Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

133 reviews

lifeoncapilano's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

Made me laugh cry and want more.. and that’s why it received a 3.5 I was left wanting more info of the story line regarding certain situation/plots in the book. The author really could have made a series out of this story. We’re given the needed info but left with some story lines with no tiding up lose ends, in my opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

cleg_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Child abuse

ekdygert's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Child death

fragrant_stars's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

would've rated it higher if not for the timeskipping back and forth between present and past. was not all that invested in the present day bits of the story, felt like a hindrance at some points.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Child death

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Rape

corriejn's review against another edition

4.75

I was familiar with historical human Georgia Tann before, and found this to be both well-told story (or pair of intertwining stories-- one from the late 1930s and one modern-day) and specifically a compassionate, poignant humanization of how Tann may have impacted individuals.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Infertility, Death of parent, and Pedophilia

Minor: Ableism

caitlinomorrison's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I thought this book had an interesting story line but i found myself not wanting to pick it up again whenever i put it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Child abuse

Moderate: Murder

gkaltam's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Grief, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

sakusha's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

It was a lot like Orphan Train because of the subject matter, and how the stories of characters from different times were woven together. It reminded me of Deception Point too, because it was about the daughter of a senator.

I felt that the beginning wasn’t written well. The author didn’t describe the Stafford family, but literally labeled them as stereotypes: Avery the brainiac, her sisters sweet and perfectionist, her mom micromanaging, and her dad distant (14-15). Too much information was given about the grandma all at once (17) when she wan’t even present in the story yet. Avery brushed hair off the seat and wants to smooth her dad’s hair, yet claims on the next page that she doesn’t want to be her dad’s caretaker (16).  It was also annoying and unrealistic that a grown woman was calling her father “daddy” and her mother “honeybee.” Rill’s part of the story was more exciting, tearjerking, and unpredictable to read about, while Avery’s part was cookie cutter. Everyone was a stereotype in Avery’s world, including herself. She predictably fell in love with a perfect guy. One complaint I have about Rill’s story is that her younger sisters Fern and Lark seemed to have no personality that set them apart. I can’t remember their age difference or any difference about them at all.

(All page numbers are from the wide print edition.)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault

katiejohns's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Child abuse

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy