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deliviful's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Grief
kcassano's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
arwenaardbeienstruik'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? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Abortion
wrackcity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
clarereadstheworld'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? N/A
4.0
The story takes place on a dairy farm in a rural area of The Netherlands. As Jas teeters of the brink of puberty, her older brother tragically falls through the ice while ice-skating and dies. As her parents (understandably) fall apart, Jas tries desperately to recalibrate her world to adjust to the loss of her bother, and perhaps more devastatingly the loss of her parents love and attention. She becomes obsessed with death, avoiding death, and refuses to remove the red coats which envelops her in a protective layer.
The narrative is given entirely from Jas's point of view. The reader is pulled in as her confidant as Jas talks through the mundane and horrific things which happen in an equally matter of fact way. There are some very uncomfortable and graphic scenes as, starved for attention from their grieving parents, Jas and her siblings explore their emerging sexualities together. Jas also develops chronic constipation, which she tells the reader about in great detail.
Having grown up in a rural area filled with dairy farms similar to the area described in the book (although in a different country) I definitely felt a strong connection to the characters. There were a lot of elements which remained me of the children I went to school with.
Another element of this book I found interesting was the description of Jas's fear of germs, and getting sick. I suffer from emetophobia, which is a fear of vomiting, and this is the first time I've read a book with a character who has a similar phobia.
Not for the feint hearted, but an interesting read.
Trigger warnings: death, grief, sexual violence
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Incest, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
catherinemorganowen's review against another edition
- 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
1.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
thaliasoul'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? Yes
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship
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, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood
simeona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, and Grief
piranhapudel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Sexual violence, and Excrement