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jennaviolet'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
staceyinthesticks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Mental illness, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts
sapphoxes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Child abuse, Animal death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Classism
katelbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
My initial reaction is that this is a masterpiece and it’s not for everyone. The themes were so dark at times. I’m glad I read it because it gave me a lot of reasons to reflect on my own bias of Appalachian culture and the opioid epidemic. The slow pace of the story was annoying at times but completely necessary. This is a book with proper character development. All of the events and story lead to developing and exposing the main character rather than to climax a story.
There were a few times I was acutely aware that a 60 year old woman was writing a teenage boys thoughts. But that would be my only complaint.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Drug abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, Death of parent, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Cursing
erinsca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Abortion, Bullying, and Addiction
terrywho'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? It's complicated
5.0
The only way I can think of describing this book is by calling it full of heart. This story was at the same time heartfelt and heartbreaking, and it made you unable to stop reading all the while dreading every new paragraph.
This is a book about pain, grief and unimaginable hurt and yet it manages to never stew in that pain, even during the longest stretches of it in the narrative. It’s not a sad story for the sake of being sad, but it’s sadness serves a propose and highlights the cruelty of the world in such a way that sticks you even when you’ve closed the book.
To summarize all my thoughts I’m just going to say that I’ve never read a book quite like it and I’m not sure I ever will.
**Added at the end because if mild spoilers**
A little personal note, and definitely not the most important thing about this book but my favorite part of it: I’m a comic book artist, and seeing the art form I love most in the world made to be the thing that opens up a kid’s words, a life-line that and allows him to see the first glimpse of what life could be, a way to understand a life that seems beyond your understanding, and a universal language to talk about you, your world, your comunity and your history never once failed to make me smile and love comics even more that I already did, which is something I didn’t think possible.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Self harm, Death, Addiction, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Alcohol
Moderate: Miscarriage
lolo_lew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Vomit, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Abortion, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
phillybookish'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Alcohol, Classism, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Miscarriage, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
abi_dutton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Addiction, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Mental illness, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, and Grief
mikitiale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book broke my heart in so many ways. The way Demon is so nonchalant and sarcastic about all the terrible messed up ways the adults in his life continued to fail him over and over again from even before he was born is so eye-opening and sad. From the young age of 10 Demon experiences domestic abuse from his stepfather, the death of his mother, failure and abuse within the foster care system, and more.
I absolutely 100% recommend this book. Just be prepared for some tears and a righteous anger as side effects.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Drug use, and Violence