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ldsbookgrl'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: Racism
Moderate: Cursing
c_lover14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Police brutality
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
snapeygan'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
It’s well written, so it’s super easy to read. Reading this story, your heart just breaks for Starr. I loved the characters, and loved to hate some of them. It’s such an important book to read!!
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
ashleyyy27'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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Classism
bookdrunkard78'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
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
hmwoodward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book shows you a side of police brutality that we don't get to see - how those who are left behind process and respond to it. Star grapples with her responsibility to her murdered friend and the risk of speaking about it to the public. You watch as life goes back to "normal" as you follow Star to school and with her family. Though the death is no longer the only focus, it is a grief that weighs on Star and the community, on top of all the other trauma they experience in the form of poverty or drugs or gang activity, etc. The world stops at the news of a death at the hands of the police AND at the trial AND at the decision, but they're gone when the news cycle ends again.
Through the course of the book, you get to know and love (most of) the characters, despite their many flaws. You get to understand why people in challenging situations pick what appears to be a wrong choice since the odds are stacked and no choice is a good one sometimes. You watch as the people around Star grow and hear the stories of others who grew in their challenging environment.
I listened to this on audiobook and appreciated the narrator because it felt like I was in Star's head. The narrator brought these powerful and emotional moments to life so vividly.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
musicalpopcorn'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
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Infuriating tho. Just the reality of racism in our country and how it hasn't changed. Like...this book was before Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, real life events that put a huge spotlight on this exact behavior. The book's just so spot on with how people are.
The insecurities and issues Star has are shown well. The gaping holes in our system are shown well. The problems in black communities are shown well.
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
oliviaisgreen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Gun violence
anamustacho'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
There is so much I love about this book. The ddiversity. The humor. The sad parts tha make you reflect. How it made mee feel heard and understood as someone from.an immigrant family and interracial parents.
The injustice. The justic and power of people, community.
Tbh I find this book very fitting for catholics. Naastenliefde. Forgiveness.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and War