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islesbiyana's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Hard to celebrate the day you were born when everybody seems to wish you were never born at all. Especially after you come into this world and fuck it all up.
rating: 3.5 stars
trigger/content warnings: death of infant, bullying, r/s between a minor & a young adult, severe bullying, child abuse, gaslighting, racism, lesbophobia, ableism, attempted child SA, references to rape, fatphobia
while i usually do enjoy following stories from an unreliable perspective—and that aspect sure added to intrigue of this book—i still have no idea what to feel about that ending. i understand what jackson's intent was, but there's a part of me that feels like there was there missing things that could've helped tie in together with the final parts while still maintaining the dubious & unpredictable narrative. idk. still, i can def say that jackson succeeded in provoking a certain reaction through that ending.
such a heavy and gritty story about a young girl enduring an abundance of fucked up but infuriatingly real scenarios, it all makes your stomach churn. there were parts that remind you that this was her debut, but it's such an immersive and compelling debut nonetheless.
“What does it mean when you love and hate someone at the same time?” I ask.
He laughs. “It means they family.”
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
catwhisperer's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
aprilbethp'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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
jaz_gets_literary'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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
on_your_raedar's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
manonschuur's review against another edition
3.0
Buiten dat om vond ik het wel een heel interessant boek om te lezen. Er wordt goed weergegeven hoe de opvoeding en het gedrag van ouders kan zorgen dat een kind dingen doet die niet horen. Het legal system in Amerika wordt ook goed weergegeven en het is absurd dat een kind zo gemakkelijk terecht kan staan voor iets waar ze niet genoeg onderzoek voor gedaan hebben. Helaas gebeurd dit in het echte leven ook.
Ben het gewoon alleen niet helemaal eens over het verloop van het verhaal want ik jammer vind.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
calamitywindpetal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia
tbell0211's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
mapleleaf_rag'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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Blood, and Vomit
midnights's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Tiffany D. Jackson has made a fan of me for life. This was so insanely tense/disturbing/sickening/thought-provoking. The fact that she was able to write a compelling mystery with a jaw-dropping twist while also touching upon the juvenile justice system and racism within the justice system as a whole, mental illness, the shortcomings of the foster care system, sexual/mental/phsyical abuse, + disected the way society holds black children more culpable than white children is nothing short of genius. This story kept me on edge the whole time and the unreliable narration made everything feel so tense. And the ending… I am speechless. I can’t wait to delve into more of Jackson’s work!
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit