Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

166 reviews

m_a_j's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, and Racial slurs

laurengrennell's review

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

As a new mom to a daughter, this was heartbreaking to read. It really does touch on all the extreme standards mothers are held to, that we hold ourselves to. It’s beautiful but so dark. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Self harm

jthomson7's review against another edition

dark sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Abortion, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Racism, Child abuse, and Sexual content

gedlek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.25

A very interesting read! I thoroughly enjoyed it although it was upsetting throughout. I may be pessimistic but I can see a lot of through lines from real life to what happens throughout the novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abandonment

jennylomax's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Like a really dark episode of Black Mirror. Very bleak, I couldn’t read too many chapters in one sitting. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Racism, Violence, Suicide, and Mental illness

therecoveringbookworm's review

dark medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Suicide, Child abuse, and Racism

Minor: Abandonment, Rape, and Pedophilia

amyisreilledup's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book was well written but difficult to read. Too close to reality at times and very pessimistic. An important book - feels like a continuation of The Handmaids Tale but focused on parenting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment and Racism

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Sexual assault

livpaige93's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

junglejelly's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.75

I couldn't put this book down at times. It's so immersive and gripping.

The characters aren't loveable but they're incredibly relatable. They're not prefect but make a great comparison to how high expectations are held for mothers in this world.

I found the plot gripping but predictable in the way that I wasn't surprised at what came next. I've read a few reviews saying the events are not believable but I found them to be a little too believable (e.g.

the constant contradictory behaviour of the instructors and expectations of the school and the lower expectations for the fathers

).

As someone who is not a parent, I still felt the devastation come from the characters. It was hard not to relate to them all (yes even Gus and Susanna) under such awful circumstances.

Overall a very good but sad book with contrasting features making it a compelling read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Moderate: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Grief, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Eating disorder, Sexism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Self harm

jessos1497's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Abandonment, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse