Reviews

Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill

nyoom's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Slavery

Minor: Addiction, Police brutality, and Pregnancy

sydward's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

gfox3737's review against another edition

4.0

Graphic memoirs are becoming ubiquitous and sometimes lacking in quality and vision - but Fights stands out. I love the voice of the narrator, relaying his rough childhood and trauma growing up in the South during the '80s and early '90s. The art captures a kind of wide-eyed wonder, fear, and confusion of early childhood. The timeline of girlfriends was hilarious. The fight scenes shied away from glorifying to show the perspective of the young boy and man.

peachani's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

abondthroughbooks's review against another edition

5.0

I feel very fortunate to get approval for this graphic novel from netgalley.

A well written and beautifully drawn memoir of life for a young black man. There is no sugar coating in this story.

I highly suggest reading, but when you do, make sure to absorb every inch.

amandalee0429's review against another edition

4.0

This wasn’t an easy read. I liked what the author says in the afterward about how learning each other’s stories and building empathy is key.

morningstar916's review against another edition

5.0

This is heavy and not the easiest to read. I do think it is important to read though.

rebus's review

0.25

The author has absolutely no talent and a dull and boring childhood story (that led to his dull and boring adult mainstream Uncle Tom life). 
Sad. Even sadder that he's revered for cashing in on his blackness and holds a prominent position teaching Art at a University and skewing propaganda (it almost goes without mentioning that his joining the establishment led to him spitting out a huge brood of hideously ugly children). 

What a dullard. 

vegjeri's review

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I loved the illustrations! Great story of hope and survival.

ceara47590's review

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced