Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

3 reviews

sab_reads14's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

Moderate: War, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Cancer

Minor: Medical content and Violence

morganperks's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

Minor: Bullying, Violence, and Terminal illness

kathytwitch's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Having not read any other books by this author, I didn't know what to expect. In fact, I wasn't sure I was going to like the story when it started, as it deals pretty heavily with  number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES.) Yet it also deals with Resilience. Our main character shows steady development towards cultivating the good relationships in his life to help him counter the harsh ones he must endure.

I might have found the young teen's repeated complaining refrains annoying, even when justified. However, I listened to this book on audio and the narrator slipped these in smoothly and naturally, making it an entirely believeable narrative technique. Overall I found this story hopeful,  and my favorite characters were the elderly librarian and the elderly horseshoe player.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Bullying, Terminal illness, and Violence

There's child abuse in this book, both suggested and described, and implied domestic violence. There's bullying and school fights. There's haunting references to the Vietnam War and atrocities committed there. There's also disturbing descriptions of the hostility with which returning America soldiers were greeted upon completion of their tours. There's a main character with a devastating diagnosis and a one in four chance to live (it is implied that she does live.) I am not sure the ages for which this novel is intended, but I wouldn't recommend before age 13.