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goofymango's review against another edition
- 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
I won't dance around it - the overwhelming feel of this book is one of tragedy, of heartbreak and trauma. But there are those glimpses of authentic joy, peace, and the wonders of human connection hidden throughout the book, something that adds to the incredible realness of it all. It's that realness that makes this story so gut-wrenching, because it isn't far removed. You can so very, very easily picture this happening in our reality, our timeline. It makes it difficult to get through at times - upsetting as it is in it's plausibility - but all the more important to really take it in, too. I wept, I had goose-bumps, I felt glimmers of hope. I felt every word of this book in my bones, and - provided you are in the right headspace - recommend anyone to read/listen to it.
The audiobook was read by the author, and gosh, what a performance. Engaging, captivating, raw and filled with emotion, the narration was some of the best I've ever had the joy to listen to.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, and Death
Moderate: Police brutality, Violence, and Genocide
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
megansoetaert's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Genocide, Murder, Xenophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Transphobia, Death, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Ableism
readingwithkt's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
In the way that all good dystopian stories are written, this book could easily be a possible future, a prediction of what could come if we are not careful to challenge and destroy the growing wave of fascism. I particularly appreciated Hernandez’s reflections on intersectionality throughout the narrative.
Though somewhat heavy handed in places, I thought that Crosshairs was a chilling and harrowing dystopian, and one that is certainly worth a read if you can handle the graphic violence and dehumanisation tactics depicted throughout. It took me several (3-4) months to read this novel due to the content.
May this book serve as a reminder of the dangers of fascism, and the need for all allys to speak up and take action in the face of it.
Thank you to Jacaranda for this review copy, received in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape
wholesomeandqueer's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, Racism, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual violence
eslsilver's review
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Transphobia, Vomit, and Xenophobia
kharlan3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Trafficking, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, and Gore
Minor: Biphobia
bookishrealm's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was dreading reviewing this book. Clearly it wasn't because I didn't enjoy it. This was just an instance where I was at a loss for words because the book was just that intense. <i>Crosshairs</i> is such an interesting book that I'm not really sure how to categorize it in terms of genre. It reads like literary fiction, but also as science fiction/dystopian. So, if I was attempting to describe it I would say literary science fiction if that's even a thing. It takes place in a alternative, but real life/modern version of Canada in which a cataclysmic enviornmental event has caused the country to go haywire. The novel itself focuses on Kay, descendent of Jamaican and Filipino heritage, as they write love letters to their partner. It is through these letters and through the stories of so many other characters that the reader learns that all individuals who are considered "other" are sent to these work camps that are supposed to be for the greater good of society. Of course, they are means for those who are White, Anglo Saxon, cis-gender, heterosexual, Protestants to control and oppress those who do not fit into their "normative" beliefs. Kay, like so many others, are on the run and in hiding with the assistance of an opposition group ready to expose the Canadian government and those running the camps for the inhuman ways that they have treated others.
This is a slow burn novel and very much so needed to be because of the complex issues discussed in the book. Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing about this novel is easy. The content warnings alone are enough to make anyone question whether they would enjoy this book; however, it is an important read. Catherine Hernandez utilizes this dystopian/science fiction like version of Canada to bring forward ideas/thoughts that are extremely relevant to conversations happening around the world right now in 2021. It is horrifying to know that the behaviors, thoughts, and ideals held by the oppressors in this novel are the same that are present in people today. So to know that marginalized groups were forced into precarious situations that forced them into hiding made me feel like this was something that could happen in real life. And that directly relates to Hernandez's conversation about intersectionality and visible marginalizations. Hernandez makes it clear that while some marginalizations may initially fall under the same "umbrella" categories, the experiences of said groups are extremely different. For example, we frequently use LGBTQ2SIA+ as an umbrella term but should know and understand that the experiences of a person who identifies as gay will not be the same as someone who has marginalizations that intersect between sexual identity and race. Those who can code switch and hide their marginalizations were never targeted like their counterparts and characters were quick to check each other on this.
Another interesting topic that Hernandez explores is performative activism and the meaning of allyship. This is a conversation that has been happening throughout communities all over the world even within the book community. Because those groups that are targeted are often on the run and in hiding, there are a number of individuals who can pass for white, cis gender, heterosexual citizens that assist in the resistance. Their ability to pass puts into question whether they are helping for self gradification, to make themselves feel better or if this is something they are doing because they truly want to stop their country from committing these atrocities. One of the best lines in the book that describes this exploration of theme is when a character states that "being an ally is a verb not a noun."
Overall, I thought that this was a powerful book. Definitely a difficult book, but one that that I found myself fully absorbed in and intrigued by. It may seem like this book is full of tragedies, but honestly Hernandez has a way of inserting hope into the conversation. And it was nice to see a glimmer of hope after all the trauma and tragedy that the characters face. The only criticism that I did have was the shifting and jumping of timelines. This happens not only with Kay, but also with side characters so there were moments when I had a difficult time keeping up. Other than that this novel was well-written and effectively mirrors the difficult conversations that we're having today. I'm looking forward to reading more by Catherine Hernandez.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Violence
jbraith's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, and Transphobia
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
📚 Wowww, this was horrifying. The world of CROSSHAIRS is only a breath away from our own, and it's easy to see the path we'd take to reach it.
📚 Heavy emphasis on intersectionality and how differently oppression works for queer BIPOC and trans people than for white cis queer people who could pass as straight if they wanted to.
📚 The flashback scenes to Kay's drag days were so joyful and loving.
📚 Great discussions of how allyship is an action, not just a label, and how white people can use their privilege to both lift up BIPOC leaders and to put their bodies on the front lines.
•
What I didn't like:
📚 A lot of the dialogue was stiff and unnatural, which took me out of the story a few times.
•
Content warnings: Ableism, bullying, child abuse, child death, deadnaming, death, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, genocide, gun violence, hate crime, homophobia, Islamophobia, kidnapping, physical abuse, police brutality, racial slurs, racism, rape, religious bigotry, sexism, sexual violence, suicide, suicidal thoughts, torture, transphobia, violence, and xenophobia.
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia