wasn’t) able to capture my attention. Which is rare for a Hopkins book. I don’t mind books that have a purpose or provide glimpses of, or even unapologetic, educational nuances; however, People Kill People seemed to be a bit forced and superficial. I did like the variety of characters and the way they are each built out without being too focused on one over another. Additionally, I appreciated the ending and final pages. Overall, not my favorite, but still a good read.
It took me an extended time to finish this book because I let my library loan lapse multiple times and had to wait for it to become available again. This was not due to the content/interest in the book, more because it's in high demand, going on vacation, and checking out more books than I could finish in my allotted time.
mandolin_dreams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
anxiouslyreading33's review against another edition
5.0
Okay I gave it a 5 star because it's Ellen Hopkins and she crafts an amazing story, but I did not agree with anything in this book. I don't like guns at all, all the hate in this book made me cringe and hurt to read some of it. There should also be a trigger warning for this book but that goes for all her books.
shaunareads's review against another edition
4.0
This is an important story around a very controversial topic.
I have never read anything by Ellen Hopkins. I don't often read poetry and it was in second person so the format of this book took a little bit of getting used to.
However, I love being in the character's head when I'm reading and this really allowed that. However, disturbing some of the characters might have been.
I took away a star because the story moved so slowly and the big event where I thought everything was going to explode at almost seemed pointless.
I know now that it was meant to be that. And it was interesting to see in the minds of the characters but it made a lot of the perspectives seem unnecessary.
I have never read anything by Ellen Hopkins. I don't often read poetry and it was in second person so the format of this book took a little bit of getting used to.
However, I love being in the character's head when I'm reading and this really allowed that. However, disturbing some of the characters might have been.
I took away a star because the story moved so slowly and the big event where I thought everything was going to explode at almost seemed pointless.
I know now that it was meant to be that. And it was interesting to see in the minds of the characters but it made a lot of the perspectives seem unnecessary.
disneymagic's review against another edition
4.0
I love Ellen Hopkins- her formatting, her use of fonts, world building and getting into character, the way she handles difficult topics.
This book is the epitome of Hopkins’ writing but for one thing. The poetic style isn’t really there. But I really don’t mind.
People Kill People covers a really heavy topic in a very head on way. I’m personally not okay with the viewpoint of some of the main characters so I knocked it down a star for making me feel uncomfortable but it was a beautifully written story and I’m happy to say I have this as an ARC sitting on my bookshelf.
This book is the epitome of Hopkins’ writing but for one thing. The poetic style isn’t really there. But I really don’t mind.
People Kill People covers a really heavy topic in a very head on way. I’m personally not okay with the viewpoint of some of the main characters so I knocked it down a star for making me feel uncomfortable but it was a beautifully written story and I’m happy to say I have this as an ARC sitting on my bookshelf.
taylorlechat's review against another edition
4.0
I could have done without the poetry and for some reason I had trouble keeping track of the main characters relationships with secondary characters. I did enjoy the ending though which I find rarely happens for me in books, but I wish it would have delved deeper into white supremacy as a whole and guns and gun safety as a whole.
deaton9's review against another edition
5.0
A chilling but powerful look into how hurt and rage can lead to violence.
ktbkitten's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A good story. Very sad and dark. The ending poem is perfect and hit hard.