Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith

4 reviews

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Grief, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Confinement, and Misogyny

theirgracegrace's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.25

Sir Callie is the sort of book that you wish middle-schoolers got the chance to read when you were growing up. Callie, a non-binary child who wants to grow up to be a knight like their father, travels to Helston, the centre of their nation. There, they discover that their two dads and their accepting commune are very different from the rest of the world, where everyone is expected to fit into two gendered boxes (boys become knights, girls become magicians) and a bigoted chancellor rules instead of the Crown Prince. A harrowing read as you worry for Callie and the small group of friends they collect as they challenge the encroaching evil of the witch Alis and the bigotry in the city walls. Excited to read book two!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Violence, Outing, Murder, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Torture, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcohol

In a chapter, Callie gets period cramps and describes the dysphoria that comes with that.

naomiysl's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

 Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston, by Esme Symes-Smith is the successor to Alanna the Lioness in a lot of key ways. Sir Callie is a nonbinary kid who wants to be a knight, befriends the evil regent's daughter and the downtrodden young king who is into "girly things" like magic and dancing, and makes impassioned speeches about justice. They are a wonderful hero, living in a world with some supportive grownups alongside the unsupportive ones, and it's just a feel good story all around. Plus it's the first in a projected series, so you get to look forward to future books! It's the gen z Alanna, and while I won't claim there are no issues with it (for example there doesn't seem to be any racial diversity in this magical world, and I'm also not a huge fan of the plot's ending) there is a lot going for it and I'm rooting for more. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Xenophobia

spaceofspades's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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? No

4.75

this book was so so fun and such a great story for the middle grade audience to hear!! I’m sure people will be able to learn a lot from watching Callie and their friends support each other!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Sexism

Moderate: Child abuse