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jackieom4's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
aimeereadsthebooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
barnstormingbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In the forward to the 20th Anniversary Edition, Van Camp states that he used Larry to process a lot of his own trauma, the trauma of a child one generation removed from the 60s Scoop, and this comes through heavily in this book.
I struggled over all as I read this book, however, I often struggle with books told from the perspective of teenage boys. I’m not sure if it is the hyper sexualized interaction with the world around them or just the sort of male gaze of the world that is depicted in a lot of novels with a teen-male protagonist, but I had to force myself to engage. Which is too bad. This book does a lot of things well, and those need to be celebrated. It’s probably just my own hang ups with viewing the world through this lens.
This is a short and driving narrative. I was very impressed with how Van Camp told the story of Larry’s trauma. Instead of setting a scene and forcing the reader to live it, as I’ve read in many novels, Van Camp gives us moments of memory in the form of rage and panic attacks. The pain, fear and lingering effects are more powerful than if we are just forced to be a witness, instead we are a participant. The experience is disorienting, but feels so real. Giving the reader a stronger understanding of the lasting effects of trauma.
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Medical trauma
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
a_shelf_of_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
bjlinard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
dessa's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t have words for this. I gulped it down like a starving animal. Richness and beauty and horror and joy, steady and unlikely and unwieldy.
carlybeth1987's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0