Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

128 reviews

l1brarygirl's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

 1.5 stars - I did shed a tear for that extra half a star....

I wasn't too aware of what this book was about and I read so many thrillers, that I kept expecting a twist that never came. I could NOT connect with the MC Lucy at all and it made it very difficult to stay engaged. I also just was creeped out by a lot of the adults actions in this book. 

I think Jack's actions were fatherly in the end but for most of it, I just was kinda icked out by his actions. I couldn't get over Lucy's obsession with Christopher (highly inappropriate behavior for a teacher). The weird attraction between Lucy & Hugo (I'm okay with large age gaps but not when you first meet your SO as a CHILD). I also think Lucy was very unfair to her sister and completely glossed over her grandparents taking care of her. Also a slap in the face that everyone else in this story got a HEA except her sister.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Bullying, Child abuse, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Alcoholism, Incest, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy

princessblueyes's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child death, Grief, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

brimclala's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Child death and Cancer

Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual violence, and Child abuse

elysesharp's review

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Miscarriage and Cancer

maddiehansen's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The book was a more positive version of The Westing Game, but not executed as well. The depiction of the foster care system did not seem quite accurate, the relationship between a teacher's aid and a student was not safe, Capri-sun is clear, it covered many deep issues with mere mentions (miscarriage, PTSD, addiction, trauma, foster care system, adoption, rape, incest, abuse, alcoholism, miscarriage, poverty, disability, abandonment etc). It needed more research.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Pedophilia, Cancer, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, and Death

thebookkeepers's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

This was such a cozy and sweet read! I adored the banter between Hugo & Lucy and their character arcs were fun to see developed. I enjoyed the riddles and how this story has other stories nuzzled within. I’d die to read some of the Clock Island books referenced. My critique for this one was that I found it predictable with all the outcomes and twists & missed some of the side character interactions near the end of the contest. All in all, this was a sweet read with great adoption representation and a whimsical setting! I’d read more of this author in the future. 

LGBTQ+ rep: this book has a gay male side character, but we don't see his romantic relationships on the page

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Cancer and Child abuse

emilywemily6's review

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a lighthearted, wholesome, easy read. I liked the premise and the general storyline, and fell in love with Hugo and Jack. This book felt very juvenile though, like just a couple changes would have made this a middle grade novel. It touched briefly on a lot of heavy topics but I would have loved more depth and length in those discussions. I didn’t particularly care for Lucy, she also felt immature and irresponsible in a lot of ways- like I was reading about an 18 year old and not a 25/26 year old. Overall this book was sweet but could have been a knockout if it was handled with different aims.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Bullying, and Chronic illness

Minor: Miscarriage, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Medical content

oneseventhree's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Child death

squintyfarmer's review

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Incest

gpfot's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Incest, and Miscarriage