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fred___'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Racism, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Child abuse, Classism, and Trafficking
anchik'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
Moderate: Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse
chelle22's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Animal death, Confinement, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder
lilacs_book_bower's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
HOWEVER, there are some controversies about this book, as Klune was at least partially inspired by residential schools, where Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed in to orphanages, treated brutally (some even killed) to try to assimilate them into white society and culture. There are also some excellent points to be made about trauma and children in foster care systems, and whether or not that is accurately reflected here in the book. As I have no experience with the foster care system, and I am not an Indigenous Person, or even a person of color, I do not want to make a judgement call on this, nor do I feel able to. I have seen comments on both sides about these issues. What is clear is that Klune is using the magical children as an allegory to show the oppression of a marginalized group by society, culture, and the government. I think we can all appreciate the attempt. But how people feel going from there is really going to be up to each person and their individual lives and experiences. The story and the characters are sweet and soothing, but there is still a lot I feel uncertain about. I did not want to ignore the issues that many other readers have addressed much better than I have.
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Bullying, and Confinement
Minor: Grief, Torture, Hate crime, Violence, Body shaming, Death, and Emotional abuse
onyxisalive'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
3.75
However, there is quite a controversy surrounding this book due to the author using the sixties scoop in Canda as source material. It complicates things quite a lot as it brings up the question of if it was this authors story to tell.
Although I don’t believe it was the authors intention it can come across like he is comparing indigenous people to magical creatures- which leaves a poor taste in your mouth.
The book was relatively predicatable, but I don’t feel that takes away from it in any sense.
All in all if you take this book at the surface level as a fluffy fantasy story it is really enjoyable. However don’t take this book at all as a story of the sixties scoop in Canda, or an interpretation- just let it be a surface level queer fantasy love story and leave it at that.
Moderate: Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Emotional abuse
fiveredhens'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? No
3.75
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Grief, Mental illness, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Xenophobia
saukittome's review against another edition
2.5
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
shanbles'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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Death, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Confinement
shaunaxx'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? No
4.5
Minor: Cursing, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
cheesepuppy's review against another edition
This story and the author are a mess. The author is a white man and he made a cutesy story that he said is based on the 60s scoop. If you don’t know what that is, it was a horribly traumatic thing done to indigenous families. Look it up for more detail.
Here’s a bit more info too: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdm7tLAt/
Graphic: Cultural appropriation