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eelin'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: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy and War
samanthabryan34'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
hannah2896's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Mental illness
vanesst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Cancer, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Car accident, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
viccreadsbooks'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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Grief
Minor: Car accident
kelseynj'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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cancer, Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
laceydaisy's review
- 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: Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, and War
Minor: Pregnancy
shelbylanglois'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
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Animal death, Cancer, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Pregnancy
walskishere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Gore, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Cancer, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Racism and Animal death
astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
- The Allbright family, Ernt, Cora, & their thirteen-year-old daughter, Leni, are living in Seattle. It is 1975. Ernt has trouble holding a job & staying in one place too long. Cora & Ernt met when Cora was young, and she got pregnant when she was 16.
- Ernt is a Vietnam war veteran & a POW with PTSD. He learns one of his comrades from the war left him some land in Alaska, and he decides to move the family out there. They leave everything behind, and head to Kaneq, Alaska. The small community helps the family settle in & prepare for the winter.
- Ernt’s disposition worsens, exacerbated by alcohol & the harsh, dark months in Alaska. His textbook behavior is domestic violence, and Cora is textbook behavior of a DV victim.
- The small community is a beacon of hope for Cora & Leni. The friendships they forge are integral parts of their lives, as isolation is dangerous in DV.
- A gripping, compelling masterpiece
- Deftly plotted + next level character development
- Hannah is an expert at capturing the dual threats of living in Alaska as newcomers & living in a tumultuous household.
- At the heart, this is Leni’s story. I loved the bond between Cora and Leni, as well as the heartbreaking depiction of the heavy burdens Leni carried. I was blown away by Leni’s countless, insurmountable challenges. There are aspects of finding herself & coming-of-age.
- The brutality of domestic abuse, both physical and emotional, make this book hard to read, but Leni’s innocence & Hannah’s writing make it impossible to put down. Hannah did a great job detailing the many struggles survivors face when leaving an abusive partner, and I appreciated that.
- This book will leave you feeling raw & a lot of ways.
- I also really enjoyed Hannah’s descriptions of Alaska.
- I loved Leni’s resilience, and I loved the other side characters, such as the Walkers, Large Marge, Thelma.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, and Death of parent