Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo  Brown

4 reviews

nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

5.0

No words, just tears

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

overdose, hospital stay

monalyisha's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

Full of strength & heart, with stylistic similarities to Elizabeth Acevedo. Brown's largely autobiographical, fantasy-infused YA novel, about rising from poverty & trauma (with whimsy intact & keen intersectional insight), is at its most effective when she weaves her voice in with the speeches of other characters, alternating fluidly between perspectives & timelines. I've noticed that most of the criticism of this book is *because of* these shifts...but they were honestly my favorite part. I think they were done well and clearly. 

The author's choice to write in the first-person, present-tense, however, did not work for me. It felt too straight-forward & matter-of-fact for a story that held so much poetic promise. I think this choice also made the telling feel long-winded (I did this, then I did this, then I did this...) when, at 304 pages, it really wasn't that lengthy at all. The years of Echo's life felt long. I felt like I lived each of her days along with her, minute by minute. And I felt like I knew too much about each of the people she encountered, too (which is maybe how it felt to *live* those struggle-filled days in a gossipy, close, & crowded neighborhood). I should also acknowledge that another part of why it felt so long was probably because of the tough subject matter. It's an unflinching portrayal of hard realities & it hurts.

I'm rounding up because I think the ideas propelling this narrative, in terms of both subject and form, are ambitious. They aren't executed perfectly but it's still hard-hitting, interesting, and emotional. I may have cried the most during the acknowledgments, to be honest, knowing that the story IS true & hugely personal (in a lot of ways), and listening to the author get choked up thanking the important people in her life (including herself). Expect to feel overwhelmed. It's a journey.

TW: Rape, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, drug abuse, suicidal ideation, & more. Very heavy. Very sad. But also hopeful. 

I think this would be a great choice for a Book Club. There's A LOT to work through. I can guarantee that readers will want to talk not just about the story but about a lot of the decisions that the author made, as well (e.g. genre, ending, et al).

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Self harm

lydiabader's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

THIS BOOK IS THE BEST! If you don’t cry idk what’s wrong with you because this book has all the emotions! The magical realism is stunning and works so well with the story to elevate it to heights I didn’t know books could achieve. If you want a soul ripping book get this one!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Please be wary of triggers before picking up this book, it covers many different delicate subjects

locdbooktician's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Wow! This book was so challenging and covered so much. The lessons that were in each chapter were vital to survival and generational trauma. Learning about the plight of the black woman and it being overshadow by black men enraged me while reading this book. The sexual violence was difficult to listen to in this books listening to the author’s end remote at the end of the book broken and had me crying big girl tears. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence