Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

44 reviews

sunfire38's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Rape

Minor: Alcohol

ryan_rajp's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, and Alcohol

bennybooks's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Paralyzing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Rape, and Sexual assault

tomatothesoop's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

won’t comment on the writing quality considering i’m no longer the target age for this novel, but regardless of that, it’s an excellent and important story. originally read it when I was in middle school and it helped me with some things - definitely should be a required reading for young teens. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion, Animal death, Blood, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

ainemcgeheemarley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I believe I've read this book three times. Once in 8th grade, once in 9th grade for English class, and just a couple weeks ago I picked it up and read the whole thing in one sitting. I wasn't sure how it aged-- it was written in 1999! I was blown away as to how poignant it was. Laurie Halse Anderson does an impeccable job depicting the depression and PTSD that follows a traumatic event like sexual assault. The fear and anxiety that Melinda has about sharing her story is so real, and the reader just empathizes with her. I was really, really impressed. Also-- we love you Mr. Freeman!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Self harm

orchidd's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

reading the reviews on this site for this book reveals the persistent need for this book to exist. i applaud the author’s trust of teenagers to handle difficult content. i found this book a very quick read but one that will stay with me for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Self harm, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racism and Fatphobia

stormzx's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

13+
was a really great book that talked about the problems of bullying, self harm, and suicidal thoughts. some parts of the book were a bit boring as the story was set in a school. overall, was a quick read that put you into the mind of a person with anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

melinda’s parents are absolutely horrible. how could they not notice what their daughter was going through? and when they brushed off melinda’s cuts?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcohol

serena_hien's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Toxic friendship

madradstarchild's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Blood, Alcohol, Self harm, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racism, Misogyny, and Fatphobia