Scan barcode
mackenziem12's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Alcohol, Grief, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy, Racism, Gun violence, Classism, Abandonment, Cursing, Miscarriage, and Homophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
tigerkind'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: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Mental illness, Classism, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Gore, Addiction, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexism, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Dementia
Minor: Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Pedophilia, War, and Outing
e11lla's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Pregnancy, Addiction, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Classism, Car accident, Grief, Mental illness, and Racial slurs
indydc's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Violence, Vomit, Sexual violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Vomit, Rape, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Medical content, Blood, Excrement, Car accident, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Animal death, Homophobia, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Gun violence
corriejn's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Racism, Homophobia, and Grief
Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, Vomit, Abortion, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
scoutabout28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Car accident
Minor: Animal cruelty
katebyln'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: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Rape and Racism
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
The only other book I have read by Barbara Kingsolver was The Poisonwood Bible a couple of years ago, so I will make some comparisons based on that. Truly, the two books aren't that similar. Demon Copperhead is a reimagining of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, just set in the modern day with a look at poverty and issues of our times, versus Dickens's own commentary of his time period. However, The Poisonwood Bible also touches on issues that persist today, just those that pertain to the colonization of the African continent, in particular, the colonization of what used to be known as the Congo. Kingsolver is a genius when it comes to showing you a world outside of your own, whether that is an African community or the Appalachian country folk. Her prose is also still something to be lauded, as she really transformed language to make that which occurred in Demon's life sometimes more tragic, and sometimes straight up hilarious in the face of tragedy.
I am comfortable recommending this book, though I am not sure how much those who have not read Kingsolver before will enjoy it. It can get quite depressing at times, and I highly recommend checking out content warnings for those who could be triggered by the heavy themes within the book. This is not a book for some light reading.
Still, I hope others check it out as I loved the look into Appalachian culture as someone who lives in Virginia, though Northern, and is aware of the rural parts of our state but never quite visited long enough to learn more than what was taught in school. And, as Kingsolver says in her acknowledgments, "For the kids who wake up hungry in those dark places every day, who've lost their families to poverty and pain pills, whose caseworkers keep losing their files, who feel invisible, or wish they were: this book is for you."
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Death
Moderate: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexism, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Torture, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Eating disorder, Racism, and Physical abuse
alisse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found the last quarter difficult to put down, and loved the ending.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Moderate: Racism
jermangirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Drug abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, and Drug use