Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson

4 reviews

shelbyreadsbooks's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Grief, Violence, Child death, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, and Child abuse

Minor: Chronic illness, Addiction, and Car accident

kta's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Violence, and Child abuse

shybookstagramer's review against another edition

4.75

I picked up this book because it was marketed as similar to Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, and I can agree that it went there. Rather than focusing on healing from rape/sexual assault, like speak, Sparrow follows a girl, Savannah Rose (aka Sparrow), as she heals from a very abusive relationship. Not only is this story told from Sparrow's perspective as she deals with the aftermath of her abuse, it is also told from the perspective of her best friend. This other perspective shows how hard it is to be on the outside trying to help someone in an abusive relationship that doesn't want/won’t accept your help. Both perspectives are beautifully written and tear at the heart strings.
One of the issues I had with this novel is how Sophie was written and introduced. For a lot of the book, I thought that she was Sparrow's dad's girlfriend. It turns out that Sophie is actually Sparrow's aunt (her dad's sister). This was not made clear enough from the beginning.
If you're looking to really cry, I suggest listening to the audiobook because the emotions these narrators were able to bring to the characters was amazing. If you only want to cry a little, then I suggest reading it instead. Either way, You're going to cry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

morganperks's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death of parent