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kimveach's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a fascinating story of Romania in the late 1980s under the dictatorship of Ceausescu. Under Ceausescu's system, many people became informers. It was a country where no one could be trusted, including your friends and family. We've heard about the orphanages, but this young adult story tells more about what happened to the rest of the people living there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Genocide, War, Cancer, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
abby_reads_books's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Police brutality, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Antisemitism, War, and Terminal illness
kimb2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a work of fiction, but really details the horrors the people of Romania had to endure under the Ceaucescu regime. It shines a light on the human condition.
Imagine living in a place where no one can trust anyone because anyone can be an informant. Imagine living in a place where the electricity in randomly cut off, where people work on stop and if they aren’t working, they are standing in line for rationed items. This isn’t in WWII, this is in the 1980’s!
The story outlines the plight of the Romanian people and in particular the young people in the lead up to and during the 1989 revolution. This book was so eye opening, gripping, raw and chilling. I couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Torture, and Violence
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