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Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
25 reviews
coethedragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: War
shadeyc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
3.5
Usually, I really enjoy middle grade books. I expect the kids to be growing and learning and experiencing new things, and it's a breath of fresh air to have often hard topics dealt with gently, and slightly simplified for younger readers. I'm used to coming out of the book feeling like I could pass it on to one of the many children for whom I am the best Aunty ever.
I don't hate this book, but I don't like enough to suggest to my niblings.
Probably mostly because it was REALLY DARK.
There is some hard core neglect and abuse going on in this and it's not gentle in any way or form.
And while our MC is a bright brave spark, and the side characters are a great found family, there aren't any smart kids in this book.
In fact, no one showed a brain cell until around the 75% mark. Including the adults. That's a long slog. Especially when the majority of that time was spent thinking the MC was going to get any number of characters killed off because of the lack of smarts.
I did like the majority of the characters, and hated the one I was supposed to.
But I kind of mostly rage read this book, and I'm not used to that happening with middle grade. I expected there would at least be a little bit of fun. But...none of them have fun...
I don't hate this book, but I don't like enough to suggest to my niblings.
Probably mostly because it was REALLY DARK.
There is some hard core neglect and abuse going on in this and it's not gentle in any way or form.
And while our MC is a bright brave spark, and the side characters are a great found family, there aren't any smart kids in this book.
In fact, no one showed a brain cell until around the 75% mark. Including the adults. That's a long slog. Especially when the majority of that time was spent thinking the MC was going to get any number of characters killed off because of the lack of smarts.
I did like the majority of the characters, and hated the one I was supposed to.
But I kind of mostly rage read this book, and I'm not used to that happening with middle grade. I expected there would at least be a little bit of fun. But...none of them have fun...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse
kmacoz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
joanna_banana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.0
I listened to this with my 11 year old daughter. I enjoyed the story and the statements on gender identity and being who you truly are, fully. The writing wasn’t the best we’ve read and the story lacked some creativity in parts. Felt like they had a statement to make (an important one) and constructed a narrative around it instead of having a compelling story they wove commentary into. So I guess it felt stilted at times. 5th or 6th grade readers would enjoy it and hopefully continue a conversation about standing up for yourself, who you are, and what you believe in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
eruanna317's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Transphobia
star_charter152's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia
beforemyway's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
The story moved too quickly through the character building. I had to use my experience with other stories to fill in the gaps. It often felt like an abridged book, where they removed the parts that draw you in, help make the characters come alive, make the relationships believable. Despite that, the story did make me cry, and laugh. I enjoyed it, and do plan to read book 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, and War
The book opens with a warning from the author. As an adult, this book themes and descriptions did not seam graphic or over the top. But the authors gentle warning to young readers should be taken seriously.btg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A magnificent queer, found family allegory, featuring loveable characters and a fight against tyranny. This is a surprisingly heavy fantasy but absolutely realistic and addicting; I checked the sequel out of the library right away. If you're a fan of Nimona, you're going to enjoy this book. Bonus points to the author for Callie's absolutely raw, quotable lines about the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Grief
Minor: War
The whole book is a metaphor for homophobia/transphobia, at the same time as featuring actual transphobia from the horribly cisnormative environment of Helston. The main character is repeatedly misgendered/deadnamed and the gender binary is applied to all characters in a blunt, strict degree. Three primary characters are heavily emotionally and two are physically abused, the effects of (and occasionally a toned down version of the acts themselves) are noted by the viewpoint character onscreen. There is a happy ending in this regard. The main character is confined to their room for a good portion of the narrative. A major and two secondary characters both grieve two characters throughout the events of the book. It should be additionally noted that this is NOT a cozy fantasy, and there is a fair amount of violent fighting where punches about the characters' risk are not pulled. The backstory of the world features an active war against nearby (rebels? people who rightfully feel that Helston should no longer stand given how horrifically oppressive it is?). It's handled in an incredibly nuanced way, but it influences the fears of the populace and impacts the narrative.arrr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Fun fantasy world in which to challenge gender stereotypes. Supportive family modelling. Wonderful friendships.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
micaelacccc's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Violence and Dysphoria