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zzberg201'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
yennsciri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dragged down at points by weird pacing. but overall good. read triggers closely before starting this.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Moderate: Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Gun violence
tamaramo'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? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
alusig's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Addiction, Suicide, Child abuse, Drug use, and Self harm
kp_writ's review against another edition
3.0
Very bleak and caused me to dissociate, so I admittedly skimmed through half the novel and therefore missed out on that poetic prose that was the strongest asset. The plot wallowed so much in its depressing and traumatic turns (of which there were many...) that it got in the way of any character development and relationship building. While the conflict between characters was very real and nuanced, the relationships themselves felt static and stubborn, usually forgotten when the two characters weren't interacting on the page.
In the end, each character felt less like a person and more like an object to project plot points and thematic messaging, which of course under baked any message that was conveyed. I cannot understate how much trauma these characters endured, and how unnecessary some of the descriptions and events seemed to me. While I don't doubt this amount of trauma is reality for some Black Americans, the overuse of it, in combination with some of the other weaknesses of this book, took away from the storytelling.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Stalking, and Rape
Moderate: Racism, Addiction, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, and Mental illness
cvillenacarter's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
largeicedtea's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
That said, this was an absolutely brutal read. I was drawn in by the gorgeous book cover and mysterious one-word title, neither of which clued me in to how heartrending Kiara's story would be. There were times I had to set down the book and close my eyes for a moment's peace. While I understood Mottley's message and knew there could be no happy ending when one teenaged Black girl goes up against the Oakland Police Department, it was still punishing. I do not mean to be flip when I say I'll need to read several upbeat books to cleanse my mind after "Nightcrawling."
I wish this author the best and look forward to seeing what's next for her.
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Domestic abuse, Grief, Confinement, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Rape, Abandonment, and Drug use
lindsayshae123'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? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Suicide, Trafficking, Child abuse, Grief, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
bambooboy'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Transphobia, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Classism, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Vomit, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
lukel'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Abandonment, Child death, Sexual content, Classism, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, Self harm, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: Cancer