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hughesie's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment
heartfelthullabaloo'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
gwenswoons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
amberjackonski'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
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
box_wine_hero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, and Death of parent
delilahblues'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
5.0
The story is about a young man who is sent to a boys school for a minor crime. Once there, he begins to see ghosts and finds out about the dark history of the school. It is a duel perspective book with most of the story told between the young boy and his older sister who is willing to do whatever it takes to rescue her brother.
I’m not typically a fan of multiple perspectives in books bc they can often be disjointed, but Due’s writing style makes it easier to follow.
All in all, I cannot recommend this book (or really *any* of her books) enough. This book is hyped for a reason. Be sure to check trigger warnings before diving in though!
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
nrogers_1030'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape
brittonmc1221's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
wlreed312's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is one that will make you sit and stare for a while after you finish. It's a hard read, and it's based on the Dozier School for Boys that was in Marianna Florida, and honors Due's relative who died there. The brutality is gut-wrenching, and the fear comes not only from the main villain, but from the system that turns a blind eye (or worse, actively aids) the evil that sends children as young as eight into these institutions. Robbie's sister Gloria is a wonderful character as we see her try to get help to free her younger brother. We see the town through her eyes, and her anger and disappointment with several people who she tries to talk into helping her. These secondary characters are brilliantly nuanced, in my opinion. All Gloria can see is they aren't brave enough to help in a situation where they should; they know what they need to do. And she's right! But one of these is a Jewish man whose children are already being bullied at school; he fears what might happen if he steps even more out of line. It would have been a very real fear at the time, and in the brief time we spend with the character I thought his fear for his family that wars with his need to do more was well done. There's another character who is afraid for different reasons, and I really liked the way they are written as well. It's a great look at a horrible system and how impossible it is to fight it as an individual.
I think my favorite thing about the book was the pacing. It starts off slower, but as it continues the action escalates and my heart was pounding for the last hundred pages or so. The way the tension slowly ramped up was absolutely excellent. Highly recommended if you are in the right space to read it because as far as content warnings oh my god all of them.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Antisemitism
Minor: Domestic abuse
thehmkane'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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Antisemitism, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment