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swept_up_in_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Racism, Self harm, and Animal death
readingspells's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
This is a confronting and intense read. It is not a wholesome or 'nice' story but one that makes for uncomfortable reading but it is for that very reason that I love it.
The author does an amazing job of making the covert micro-aggressions of racism that are woven throughout the story far more cutting and powerful than much of the overt racism. The fact that at the end the psychologist tells the black policeman she doesn't see colour absolutely took my breath away. Made me rage for poor Michelle. Everything about her experience, her life, what she had done and what had happened to her as a result HAS to be seen through the lends of race. The person who is meant to help her can't see it as a factor makes them just as much as a problem as the media and the police force.
This book strips bare the treatment of black people by so many parts of society, the justice system, the police, the media, even the health care system. I see that lots of people found this an uncomfortable read and so gave it a lower rating but in my opinion this book is meant to make you uncomfortable and confront your own prejudices and assumptions and it does that with gut punching accuracy.
The author does an amazing job of making the covert micro-aggressions of racism that are woven throughout the story far more cutting and powerful than much of the overt racism. The fact that at the end the psychologist tells the black policeman she doesn't see colour absolutely took my breath away. Made me rage for poor Michelle. Everything about her experience, her life, what she had done and what had happened to her as a result HAS to be seen through the lends of race. The person who is meant to help her can't see it as a factor makes them just as much as a problem as the media and the police force.
This book strips bare the treatment of black people by so many parts of society, the justice system, the police, the media, even the health care system. I see that lots of people found this an uncomfortable read and so gave it a lower rating but in my opinion this book is meant to make you uncomfortable and confront your own prejudices and assumptions and it does that with gut punching accuracy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racism, Child death, and Self harm
yenisargueta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Self harm
keirahelena_'s review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Suicide
chaoscat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
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