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starsnstitchin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Outing, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Bullying, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, and Vomit
fkshg8465'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
3.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Death, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Grief
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
big thought out of the way, here are some scattered ones:
- there was a lot of build up and the climax seemed to drag on, but insufficient payoff. (though, at least there was any payoff at all, unlike Fence: Striking Distance. that's not relevant here, i just hold a grudge.)
- for the amount of times the narration described what teenage boys are like, i started to think maybe it was the author trying to convince us that he knew, like "how do you do fellow kids"
- it was genuinely funny
- audiobook reader was top tier 👌
- "I'm young and queer and in a fragile place right now." me
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical content, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Police brutality, Stalking, Vomit, Car accident, Classism, and Drug use
cluckieduck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
TJ’s typical humorous, effervescent narration comes to us through the eyes of our lead, Nick, a teen with ADHD who’s life has been divided into the Before & After of his mother’s death. Nick’s had a tough go of things and wishes to be an Extraordinary, this universe’s version of a superhero. There was a lot of borrowing from other universes - a little bit Marvel, a little bit Kick-Ass, and some others sprinkled here & there, but in the end it was a very predictable story. That is unless you’re Nick, who has got to be one of the most clueless leads in existence, to his detriment, because he got rather annoying by the end.
I appreciate the voice that TJ gives to queer and neurodivergent characters, but there is a fine line between representation and stereotyping. Here they’re borderline played for jokes (ex. the angry, Black baby-dyke who’ll kick everyone’s ass if they look at her wrongly & our lead’s ADHD is maxed-out to the point of him being dumb) and it’s a bit cringy. I’m apprehensive about how Nick’s ADHD will be handled
All in all, it was an ok read and I’ll continue the series, but probably my least favourite of TJ’s.
Graphic: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Vomit, Death, and Death of parent
sssssoup'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Drug use, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, and Police brutality
ridesthesun'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
4.0
Definitely YA, but some really vulnerable, beautiful themes throughout. Under the layers of banter and silliness and comically goofy superhero content, runs a really beautiful story about this boy and his relationships with his family and friends.
Just lost a star from me because while I know the second hand embarrassment is purposeful, I just can't handle it, I'm too weak 😂😂
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders