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katiekat13's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? No
3.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
swallace's review against another edition
2.0
kinda boring and predictable. the premise sounded interesting but it doesn’t do it for me
Graphic: Sexual assault
daralexandria's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
rhanasaurus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pedophilia
Minor: Sexism, Mental illness, and Racism
alylentz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked the structure of this, and the way all of the different narrators kept you moving quickly through the book and gave a wider view of the school as an institution and how different people viewed it. The only downside of this is that it lacks a satisfying conclusion and seems to just end, because the institution will long outlive them and their effect on it.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
emileereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martins Press for this title I won in a giveaway.
This debut novel walks through a school year at an all girl's boarding school that starts off with a reminder of a sexual abuse scandal that happened there 25 years before. Each of the 9 chapters are perspectives from 9 different students at the school, and after the first few it felt like a lot of storylines to hold and keep track of. Not to mention all the characters and how they puzzle together. I felt like this book kept skimming the surface of something powerful and interesting, but then we would move to the next girl's POV and I was left wanting more of certain storylines.
This debut novel walks through a school year at an all girl's boarding school that starts off with a reminder of a sexual abuse scandal that happened there 25 years before. Each of the 9 chapters are perspectives from 9 different students at the school, and after the first few it felt like a lot of storylines to hold and keep track of. Not to mention all the characters and how they puzzle together. I felt like this book kept skimming the surface of something powerful and interesting, but then we would move to the next girl's POV and I was left wanting more of certain storylines.
This book also does something that is a bookish pet peeve of mine, it plays with time in a way that takes away from the plot. It would say for instance: in 30 years she would reflect and then she would understand why this impacted her so deeply. I feel like that is a cop out and a disservice to exploring the feelings of the character in the moment.
This book has been spoken of some as a mystery, and I would say if that's what you are coming to this book looking for, you will be disappointed. I think this book is a mystery in the way every book is a mystery, because you are waiting to find out where the plot goes. This should only be classified as a YA coming of age story.
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
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