Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Flamer by Mike Curato

71 reviews

marypaz13's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

 This is my second time reading this.
The first time I read it (Sometime in 2023):
- Literally for the cover, it gave me Hunger Game vibes
- It was being contested in my state (Oklahoma, USA)
- I speed read it, but even then I didn't think of a reason for it to be contested

2nd read through:
- It was a bookclub book for my Banned Book Club
- Besides the obvious, I noticed a lot more this time around:
--> Mental health issues: Depression, Anxiety
--> Domestic Abuse
--> growing up too soon
--> societal/religious pressures
--> colors, well mainly read and orange

I don't understand how a book that represents realistic issues, realistic emotions, and realistic circumstances to be contested or banned. Is that not the goal of books? To be inclusive? To make one's story relatable to their audience? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Blood, and Cursing

Moderate: Violence and Suicide attempt

Minor: Domestic abuse

brimclala's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Racism, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

lavenderbtcpodcast's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Teenage boys are so hilarious and weird. This book surprised me. But it hit a lot of challenging topics.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia, Violence, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

pastlifetragedy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Sexual content

woodiefrog's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

4.75

A beautiful story based on true experiences. I actually cried unexpectedly at page 319. Powerful and resonant and yes I agree to the rec on cover, “this book will save lives.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicide attempt

gold_star_reader's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

This book will save lives.

That is a quote on the cover of this book from Jarrett Krosoczka and is a very apt description. Aiden is struggling to find what being a boy/man means while at scouting camp. He finds solace in his pen pal and is nervous about the start of a new school in the fall. He's hoping for a fresh start and to escape his tormentors who constantly call him guy. But he's pretty sure he isn't gay. Probably. 
This book covers bullying and self harm and homophbia and fatshaming  in a confused early teenaged boy's life. The use of color is dramatic and poignant in this graphic novel with lots of metaphoric imagery.
Best for a high school library with swearing, sex jokes, and self harm topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Bullying, and Fatphobia

Minor: Body shaming

literatefox76's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, and Self harm

thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Pedophilia

maeve_littooij's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

Wow what a powerful graphic novel. This graphic novel almost reads like a memoir, it's so personal. This is honestly one of the most personal, deeply moving and most beautiful graphic novel I’ve ever read. It made a lot of impact on me. After reading this I feel so much pride for the author. This graphic novel could save a life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Bullying, and Body shaming

Moderate: Outing, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

maryamthehobbit's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read this because it was banned in my local county. A good read for teens. I wish i had this book at 15. That said, heed the warnings and know the language may not be appropriate for younger readers (younger than middle school i would say) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism