Reviews with content warning for Ableism - The Luis Ortega Survival Club

Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

36 reviews

cloreadsbooks1364's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.75

This YA contemporary fiction novel features Ari, who is r@ped by a popular, powerful boy called Luis Ortega. She is invited to join a group comprising of some of Luis's many victims, and they try to expose him as the piece of crap he is.

The Luis Ortega Survival Club
By Sonora Reyes
4.75/5⭐️

Our protagonist, Ari, is autistic with selective mutism. This results in her social life being nonexistent, until she meets the other Club members. I found her to be a very relatable protagonist, and thought that the autism rep was very good. It took her most of the book to realise that what her article about Luis required was her own experience, but I feel like she knew internally that she'd have to tell her story eventually to have any chance of succeeding in ensuring that Luis wouldn't harm any more girls. I felt sorry for how her mother treated her like a therapist, and was very glad when everything turned out well for Ari.

Shawni, the creator of the club and the love interest of Ari, was a great character, though maybe she lacked a smidge of development? I liked how she made sure there was always paper and a pen on hand so that Ari could communicate with the group!
Jasmine, Nina, and Angel (the other group members) were also very lovable. We learnt the least about Nina, which is unfortunate as I really enjoyed their friendly nature.
Jasmine seemed to be a very loyal friend, and I liked how she and Angel stuck by each other no matter what.

The pacing was perfect, I actually read this book in a single day and never got tired of it.
The ending was so happy it felt unrealistic, but I still consider it to be perfect as this is a story about hope, about naming and shaming predators, taking back control, and untwisting the narrative.

Queer rep:
Queer protagonist (unlabelled)
Bi side character
Nonbinary side character

TWs: r@pe (off-page), bullying, sexual assault, sexual harassment, infidelity, abelism, gaslighting, biphobia

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al3xa's review

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

i really loved this book — was genuinely compelled to keep reading the whole way through! i also felt like the diverse representation (especially ari’s experience with autism and selective mutism) wasn’t tokenized at all, which felt really special.

my biggest issues with the book
were that some things didn’t feel totally realistic, but that is par for the course as an adult reading YA! in particular the fact that ari is in high school and has apparently never spoken in the classroom (except to her favorite teacher 1:1) but doesn’t have any diagnosis / accommodations, just suspected autism — i can’t imagine that happening in public schools fr.

i also thought the double romance / happy ending was a tiny bit unnecessary but very sweet,

and these characters certainly deserved a happy ending!!!

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imstephtacular's review

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dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

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flairofclaire's review

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

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sadhbh2525's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

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itsjustkatereading's review

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emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

A heartwarming, devastating an d empowering story of friendship, neurodiversity, rape culture and the power of raising your voice and sharing your story.

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mezzythedragon's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Oof. An important read for everyone, not just for teens, though they definitely need this book. I like how Reyes captures abusers and their enablers, and how they manipulate their victims and their feelings towards them.

While I’m glad Luis got his in the end, I wish I had seen his punishment in real time. First he threatens Ari, and in the next chapter, the epilogue, he’s a registered sex offender. I would have liked to see him suffer.

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danaslitlist's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Sonora Reyes really is the writer that I wish I had growing up, but who I’m beyond grateful exists as an author now. This is such an important book in so many ways and I really respect them for their courage, attention and care that they put into writing a story that centers sensitive topics.

I didn't love this as much as I loved The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. Mainly because I felt as that this book is a bit too long for the amount of material inside, some moments felt too drawn out or repetitive. And while I can’t blame the characters for thinking like teenagers, because they are teens, some of the plot points really had me going “did you really think that would work?”. But those are just minor flaws in an otherwise wonderful book and I wasn’t disappointed in this sophomore novel from Sonora Reyes.

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sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

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

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lingfish7's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

📖🎧This might be my new absolute favorite Latinx YA book! This is the first book by this author I’ve read, and I am so obsessed. Not only does this book explore rape and the me too movement, but it also explores autistic representation and the intersection between being different and being taken advantaged of.

⚠️TW: rape, sexual harassment, bullying, neurodivergent discrimination

The main character is a Latinx, autistic, selectively mute teenager. Ariana has a close relationship with her parents, but her parents are going through some things in their marriage that further make Ariana feel isolated. The book opens with a scene where Ariana is waiting for an Uber ride home from a party she attended. At this party, she recalls how Luis never asked her if she wanted sex, and since she is selectively mute, she couldn’t say no. After a season of loneliness and hurt, she finally finds friends - friends who have also been harmed by Luis. They form a club: the Luis Ortega survival club.

This book so beautifully captured the overstimulating experience of being autistic, as well as the gaslighting experience of being raped. The found family community made my heart sing with happiness and the revenge at Luis made everything right again. I can’t even explain how powerful this book was, it gave me all the feelings. ✨💕

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