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a_dot_phil's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Animal cruelty, Child death, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Hate crime, and Suicide
fleabag_reader95's review against another edition
- 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? N/A
4.75
The motifs of nature and culture were woven really beautifully throughout this story. Gut wrenching writing about racism, classism and what it is to be a girl/woman and the adversities and violence they face. A magnificent coming-of-age story with superb writing and character.
I have seen other people say that the book comes across as pretentious and unlike things a young girl would say. However, I would politely disagree with this. I feel that discredits the emotional intelligence and intellect that children can have, although they are young. The wisdom that Betty expresses throughout the novel perfectly mirrors the wisdom of which her father bestowed upon her.
Graphic: Rape, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Incest, Racism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Classism and Death
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Suicide, Incest, Racism, Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Child death, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Miscarriage, Murder, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Hate crime, Violence, Sexism, Blood, and Bullying
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, and Pregnancy
chellemerrill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gun violence, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Blood, Grief, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Classism, Incest, and Racism
jazminrice's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Incest, Self harm, Child death, Abortion, Pedophilia, Death, Rape, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Suicide, Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, and Bullying
floppyleaves's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Rape, Incest, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, Grief, Animal cruelty, Racism, Violence, Blood, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death of parent, Colonisation, Bullying, Animal death, and Abortion
Moderate: Gun violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, and Body shaming
badwolfreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Tiffany McDaniels
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know those really terrible 20-car pileups? That's what this book reminded me of. And not in a bad way (although there really isn't anything good about a car accident). It was like watching cars slowly crash into each other. It's terrible, but you don't want to stop looking. Traumatic event after traumatic event crashing into each other.
This book is about the Carpenter family, mostly about Betty. Alka & Landon, the parents, didn't meet in a particularly special way, but what was special was that Landon beat the shit out of Alka's dad after he found out he beat her. They ran off and had 8 kids, 2 of whom didn't last long. Landon is Native American with dark-skin, and so is Betty. This being in the time they were in and in Ohio, racial discrimination was pretty brutal, even among themselves. Alka, who was white, would tell Betty terrible things about how she looked. And so did her sister, Flossie. Then there was rape - 2 of the female characters were r*ped and Betty herself was almost raped, and these incidents weren't by strangers. Alka Carpenter isn't the greatest mom, but when you consider what happened to her, it makes more sense. There just so much that happens. The book takes place over the span of many years, which makes it seem really slow. There isn't a lot of happiness that comes through in this book, at least not for me. But it kept me reading and wanting to know what happens to certain characters. I would recommend with caution...this one is kind of heavy.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Murder, Bullying, Abortion, Sexual assault, Child death, Suicide attempt, Rape, Animal death, Sexism, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
marigolds_and_lavander's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Incest, Gun violence, Grief, Abortion, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Violence, Self harm, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
dws's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Ableism, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Pedophilia, Racism, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy
ienbdri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Racism, Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Homophobia, Misogyny, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail