Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks

11 reviews

possumbly's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

Oof. This has such strong "hello fellow kids" D.A.R.E. boomer energy.  Disingenuous, leaden fear mongering. Despite it being ostensibly a sad story, I felt very little. The protagonist has the emotional authenticity of a dollar store greeting card and the story has the pacing of the Porta Potty line on day three of a chili cook-off.

I found the trajectory of her supposed decline into addiction so badly strained my credulity that I could use a nice big pile of dope to ease my pain. Maybe those dopers who are apparently going around popping blunts into people's purses will visit me! Oy. 

As an added bonus, it managed to be preachy AND transphobic AND homophobic! Yuck.

Just say no. To this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Rape, Homophobia, Child abuse, Ableism, and Medical trauma

near's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Trafficking, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

fabyio's review against another edition

sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

It's Mormon propaganda. The portraying of the characters and situations are borderline funny if you've actually experience or awareness of real life addiction and homelessness. Homophobic, fatphobic and all the fun things we can expect from a 70s propaganda book.

With this in mind, you can read it as a piece of fiction from its time and it's bearable. Finished in a couple days and cracked up at the ending. I'd call it camp-ish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Child death, Classism, Death, and Drug use

All is wrong but it's funny to me.

ninsvrs's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

It is so challenging for me that this book was originally written as a secret diary. I just finished it and I am so moved and sad and filled with emotions and thoughts...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Child abuse, and Death

stbooksmore's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I read this in school (I'm now 35) I loved this book then but when I keep trying to go re-read it it's hard to get into.
This is definitely one I recommend though but I must warn you there should be MANY trigger warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Mental illness, Self harm, Ableism, Chronic illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, and Sexual content

chemical_crash's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

hoffmann's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

0.5

Literally the worst book I’ve ever read. Please read ANYTHING else. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Drug use

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia and Ableism

_readrateandrepeat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization

caties_books's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

2.0

It took me soooo long to get through this book because I just kept cringing. Every single heavy-handed remark made me close the book. How on earth did people think this was anything other than a Christian trying to convince people that sex, drugs, and gay people are the worst things to ever happen to humanity? The only reason I gave it an extra star is that occasionally, when viewed strictly as fiction, it kept my attention in short bursts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Violence, and Sexual content

kerstin444's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Drug use, and Drug abuse