Scan barcode
sndrspk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Sexual content
nataliebeech's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Death, Pedophilia, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Child death, and Self harm
Moderate: Blood
ferre_smeets's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Grief, Child abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, Bullying, Self harm, Animal death, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Car accident, and Cancer
jmbz38's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Excrement, Grief, Incest, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Emotional abuse
beckyjc's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
The narrator is a 10 year old girl who lives on a farm in the Netherlands with her extremely religious family. In the early pages of the novel her eldest brother dies in an ice skating accident and this event sends the family members spiraling into grief in different ways, none of which involve honestly expressing how they feel with each other. This leads to some destructive, disturbing and downright bizarre behaviour on the part of the remaining children, who are effectively left to their own devices by their devastated, emotionally repressed parents. They each plot to escape the stifling and loveless environment of the farm - through violent and sexually abusive outlets, as well as literal distancing - and this culminates in an ending that shocked me.
The subject matter is of course very sad, but the unflinching writing style, brutal and sparse, and bleak imagery didn't really encourage my empathy - despite it being autobiographical. I felt like an alarmed observer watching with mounting unease (and downright disgust at points!) as the family comes apart at their greatest time of need.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Excrement
Minor: Abandonment