Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong

19 reviews

escapinginpaper's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A coming-of-age story about the angst of teenage-hood, following a group of friends who struggle with their separate difficult home lives and traumas, and how they bond with each other and find commonality through playing together on their basketball team. The story focuses on two girls in particular: 

• Ren, an LA native, whose older sister struggles with drug addiction, and whose parents just got divorced over it.
• Luna, a free-spirited girl from Hawaii, who has to return there suddenly when her mother becomes very ill. 

Ren and Luna become fast friends one summer before high school starts, they bond over their mutual love of basketball and the ocean. Ren is upset with Luna's sudden departure back to Hawaii, and her lack of communication. When Luna returns later, she's ready to pick up where they left off, but Ren, not so much. They find themselves flung together when their impoverished high school starts a basketball team, and both they and others in their friend group all join. 

The narrative in this story felt a bit disjointed, and I had a hard time following it at times because of all the different plotlines, and sometimes, because of the art style, it was difficult to tell the characters apart. I also felt the resolution was too quick and simple, especially considering the main problems that took up the majority of the story.

I did enjoy the tenderness of the coming-of-age aspects, which felt realistic and relatable despite the experience of being a teenager is getting to be a while ago for me. Also, 10/10 for use of color in the artwork, this book is a scream of color and I really loved just flipping through. Color definitely acts as a divider for the story – as a scene or as the plot shifts, the colors change and I really enjoyed that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Bullying, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Death of parent, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Dysphoria, Sexism, Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Death

Minor: Blood, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Cursing

One of the characters is a minor who smokes, another minor consumes alcohol on-page through several scenes. Several of the characters (all minors) attend a house party. An overweight character struggles with bullying, body image and her relationship with food on-page throughout the book.

Another minor is depicted in a sexual relationship with a teacher, with on-page scenes involving kissing, and with off-page sexual activity implied.

One character commits self-harm on-page in reaction to an abusive parent.

Ren's sister is drug addicted and appears ~halfway through the book. She manipulates their father, emotionally abuses Ren, steals from them, and sets the house on fire at the end. It's implied her sister is in an abusive relationship with someone, but the abuse occurs off-page.

town_scar's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Dysphoria, Bullying, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Transphobia, and Drug use

raelin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.5

I am having a hard time trying to figure out what exactly I want to say about this, or how much I liked It. 

Because it was good. But so unsatisfying. I think that it was such a great high school slice of life, look everyone has really really heavy stuff going on, but we can still find light moments to enjoy. But it felt like such an untethered end where literally not a single issue is dealt with directly, resolved in any manner, or appropriately debriefed. 

So many CW triggers to review before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Infidelity

mrsdarcylynn's review

dark emotional inspiring 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? Yes

4.0

This comic looks at girlhood with a loving lens- all the ups and downs of being a teenager, in all its many different forms. This book is dark, but it’s also sweet. The author explores themes impacting teenage girls through her five protagonists. She explores body image, misogyny in sports, self-harm, predatory relationships, and not being in control of your life. She explores substance abuse and abusive relationships through these girls families. All of it done with a loving hand for the girls. Girls are precious and we need to do better for them. I really enjoyed this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Death of parent

aus10england's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

Firstly, the art of this book is PHENOMENAL. really captured the vibe of the story. I really enjoyed this, from the found family aspects, to the family drama, set against the backdrop of LA, really worked for me! Maybe wish there was more of a climax to the story, maybe even a cliffhanger for a second volume? Either way, this was quite the feat for a book and the author should be very proud!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Fatphobia

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism

Minor: Bullying

grace_bunty's review

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Addiction, Self harm, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Death of parent

idlereader's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Fatphobia

Minor: Sexual harassment, Self harm, Bullying, Drug use, and Death of parent

eamily's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Dysphoria, Self harm, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Vomit

ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition

emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship

collier_h's review

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, and Self harm

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, and Bullying

Minor: Sexism