Scan barcode
carleigh95'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
4.5
It is written through the point of view of a young boy growing up in the backcountry and I found the tone and language a bit difficult to get used to at first. Also, it is a very long read which may deter some readers, but the story itself is so beautiful.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Abortion, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, Grief, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Drug abuse, Murder, Suicide, Alcoholism, Bullying, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Car accident, and Death of parent
jillianselene'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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Classism, Cursing, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Alcoholism, and Suicide
tdawgg07'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: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Child abuse, Bullying, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Racism, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Abandonment, Child death, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Self harm, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Gaslighting
lizsim'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: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Torture, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Cursing, and Pedophilia
Minor: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Bullying, and Classism
marypaz13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can see why this one the Pulitzer.
Book about addiction. A book about losing hope but at the same time not being able to give up.
Demon is such a lovable character, flaws and all. That poor kid. I didn't necessarily hate the other characters, they were just there. I liked June, definitely eldest sister vibes, the one that grew up to fast. Agnes was that one in a million, the one that was able to make it out. And we all have that Maggot in our lives, the one that's always too childish no matter how old.
When I started this book, I had the misconception that it took place in the the 50's/60's, but once it mentioned some pop culture things, I realized it was definitely 70's to the present (at least the early 2000's) -- I don't remember the book actually mentioning the year.
Love that art is the outlet that was used.
This book served as a history rabbit hole for me. Had no idea about the oxidation clinics, had to google it. Crazy shiitake!! Like, the idea was inconceivable until I read about it. No wonder the whole "war on drugs" was such a big deal.
And the whole hillbilly/redneck thing. The idea that the term alone is derogatory yet people don't realize that it is.
Such a great read. I did a hybrid read; started with the book ended up with the audio. Which I did like the narrator, I felt he encompassed Demon's character to a T.
P.S. I may add more to this review, maybe, idk.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Drug use, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Classism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Vomit, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
joensign'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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Classism, Death, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Miscarriage and Injury/Injury detail
tctimlin'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
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Drug use, Trafficking, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Medical trauma
slow_slow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Classism, Violence, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicide
abbeyjreads'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
4.75
Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Violence, Grief, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
avroc'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, Grief, Trafficking, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse