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paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Rape, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Medical content
singalana's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
During the course of the story we get to know a cast of characters whose lives revolve around hockey in one way or another. Each of the characters have their own struggles in life, but when one of the players is accused of rape, people will have to decide who to believe and what hockey really means to them.
The story paints a vivid picture of Beartown and all its inhabitants. It does a good job shedding light to the complex motivations people have behind their actions, and also allows the reader to read between the lines when necessary.
At first, the book allows us to get to know the characters and their circumstances. Then a hockey player rapes a girl. The scene isn't described in needless detail, but is impactful nonetheless. When the events are made public, the people of Beartown react.
This book deals with shame, rape culture and culture of silence. It touches on many important topics with gentleness and respect.
The ending surprised me, and I thought it was as satisfying as it could be, considering the circumstances. I think everyone who spends time in testosterone filled environments such as a hockey team would benefit from reading this book.
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, Drug use, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical content, Fatphobia, Blood, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Mental illness, Body shaming, Racial slurs, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Abandonment, Self harm, Stalking, Cursing, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Animal death, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
yulecogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Grief, Stalking, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Classism, Murder, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Drug use, Death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Addiction
idajoh's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Blood, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Bullying, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Child abuse, Vomit, Stalking, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
linkamarisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Bullying
Moderate: Child death, Classism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Homophobia
wellreadjill_'s review
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Self harm, Child death, Sexism, Grief, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical content, and Misogyny
chamaeleontis's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical content, Drug use, Rape, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Cursing, Bullying, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Cancer, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Self harm, Body shaming, Cursing, and Gun violence
emusing's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Medical content, and Self harm
For many of these things, they are not described graphically, but they are central to the premise of the book, so if you don't want to think about rape or violence, you will have a problem. There are also several moments which Backman writes around to make you think that one thing is about to happen, but in the next section reveals that it was not part of the plan all along.