Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Into the Light by Mark Oshiro

18 reviews

miranda_graham's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• 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? No

2.75

Could’ve been great without the

sci fi twist rather than a more psychology thriller type

explanation. Just a very large curveball. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

sgtz00's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Outing, and Sexual assault

Religious trauma, religious cult organizations

happily_undignified's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

"I control what I can: the stories I tell. Who I tell them to." ⠀
⠀
Mark Oshiro, Into The Light⠀
⠀
Into The Light  by Mark Oshiro was a heavy book with a slightly supernatural twist that included difficult themes like religious cults, abuse of foster care children, homelessness, and conversion camps. ⠀
⠀
Main character Manny is a jaded, queer, teen who is running from his past but also wants to confront it to try to save his sister from the evil people who have brainwashed her. The story follows his haphazard journey down the California coast as he comes to terms with his trauma and learns to trust the people who come alongside him to help. ⠀
⠀
I enjoyed the first person narration and Manny's cynical yet hopeful personality. The religious trauma was hard to read through but I found it incredibly authentic. This is a remarkable story with an autobiographical feel and I loved the supernatural twist. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Murder, Religious bigotry, Grief, Homophobia, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Racism

sglance9's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Racism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

happilyhalliwell's review

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

maranda_maria's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Mark Oshiro will tear you apart just to put you back together in the end. Into the Light is a heartbreakingly beautiful reflection of the impact religious trauma has on queer people. There is a twist you will not see coming that ties the book together, and is as disturbing and unnerving as it should be. Overall, Into the Light is an ode to queer people who have or are in the process of healing from religious trauma with the overall message that hope is never lost. We are never too broken to find love and joy even after the worst of times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content

grimdark_dad's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Religious bigotry

bookmarkedbyfi's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders

delz's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Mark Oshiro brings the dirty laundry of adoption and religious zealots into the light. The main character, Manny and his older sister Elena have been passed around to one foster home after another until Elena finds Deacon Thompson and Christ’s Dominion. They are adopted by a “nice” white “Christian” couple who want to take the evil out of their adopted son by doing something called “Reconciliation” that Deacon Thompson performs.  Encountering a cult religion is terrifying, but just imagine being a child with absolutely no recourse. The story is told in the present, after Manny escapes and meets up with a family who are determined to help him. In between are flashbacks, showing the reader how he reached his destination. There’s a twist about 80% of the way In which I would like to think of as more symbolism than fantasy. Into the Light s relatable to headlines in the news today.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Police brutality, and Homophobia

Minor: Abortion and Rape

imstephtacular's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, and Cursing

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Bullying, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Homophobia, Body horror, Xenophobia, and Blood

Minor: Physical abuse, Vomit, Drug use, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and War