Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

O mare de lacrimi by Ruta Sepetys

43 reviews

amberinbookland's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, Violence, Grief, Deportation, Death of parent, Death, Ableism, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, War, Physical abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, Murder, Child abuse, Body horror, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

sukidookie's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-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

5.0

This book was wonderful and heartbreaking. I loved each and every character. I feel like I gained a deeper and more personal understanding of WW2, but through the lens of the younger generation. As I went along, I was constantly reminded of the fact that these characters could have easily been real people. I loved how the romance between Joana and Florence was natural, acted as a beacon of hope, and simultaneously reminded the reader how young and brave these people were. Everything in this book had a thematic purpose. The writing was perfect and it felt like I was there with them. I had no idea this tragedy existed before reading Salt to the Sea, and after reading the acknowledgements and author's note, it made me wonder how many more traumatic war-related incidents were lost to history.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Rape

strange's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Ahhhh there are so many feelings god 

I want Emilia back please and thank you I did not think I would care this much for her character but I Ache

There are some structural issues with the book and some of the tropes are iffy or feel fake but the characters are absolutely wonderful 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, War, Violence, Child death, Death, Grief, and Gore

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Rape

Minor: Animal cruelty and Vomit

kylajaynebooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Racism, Death of parent, Hate crime, Genocide, Gore, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Terminal illness, Vomit, and War

idiot_witch's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Violence, War, Death, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Antisemitism

Minor: Rape

dilani's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.0

A very emotional, tough journey as we follow four young refugees trying to escape the chaos and destruction of WWII. I found myself connecting to the characters, especially the shoe poet (a.k.a. Opi), Joana, and Emilia. I was rooting for them the whole way through, except for Alfred. He was sad and pathetic excuse of a man. But besides that, I wanted everyone else to find some peace and solace. 

I appreciate how Ruth Sepetys did some in-depth research into the real tragedies that this book is based upon. The interviews with people involved at that time was a nice touch. Sepetys sheds light to a WWII tragedy most have never heard of. And she does a damn good job of it. 

“When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them. Please give them a voice.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Child death, War, Genocide, Death of parent, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Vomit and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

mformato's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

Definitely one of the better YA books I've read in a while, which gives me hope that I haven't been completely turned off from the medium. Though it still had parts I wasn't a huge fan of.

I enjoyed that each character had their own distinct voice but I hated that they all withheld information from the reader. I understand that building up to a big reveal helps create tension but it felt unnecessary for all of them except Emilia. She was definitely the one with the most intriguing arc and I wish we had more depth with her.

I found myself skipping over most of Alfred's imaginary letters cause I just couldn't stand him and it really added nothing to the story. Even his big secret was muddied by his disillusion and not that monumental.

I adored the relationship between Klaus and the Shoe Poet; such a wholesome and tragic bond of two people in a time of war and I almost wish there was a novella from the Shoe Poet's perspective starting from right before he joined the group to how events played out in the novel.

Joana and Florian felt like generic YA characters to me. Not the worst, not the best. Just okay.

Overall I would recommend this book to others who enjoy YA and/or historical fiction. I am impressed with the amount of research Septeys does for her books; she truly cares about creating a historically accurate story with her own voice and I am definitely interested in more of her work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, War, Grief, Racism, Genocide, Medical content, and Sexual assault

bunnypez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, War, and Child death

izwit's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Rape, Child death, Death of parent, War, Grief, Medical content, Death, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Blood

oceanbritch's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-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

4.5

This book is the first book I have been able to finish this year, which is a testament to its greatness. It was an easy read but still engaging and thought provoking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: War and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gore, Child death, Death of parent, and Excrement