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schwartzamelia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, and Violence
courtsbooks'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Racism, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Drug use
avalazarov'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? No
5.0
Minor: Rape, Grief, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Pedophilia, Police brutality, and Gun violence
nannahnannah's review against another edition
4.0
Representation:
- the MC and the LI are black, as are a few secondary characters
- there are also Asian and Latine secondary characters
In 2025, the United States has quickly become an apocalyptic nightmare: the wealthy live in walled neighborhoods in constant fear of being attacked for their resources, the middle class and working class have become one sea of wandering beggars in search of drinkable water--or gangs of drug addicts. Lauren Olamina lives with her family within one of the only walled neighborhoods left in San Francisco. She also struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel other people’s emotions. And in this world it’s mostly pain--especially when her neighborhood is burned down and she has to begin the long and dangerous trek up to the almost utopian-like Canada. Along the way, she spreads her fantastical ideas for a new religion and way of life.
I don’t really remember the writing style of the last Butler book I read, so I was a little bit surprised by the simplistic style, but it worked well here--especially because it serves as a young adult’s PoV from journal entries while the world is literally falling to pieces around her.
So … the age gap: I won’t lie and say I’m not uncomfortable by it, because I am. I could say a lot here about one’s options in an apocalyptic world and all that, but obviously this was a deliberate choice by the author. From what I know about Butler, she tends to push the borders of what’s “right” or “acceptable” in each one of her novels, so this one is no exception. Although I personally don't like it, unless the ages were mentioned I can put aside my discomfort; the age difference is not an integral part of the two characters’ relationship and the way they interact with each other.
But dang, this book is grim. And unfortunately, it's still very relevant (and terrifying). Some of my favorite things about what I’ve experienced with Butler’s books so far though have been her keen observations on the world and her creative takes on those observations. Here, it’s the fall of the US, mainly to a shortage of water. But also, foreign corporations are splitting American land up to build factories that house workers (providing essential protection from the outside) and pay them in money only usable at their company stores.
The plot here is rather straightforward but is made up by the very absorbing world building elements and the fact that the characters are all very real and dynamic. In comparison to the rest of the cast, though, the MC reads a little dull. Dull, but not one-dynamic.
Anyway, I'm very interested in reading where things go from here!
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, and Rape
also: CSAdark_marble_eyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Death, Child death, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Death of parent, Slavery, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Blood, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Gore
evewasinnocent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Child death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Slavery
mischorda'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Incest, Rape, Slavery, Alcoholism, and Miscarriage
ynadavis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Classism, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Animal death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Drug use, Gun violence, Murder, Body horror, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Slavery
helliepad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
cinderrunner'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Trafficking, Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Gun violence, Child death, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture