Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez

6 reviews

lsm's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

This was really good. It offers a very real but unique telling of the aftermath of what happens to a family after a child goes missing. It’s told through multi pov, several years later when hope makes a surprise appearance. I can
recommend this one. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Medical content, Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Pregnancy

librarianjennifer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Minor: Child abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Bullying

delz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.5

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is a layered social commentary. Living in poverty means limited access/choices in food, employment, and housing. This also means that if you fall under the description of POC and are poor and you disappear the police/press are either going to blame you or just not be bothered looking for you. Ruthy is the middle daughter in the Ramirez family. The family struggles. Both parents work and live paycheck to paycheck and the three girls are struggling students. In 1996 Ruthy was expected home no later than six, but when she doesn’t come home by seven Dolores loads her other two daughters into the car to look for her. Days turn into months, and months turn into years. The stress of the  disappearance leaves dad dead and Dolores with an illness.  Now it’s 2008 and Nina the youngest has just graduated college and can’t find a job. Jessica the oldest has had a baby and works in a hospital. One night Jessica’s insomnia has her watching a particularly nasty reality tv show when she sees someone she’s positive is Ruthy. Each chapter is from the pov of the three sisters and the mom. Their thoughts about Ruthy, their own lives and their feelings about each other. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Death of parent, Racism, Vomit, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

ukponge's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Death of parent and Child death

lindsayerin's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Murder, Classism, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Medical content, Pregnancy, and Vomit

spinesinaline's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense 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? Yes

4.5

Such a compelling read, many CWs for sexual assault, pedophilia, physical abuse. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC!

This is not only the story of the Ramirez’s search for their missing sister but of the violence and harassment that each woman in the family has faced and beyond that, of the wider societal issue of violence against women, especially women of colour. It’s a sad and upsetting read, but also one of the incredible love of this family, their fights and making up, and their hilarious humour.

There was some questionable fatphobic portrayal so a heads up for that. The comments that focused on one character’s weight and diets in relation to their grief felt unnecessary to the story.

I really enjoyed this story while also feeling the visceral grief of this family and other women who’ve been in this position. A great read to start off my year. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Cursing, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Moderate: Medical content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Racism

Minor: Fatphobia