Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

5 reviews

brie_without_the_e's review against another edition

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

3.25

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tinyelfarcanist's review against another edition

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

3.0

A group of continually hangry teenagers fight predatorial behaviour... without addressing their inner misogynistic issues.

Squad operates on the premise of a new mixed-race student trying to fit in by joining an all-girls gang with "Mean Girls" mechanics. It misses being the feminist commentary it tries to be when the protagonist and her abused peers by a Regina George figure are portrayed solely as victims. You can't sympathise with them as they are still toxic to others when not in the presence of their aggressor.

In the end, most problems aren't solved and are kind of played down when the main obstacle is sorted out.
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tmcphetridge4's review

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

I won't lie. I did not like this book. What I thought would be a fresh new take on werewolf packs and being a teen girl was just a rehash of Mean Girls meets Heathers.
There is a girl squad who is ruthlessly pretty and it turns out they murder men who sexually harass/assault girls. This felt like it was trying too hard to make commentary on the sexual assault narratives of schools but in a toxic way. Should men who harass women be punished? Yes. But should they be straight up murdered? I also *hated* how they took the black girl of the group and really othered her. From not acknowledging how she wants to be called, to being belittled, I just kept asking myself, "Why?" The ending was the best part, but even then it felt rushed.
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cryptidkay's review

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adventurous emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

 This book moves fast. Almost too fast. I feel like it could have done some more to flesh out the characters and make me care more about them, especially given the MC's major shifts from new kid to cool kid to squad to town lesbian.

That being said, the art and story were fantastic. I love the idea of all female werewolf packs hunting in small towns!

The diverse cast and the variety of characters really fill in the average american high school.

It really was a fun read that I wish had more character development. 
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zombiezami's review

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dark emotional funny tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I describe this book as Mean Girls meets Jennifer's Body. I thought the art was great, and I enjoyed the characters. I didn't like that
the protagonist's love interest ended up being someone who kept making racist microaggressions towards her.
Still, the narrative was fun, and I liked the designs and the story.
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