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kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Death, Self harm, Sexual violence, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
virginia_vex'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
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Addiction
ak_96'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Murder, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Racism, Abandonment, and Suicide
pkc'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Cancer, Medical content, Bullying, Suicide, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Rape, Addiction, Drug use, Excrement, Sexual harassment, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
celesteleila'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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Addiction, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief, Police brutality, Self harm, Suicide, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Abandonment, Murder, and Sexual assault
zids's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have never been annoyed by first person until this story. Kiara isn't an annoying character, but she constantly 'realises' 'doesnt understand' 'wonders' things about the characters around her. The author, Leila Mottley, is a poet, which I could've guessed from the prose, which bombarded me with flowery sentences about Every Single Thing the character witnesses and experiences.
I couldn't help but think of that scene from the trailer of American Fiction, where Issa Rae's character says "Where's OUR representation?" before reading an excerpt from her book thay goes "Yo Sharonda, girl you be pregnant again??" I tried not to think about it cause it seemed harsh, but still.
I am not from Oakland and have never experienced desperation like this. I don't know if I'm bad for hoping for a positive ending. To me, the story was too bleak. Kiara had zero allies except for Trevor, who was so young that she needed to shield him from the truth of what happened to her. And after everything she experiences, after her best friend and her brother disavow her for her work (they come around but still, my ass would NOT have forgiven them), after being dragged into media spotlight and humiliated by the police, she gets nothing. The story ended on a kind of lighthearted note? She has consensual sex for the first time and Trevor comes to see her, it just doesn't feel satisfying considering the shit they put her through.
Not that stories need to have a happy ending, this just felt in serious want of one.
I hope I'm not being too brutal. I was tossing up between a Three (I didn't enjoy reading this book) and a four (it had something important to say, very beautiful language, and I think promises much from the author's future) So I settled on a 3.5.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Rape
bessadams'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
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Drug use, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, and Violence
baratheonbooks's review
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Abandonment
hannahmartian'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Abandonment, Police brutality, and Trafficking
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Minor: Transphobia and Vomit
ireadtoescape_'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Rape, and Self harm
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Vomit, Pedophilia, Drug use, Excrement, Bullying, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Blood
Minor: Transphobia