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1221cass's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bigbeardedbookseller's review against another edition
4.0
Another great publicist had the great idea of sending me a copy of this, and I’m really thankful even though this book has left me completely drained.
This is the two stories of Cat, who in one story is trapped in a nightmarish mirror of a school where all the outsider kids are transforming into ‘others’. Cardboard box heads, tentacles, eyeless masks instead or faces.
But the ‘popular’ kids have kept their human form and barricaded themselves against what they see as a threat.
But there is a threat stalking the halls of The School killing off the other inhabitants.
In the other story, Cat is going through various stages of the American school system as an outsider and with all the troubles this brings though she does have her best friend Jeffrey to help her through.
As these stories entwine around each other we see echoes of each seeping through into the other one.
By the end I was getting an inkling of where the story was going to go, but not the actual ending which though right for the story was still a shock.
Weaving tales of bullying and alienation in a system that doesn’t cope or sometimes feels like it doesn’t care. This is a hard hitting exploration of youth in American schools and the culture they have to try and survive.
This is the two stories of Cat, who in one story is trapped in a nightmarish mirror of a school where all the outsider kids are transforming into ‘others’. Cardboard box heads, tentacles, eyeless masks instead or faces.
But the ‘popular’ kids have kept their human form and barricaded themselves against what they see as a threat.
But there is a threat stalking the halls of The School killing off the other inhabitants.
In the other story, Cat is going through various stages of the American school system as an outsider and with all the troubles this brings though she does have her best friend Jeffrey to help her through.
As these stories entwine around each other we see echoes of each seeping through into the other one.
By the end I was getting an inkling of where the story was going to go, but not the actual ending which though right for the story was still a shock.
Weaving tales of bullying and alienation in a system that doesn’t cope or sometimes feels like it doesn’t care. This is a hard hitting exploration of youth in American schools and the culture they have to try and survive.
michaelgreenreads's review against another edition
3.5
Gory! When I tried to read this in 2022 I was way too vulnerable, the description of the school too much, I had to put it down. But I sailed through it this September. God. (Ultimately a little nihilistic for my tastes! But the writing is so evocative.)
chellyfishing's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Violence, Death, Body horror, and Murder
fictionaladventures's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
Wow, that was tough. I knew what I was getting into (the copyright page spoils it, but I’d actually guessed it already just from the jacket description), but that doesn’t necessarily make it easier! I thought this was such a smart way to approach this topic. A very weird novel with more depth than you expect. This one will stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, and Child death
jasminx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
speakinglatin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tishreads's review against another edition
5.0
Weirdly intriguing. Definitely a worthwhile read even if it's hard to explain.