Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Raptures by Jan Carson

6 reviews

orla_h's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, and Grief

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

danoott's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I have had the pleasure to meet Jan Carson myself once. It was a pubquiz organised by my study association in the Netherlands. She was full of passion and it inspired me greatly. After meeting her I wanted to read this very book and I am glad I did so.

The book is written through the perspective of Hannah, a 11-year-old child. This approach to discussing difficult topics I find brilliant. Children do see the world differently and this often helps with making the theme of child death easier to digest. It does not make it less difficult to read about however. The book made me emotional, wanting to help the children but feeling helpless like Hannah herself.

As a nonbeliever I found it interesting to read through a believer’s perspective. I find it beautiful how some can find such hope in something invisible. I admire that. Carson brings to light the good and the bad about religion which I appreciate. 

It is also refreshing to see a book through the perspective of the Protestants in Northern Ireland. I have rarely encountered this myself, mostly seeing media that shows the Catholic side of things. You can feel that this book has come from personal experiences in this kind of community. Ballylack feels both small and like it is supposed to represent something bigger. It is an art on itself to achieve such a thing.

Overall, I 100% recommend reading this book. Despite having predicted most of the plot points, the raptures is an inspiring book that will leave you emotional until the very end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child abuse

roxodee's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I really enjoyed this book. A quick, easy read. Felt like there was an underlying message I missed though but reading other reviews it seems like others felt the same. 

Sounds odd to say, but I was always a bit excited when a child died because it meant Hannah would get to talk to their ghost, which were my favourite parts, haha.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Child death, and Child abuse

rosalind's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism

Minor: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Body horror, Abandonment, and Violence

lily_peach's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Grief, Sexism, Cancer, Death, Child death, Violence, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child abuse

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Animal death

margoo0o's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

What a brilliant book capturing life during the Troubles in Northern Ireland but from a completely different perspective. The history is part of the plot but it’s Hannah’s life that takes centre stage. Sometimes with books it takes a chapter or two for me to know I’ll love it - with this one I knew after the first few pages that it was going to be brilliant.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse