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kal517'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
3.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia and Drug use
sharron_joy_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Fire/Fire injury
silver_lining_in_a_book'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
He would crave the burn until he was dead.
August curled up against the wall and put his head in his arms.
He gripped the lighter so tightly that his knuckles went white.
Trigger warnings: pyromania, violence, blood, neglect, mild sexual content, mention of homophobia, mental health issues, discussions of insanity, drug use, alcohol consumption, near-death experience, mention of suicide, disordered eating (no explicit depiction of eating disorders, but some of the content may still be triggering for those who are suffering)
This was such a beautiful, strange and unique book. I have never read a story told in quite this way, from the broken-up timeline to the mixed-media format where all the little inserts actually served to further the plot. I finished the entire thing in one evening, which I think really speaks for how engaging the story was.
I loved August and Jack from the first few pages; they felt very real to me despite the magical, fantastical undertones of the book. August lives with only his mother, who is severally depressed and unable to afford to look after her son. To avoid being looked down upon, he presents a very pristine and strait-laced image of himself to the world. Jack is the school's "golden boy" and an exceptional athlete, but he is forgotten by his parents and haunted by visions that no one else around him can see. The only time when the two can be truly themselves is when they are together. However, when Jack's condition starts to decline, their friendship and devotion to each other are put to the test.
K Ancrum wove so many themes that I absolutely adore into this novel: from the obsessive devotion to the building of new friendships; to discussions of mental health and the lengths that people are ready to go to support their loved ones. And how could I forget the queerness!
Her author's note is an absolutely integral part of the book as well. In particular, this quote spoke to me:
You deserve to heal and grow, too. You deserve to have someone to talk to about your problem; you deserve unconditional support; you deserve care and safety and all the things you need to thrive. Just because you may not have them doesn’t mean you don’t deserve them. If someone tells you that you don’t deserve those things, they are lying. Keep trying your best. Ask for help when you need it. Do your best to be brave, but it is okay not to be. If you drop the weight you’re carrying, it is okay. You can build yourself back up out of the pieces. If your mind stops listening to you, it’s not your fault. There are billions of us; you are not alone.
Beautiful writing, important message, some of my new favourite characters. I really do not need much else in a novel. 5/5 stars!
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Addiction
notpresent22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, and Addiction
Pyromanianicolewithbooks's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Mental illness and Drug use
podanotherjessi'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
4.5
Characters: 9
Plot: 8
Setting: 8
General appeal: 9
Writing style: 10
Originality: 10
Ending: 7
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Drug use
reapingallthebenefits_'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: Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Neglectful parents,piperlee'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
3.75
I didn’t love the story itself or the writing style, but I still felt drawn to the book - I think because of how the author writes such complexity into the characters and their relationship. I expected the focus of the story to be on Jack’s hallucinations and how August helped him cope, but the story really centered on the nature of their friendship and how it evolved as Jack grew more and more lost in his own world.
As I read, I was worried that the author was romanticizing Jack’s mental illness and his unhealthy and borderline abusive relationship with August. But as I kept reading, I saw that the author was simply portraying the real consequences of neglect and codependency and allowing us to uncover the dark nature at the same pace as the characters. While difficult to read at some points, I found this creative writing style also drew me in.
For me, the best part was the author’s note at the end - without it, the book would have felt incomplete. In the note. K. Ankrum describes her intention in how she portrayed the characters and scenarios, highlighting the seriousness of neglect and the future relational damage it can create, as well as demonstrating how failure of other adult figures to address signs of need in students can only create more damage. I found the note really insightful and helped me to see the story in a different light.
Also! I loved the mixed media inclusions as well as how the pages changed color as Jack plunged deeper into his own world. Details like that are my fav.
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders