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lilifane'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
3.0
There are some really questionable things in the book though, mostly due to its age, I guess. So I wouldn't really recommend it for children these days. The way fat shaming is used, or child abuse is handled, are harmful in my opinion.
I also didn't love the ending, I've definitely seen better examples of handling this topic. But it did make me emotional (although I saw it coming because the movie makes people sad).
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Child death
Minor: Child abuse
wolfiegrrrl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The grandest statement the author makes is that boys can like drawing and girls can wear pants. That's weak feminism even for the time because she still actively cuts down fat women and girls at every opportunity. It's excessive and unnecessary. Furthermore, she sends a bad message to victims of child abuse. This book's advice to kids suffering from an abusive home life is to "not mix personal life with school life" because "everyone will laugh at you and think you betrayed your parents" and "if your parents beat you up, get over it! it's not a big deal! it happens to everyone!"
This book had promise to it. There's a story in there about Jess learning to be more confident and processing his fears, then losing his friend and having to process that grief. Maybe there's even a story in there about learning to understand other people as well as yourself, but it's so fumbled by the attitudes of the author and the time period it was written in. As it stands, the ending is the most well-written part of this book.
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Sexism, Misogyny, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child death, Death, Cancer, War, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Car accident
alyssakaluf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
serena_hien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Fatphobia
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
all the body-shaming made the book unenjoyable at times, and it's pretty clear from the beginnin that leslie fits perfectly into the manic pixie dream girl trope.
hated the part about god and jesus, how the fck is that beautiful; i wish leslie would've elaborated a bit, because WHAT?
i didn't expect there to be narnia references, but now i am even more excited to finally read it, it's sitting on my shelf, impatiently waiting for me to pick it up.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, and Child death
ratcousin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia, Child death, and Death
Minor: Homophobia
ran_sophia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Fatphobia, Death, Child death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism
meetmeinthebookstore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Child abuse and Car accident
lennatheunicorncat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child death, Grief, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Body shaming
erniedresser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death