marigolds_and_lavander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Incest, Gun violence, Grief, Abortion, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide, Misogyny, Rape, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Violence, Self harm, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Sexism, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
aforeman'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
4.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Animal death, Death, and Incest
Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
booksbeyondthebinary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Our titular character, Betty, inspired by the authors mother, navigates growing up in a household of 6 children, including herself. Her father is Cherokee and her mother is white, making their approach to Betty, who resembles her dad in more than just her appearance, hard to witness at times, especially with her mom.
Her unique relationships with each of her siblings is interesting as well. When you have that many children in one family who are all unique in their own ways, it can cause for tension as each one is navigating finding themselves through their adolescence.
An aspect of this book that was hard to read detailed experiences of child rape and incest. Mcdaniels was able to navigate those topics and the impact that they had on the characters in a way that I think few authors are able to do, which is a compliment to her writing ability.
The relationship that Betty has with her father is something that had be genuinely sobbing through the last few chapters. My eyes were red as I finished the book and tried to go to sleep last night, trying to unpack my feelings about this book.
I will be thinking about this book for a very long time and, if you are in a space where you are able to read this book with it’s tough content, I’d highly recommend it.
Content warnings: racism, misogyny, rape, abuse (physical and mental), animal cruelty, corporal punishment, attempted suicide, murder, and depictions of extreme poverty.
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Child death, Animal death, Child abuse, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Misogyny
mstjohn813's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Animal death, Child death, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
emmahamel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Pregnancy
helloitsjulz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, Child abuse, Incest, Racial slurs, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Self harm, Blood, Drug abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
zaracampbell's review
- 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
5.0
Grappled with some very dark themes with authenticity and honesty. A testament to the raw and inherent strength of women, even more so in a time period that discredited their power.
I never wanted this book to end. It was one of those books where you want to highlight everything and commit it to memory so you never let the words leave you.
Graphic: Classism, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Self harm, Racism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Grief, Physical abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Addiction, and Adult/minor relationship
molliundera_'s review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Violence
clairerichins's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Incest
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
marga_runa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Animal death, Bullying, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and Addiction