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darthizzy'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Infertility, and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
peeshpish'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction and Vomit
andycroll'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: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
gabbo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Racism, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
kry_yang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
And ohhhhh my godddd this book was INSANE. There were several points who I couldn't stop reading, and at the same time there were chapters that I had to pause because I couldn't possibly stomach what was going on. (TBH there's a ton of really triggering content in this book and I would def check out the trigger warnings before reading because this shit is HEAVY.)
The story touches upon immigration narratives, disability, and parenting. I kinda expected more analysis on Asian-American-ness (it's one of the main reasons I was drawn to the book in the first place). Knocking off 0.5 stars because I honestly found the Yoo family kind of disappointing. I have really high expectations when it comes to fiction that explores ASAM issues, and I felt that some of the backstories of the Korean-American characters felt a bit one-dimensional and cookie-cutter.
The other characters though--Elizabeth specifically--oh my god they ripped by heart out. Elizabeth's story is an incredible exploration of motherhood, and the incredible sacrifices that come with raising a neurodivergent child. Kim really does not hold back; she really digs into the psyches of her characters, and while some characters felt more compelling than others, the book overall was just an incredible(ly difficult) read.
Overall, I'd say this is book shines for its analysis and exploration of disability and parenting--and while POC/immigration/ASAM issues are definitely one aspect of the story, I didn't find that to be the most compelling part of the book.
Kim's language is also relatively straightforward--she does have some more lyrical sentences towards the ends of each chapter, but I found the language really accessible. I almost wish Kim wrote with a bit more *flowery* prose, just to make me ache even more :')
Miracle Creek is a "whodunnit" courtroom drama, blended with a slow-burn character exploration that really digs into each character's backstory and personality. I flew through this book in like 3-4 days and I look forward to reading more from Angie Kim in the future!
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
cryptogay'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
2.0
Miracle Creek covers a lot of complicated territory. Much of this concerns the experimental medical treatments used on disabled children, especially autistic children. I don't think it handles this aspect of its story very well. A group of protesters against the medicalization of autism are portrayed as unpleasant, invasive, and aggressive. The parents of the autistic children directly involved in the story are written about with compassion despite one of them being revealed to be seriously physically and emotionally abusive to her son, even without getting into the various therapies she sends him to in attempts to "cure" his autism. In contrast, the autistic characters are never really given a voice. Yes, the two featured in the book are children, but autistic adults exist, and quite frankly make up the majority of the movements against the abusive "therapies" that are used on autistic people, primarily children. The fact that no autistic adults ever appear, and the two characters who actually openly speak about these treatments as abuse barely appear and are largely discredited, these things tilt the book towards endorsing this abuse, or at least parts of it. I don't know what Kim's intentions or feelings were with regard to this aspect of the story, but it really wasn't handled well.
Autism isn't a disease or an illness, its a brain structure, and it varies from person to person. It is not something that can be "cured", and it is not caused by vaccines. The therapies that claim to cure or treat autism vary from complete bunk to abuse and manipulation, and acting like they aren't these things is harmful to the children forced to undergo them.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Confinement, Infertility, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, Stalking, and Car accident
flordemaga's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
But I can’t like it. I can’t like the characters, except for Mary, and later on, Young. I can’t like their views, their thoughts. I can’t like Matt in any way possible and can’t imagine anyone liking him.
I’m glad I read it. But I wouldn’t again.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Minor: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
gloriazthompson'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Terminal illness, and Murder
emakay's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Medical content
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, and Medical trauma
sasuke's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma