Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

102 reviews

cigarettelouie's review

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The author’s cultural connection to the characters was very authentic and compelled me to keep reading. However, this book read very sensationally about autism. As a neurodivergent person, it was pretty triggering and I can’t say I’d recommend it. 
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emmaisabelle's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0

While it was definitely engrossing and I enjoyed the mystery-courtroom drama mix, I found the focus on neurotypical characters when so much of the book revolves around autism and people of autism pretty unappealing. The constant onslaught of ableist language and ideas was a LOT. It really just left me thinking “What is the point of hearing all these people talk about how much they hate people with autism and how autism is a disease that needs to be fixed?” Not once did the characters with autism have a voice in this book. 

That said I think the way Kim explores the truth of what happened, the way people invent stories to fit their own narratives and emotions, and how witnesses’ memories are formed by the complex context leading to the events of the book was fascinating. While it was sometimes jarring to switch POV so many times, I do think Kim is really good at managing all those different opinions, memories, thoughts, personalities, etc. She really raises interesting questions about truth/memory, guilt/innocence, and parenthood. I just could not handle the rampent ableism nor did I really see the point of going that hard on it. I’m just not sure the book needed that much hatred of autistic people in it lol, even if it’s pretty clear Kim is not her characters and doesn’t share their thoughts. 

Overall an engrossing courtroom thriller-mystery but just too put off by the incessant ableism of the characters. If you read, just be prepared for two hundred pages of characters discussing how autistic children are problems that need to be fixed.  
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tracikennedy25's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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emholbrook's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • 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

5.0

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megan_martha_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

3.0

Warning: child abuse, death, suicide, sexual assault

This book read fast because it is a courtroom / family drama. But it’s really heavy. I felt sad and disturbed after finishing it, like you feel after watching law and order SUV or multiple episodes of criminal minds. 

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romadera's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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ynotlime's review against another edition

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3.75

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shaharazade's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad fast-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

I tried several times to get through the first chapter of this novel, only to freak out about the subject matter covered in the first few pages. Eventually, I skimmed that first chapter with one eye closed and finally got to the last paragraph…which got me hooked immediately. I couldn’t put it down after that. This is one weird, wild story, anchored on a murder trial that unravels with each witness’s testimony. I ended up loving this story because it was so captivating, despite its truly dark themes.
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fkshg8465's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was an amazing debut for the author. Took some very heavy subjects and unfolded then one at a time. Loved the court scenes. The defense attorney’s questioning and questions were so entertaining. Lots of triggers: immigration impact on children and parents (affects them differently), autism, parents of autism, sexual assault, suicide, coma, infertility, infidelity, arson, Asian fetish, and so much more. So beware before you read, but also know it’s great storytelling.
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whiteraven191's review against another edition

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Rampant ableism and promoting anti-vax rhetoric
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