Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

5 reviews

on_your_raedar's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

3.5

The way it was written is everything. The short chapters, the style, the bouncing from character to character. All of it was intentional and really added to the story. 

I remember reading this author in middle/ high school. Not sure I was supposed to be but I remember loving this author's books. I enjoyed this book in the sense that it was not a difficult read but I feel like it didn't land the way it did in the past. 

The content is challenging, check trigger warnings, there are a lot of triggering topics in this book. I haven't experienced the things the main characters have so I'm not super sure how well these topics were handled but no immediate red flags came out to me. Just be mindful as you pick up this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Murder

Minor: Suicide

brunoshort's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

3.5

Of all the Ellen Hopkins books I’ve read, this one affected me the least. I saw the ending coming so it wasn’t a surprise. The characters have similar traumas even though they’re from very different backgrounds and families. Only three of the characters have their stories fully told and I really only liked 1 of them. The other two were okay but pretty flat considering the intensity of the subject matter and their backgrounds. The biggest WTF? The final challenge patients go through to get out of the institution. It wasn’t thought out very well considering their demographic. I’ll just leave it at that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Child abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape

Minor: Murder and Vomit

tristaod14's review

emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Abortion

em_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

brookey8888's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

4.5
This book is honestly really depressing, but important. Check content warnings because this is dark and it talks about a lot of things. I changed it from a full five to a 4.4 because I felt like some of the things said were a little problematic. For example a character said the only thing that could save her was being in love and as this is YA I just am not fully comfortable with that. Other then a few some things it still holds up and I love that it’s written in verse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship