Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar

35 reviews

p1gu1's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

it destroyed me in all the right ways

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

mirandaleighhhh's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This was as devastating as it was beautiful. The writing style is interesting and dynamic, it felt a bit like a diary, but more than that. Three resilient Muslim American sisters, steadfast in their bond, finding home within each other and within themselves as other "homes" crumble away.

"we belong to a people who love the moon  /  yes, a god too- Allah  /  and the trees as well  /  the fabric tied to their branches  /  their roots deep in the ground  /  their arms toward the sky  /  towards her"
"my little ones  /  my sticky children  /  at home the babysitter  /  annoyed I'm not back  /  inshallah  /  they'll know  /  love so much  /  the love leaks  /  out of me  /  dark red  /  on  /  pavement  /  all I can see the moon  /  my blood  /  she's full  /  the streetlamps twinkle"
"We're mothered by everything because we know how to look for the mothering, because we know a mother might leave us and we'll need another mother to step in and take it's place"
"My sisters, my Gods, my mirrors" OUCH OUCH OUCH
"My sister- mother, my other God... God of the night; God of the stars. God of the boombox. God of the wind in her hair"

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Sexual assault

briaarnese's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Something about the poetic and stream of consciousness nature of this book hooked me. I’m a sucker for beautiful yet surreal imagery and metaphor, and the author wrote these beautifully.

Great storytelling packed into a short but well-developed narrative about grief & overcoming despite all odds.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Sexism, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

firelordkimmy's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

"Before we worshipped god, we worshipped trees."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Gun violence

candaceross321's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

jordynkw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

alannashelfhelp's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse

yinflower's review

emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Grief, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Xenophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

mostephanitely's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

this book caught me by surprise in the best way. i felt completely enveloped by its words and form, losing all sense of time and space. i didn’t want it to end but couldn’t stop turning the pages. this is special. it will stay with me forever. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Death of parent

kshertz's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This was a heartbreaking story of three sisters told through the quietest one. The one who feels they don’t quite fit in. It was beautifully haunting and heartbreaking. The storytelling method was not one I was used to but still thought was very intentional and well done. I just wanted it to be longer and tell more of their adult lives 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Sexual assault