Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

A Map to the Sun by Sloane Leong

15 reviews

smilagros's review

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

2.0

I really did not like this graphic novel. I felt that it wanted to tell a ton of stories and honestly, it was messy. I wish that there was an attempt to do one story line and show little of each friends lives but it just did not work. Also, while the color blocking was beautiful, there were some words that I could barely read because of the color of the background.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, and Addiction

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. 

---

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

---

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. 

---

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

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful and honest exploration of female friendship through tough times. The art and coloring is amazing. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexism

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!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm and Fatphobia

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism

Minor: Bullying

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

---

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

temporarilyhuman's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse

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

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, and Bullying

Minor: Sexism

robinks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-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

5.0

I LOVED the colors and illustrations! The stories of all the main characters are all sad but real, and they cover a wide range of issues that teens could face. The characters are also very diverse.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Death of parent and Vomit