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sweetsxrrxw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anyway, have i enjoyed reading this? pretty much! would i reccomend the book? hmmm, it depends; not to everyone, that's for sure. and, of course, check the trigger warnings, because most of them are pretty graphic.
i believe on the main points of the story was to show us a somewhat flat character surrounded by differing opinions on what to do or how to cope with his situation and which one was better to settle for. personally, i like reading stories about characters facing hardships and their choping mechanisms to deal with them and i don't dislike stories that talk about bullying. and i really enjoyed the premise of two hurt people bonding over fear. their friendship was beautiful and, even though it didn't suffer huge changes, it was nice to see how it evolved with time and how they found a safe space in each other's company.
but definitely my favorite part was the second half of the book.
oh and i think one of my favorite relationships in the book was the one the narrator had with his stepmom. at first she seemed like a distant person but by the end of the book both mother and son could find some kind of comfort in each other. and trust me, i was so so happy when he finally told her about the bullying and she made him change schools and later also supported him in the surgery process.
as for the last scene, it was a perfect bittersweet ending to the story.
i feel like this could have been a 4 star read if it wasn't for a couple reasons:
- the two scenes where we get a fairly detailed description of the narrator, a 14 year old, masturbating.
like yeah i understand how he does it only to calm down when he is feeling super tense and distressed but they could have totally been black out scenes. - i know i said the philosophy of some characters was interesting (and so is the polarity between them) but.. they're 14. i think at that age one might be able to think of some of those points, but it would have felt more truthful if they were, at least, two years older.
but yeah, overall, i think it's a worthy read!
Graphic: Medical content, Physical abuse, Blood, Ableism, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
rivergrid's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Bullying and Torture
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
leanne_who_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The characters in this book are well developed and the writing style is easy to digest. I felt triggered by Momose when the protagonist confronts him outside the hospital because he has zero empathy for the protagonist and Kojima in that scene, even so, it added to the story and made it more nuanced. At the same time, I can see how Momose could think that way.
You learn to feel so much empathy towards the protagonist as the story progresses and I quite enjoyed the ending because the protagonist got to experience some joy and beauty in the world after everything he had gone through.
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Eating disorder
joysglavo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Bullying
cheyennedowls's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Grief, and Suicide
theramblingreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Violence, and Self harm
tangerinejellies'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Violence, Sexual violence, Self harm, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Ableism, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
frankieclc's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
_misha_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Bullying, Blood, and Physical abuse
caroisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Our narrator is a young boy who has a lazy eye, the victim of intense bullying and physical violence from the popular students. His fellow student Kojima reaches out to him one day through a letter, and she is revealed to be a similar victim of bullying, and is described to be unkempt and unwashed. Their friendship grows through sweet and simple letters, and soon conversations outside of school. In contrast, we experience their helplessness, as they are shells of themselves at school, bracing for the beatings each day.
There is a conversation with one of the bullies, who proves to be a complete nihilist. He symbolizes the cold, emotionless, male antagonist who's all too familiar in our lives. It's every man for himself. Empathy is weakness. Kill or be killed.
I can't praise enough Mieko's artistry, and her way of pulling us through emotions, and the confusion her characters feel. She is THE master of female characters, as always. I especially loved Kojima and her strength, her frailty, her intelligence, her heart. I wanted to save her, though she was saving herself.
You'll appreciate this book if you like dark, intricate writing and characters, coming-of-age stories, and have been in an isolated period of your life.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Bullying, and Body shaming
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence