Reviews tagging 'Grief'

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

13 reviews

ahopper7's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug abuse, Violence, Grief, Mental illness, and Murder

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

A tough read but a very good one. I don't read magical realism (I tried one book before but didn't finish it), but I think the audiobook really helped out and made it an enjoyable read. Echo is a wonderful character, and all her friends and family added so much to the story as well. It was tough reading about their struggles and the trauma they all go through, but it was also really nice to see how the young wizards were able to lift the negative veils and help heal those who were hurting when they could. The ending set up a nice hopeful feel as well.

I initially picked up The Chosen One to read, but upon finding out it was a sequel to this, I checked this out asap off Libby and completed it first before continuing with The Chosen One. Knowing how well written (and well narrated) this was, I'm stoked to continue with The Chosen One.

Definitely read content/trigger warnings because what Echo, her family, and her friends go through is very heavy to read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault

leahkarge's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Rape, Addiction, and Emotional abuse

alyal's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-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

4.5

i love how the chapters flow from scene to scene. it's so interesting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Grief, and Death

amberinbookland's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Grief, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Racism, Bullying, Addiction, Suicide, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Medical content, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Classism, and Alcohol

writingcaia's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow, I wasn’t expecting this at all. This is what happens when I buy a book without reading a blurb solely on a rec. I was expecting fantasy and was slapped with a harsh and brutal if hopeful reality, wrapped in Magic Realism.
Such a powerful story, and voice. It hurt, it dug deep, and it opened my eyes. 
Through a power passed to her by her aggressive, addicted mother Echo starts on a journey of magic in the middle of a life that tries her at every turn, brothers that fall into the pits of poverty and follow the path of their fathers, men than abuse women, her. 
It is only through her gift and her perseverance, and the help of others like her that she will escape the rotten fate planted for her and plant herself anew.
And, there is also her Persian best friend also in a ride of her own, through religion, through queerness, through parents expectations and fighting to free herself.
And, her mother, whose life has dealt such hard blows and sunk her so deep in the darkness of life, but who will be given a chance through her daughter to change her life, but will she?
Inspired by her own story the author explores the difficult reality of growing up a black woman, excluded by color and gender, put in a box from where most don’t want her to leave, especially the men and white people. But, there’re exceptions and she will thankfully meet some.
Absolutely incredible book that I hope everyone picks up (baring in mind the content warnings).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Rape, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Islamophobia, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Racial slurs

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

clarebell23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

valeriabee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I love the style of writing for this novel. The choice to use magic/wizardry in this universe was a perfect one. This story is full of difficult and traumatic topics, and the magical realism made it easier to process those moments. It reverses the use of literary devices such as metaphors and symbolism by turning them literal through the magic/wizardry. 
The book walks the line between memoir and novelization, reminding me a bit of Capote's In Cold Blood. It was stylistically reminiscent of Toni Morrison's Beloved, in particular the tone and the use of magical realism.
I loved the way the narration of this novel played with time. There were many instances in which Echo is recounting the details of various moments at the same time, as if they are happening at the same time. The style and format reminded me of cuts in movie scenes where it jumps from one scene to another by panning similar environments or movements. Or when two different conversations are being had in a movie and the scene jumps between them smoothly by connecting their words so it is as if the dialogues complete each other whilst being completely independent of one another. The fact that Brown created that visual effect in literature is astounding and incredibly powerful. 
I love this book for its style and for its content. I love that it is set up in lessons and each chapter could be a stand-alone, it could be a short story but they work together to tell Echo's story. I love that the book is not shy, the characters are not shy. It is all very real and very forward and written so beautifully. 
I found myself thinking about the ways that this book could be taught in the classroom, especially because of the way it is chaptered off and written into lessons, one wouldnt have to use the whole book (because you know how some schools are mad sensitive about the content they share with their students despite their willingness to require books about white supremacy, imperialism, and the enslavement of black people). 
One of the most appealing things about this book is that it dares to show the bad with the good, show that greatness can be achieved. It provides hope whilst remaining honest about the pain. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Islamophobia, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, and Confinement

Minor: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Hate crime, Ableism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery

readandfindout's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Style/writing: 5 stars
Themes: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Plot: 5 stars
Worldbuilding: 4.5 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death, and Domestic abuse