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Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
15 reviews
zombiezami's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This is what The Fault in Our Stars wishes it was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Child abuse, Mental illness, Outing, Chronic illness, Confinement, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Cancer, Death, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual harassment, Grief, Classism, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, Colonisation, Addiction, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Slavery
hamstringy's review
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
The prose is definitely very well written, but I didn’t love it. The audiobook in particular was really well done, though. I think listening to a Trinidadian accent was much better than just reading it would have been. I think I didn’t fully connect with it (definitely more ya than I could handle), and I think it definitely didn’t live up to the summary.
I wish that they had spent more time on the magical realism and illness. I think that it just felt really misleading, especially as someone who picked up this book for those two reasons, that we just jump from Mabel not feeling well to her in the midst of off-screen cancer treatment. I can appreciate the ending for its themes of freedom on your own terms, but I do wish that they had further built up the magical realism so that it hadn’t felt so out of the blue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Cancer, Death, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy, Transphobia, Slavery, and Sexism
thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.5
The universe and the stars aligned both Audre and Mabel to cross paths and embark on their journeys together in this beautiful love story. This story definitely moved me to tears a couple of times. I loved how Audre and her father were able to connect as father and daughter to build that healthy relationship that every LGBTQIA+ child craves with their parents (myself included). As for Mabel, in a perfect world, I would have loved if her wish was fully fulfilled in the way she intended from the start, but I'm glad they got to enjoy their time together at Coney Island.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
skudiklier's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Gosh I loved this. I didn't really know much going in, so one of the main plot points really took me by surprise. This book is so beautiful and it made me cry a lot. I'd definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Homophobia, Child death, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, Drug use, Confinement, Grief, Sexual content, Child abuse, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Slavery, Medical content, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Outing, Murder, and Mental illness
flowerpower's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Several beautiful love stories that also reflect on the familial and cultural ties in a really touching way. I highly recommend the audiobook because hearing it read in the actual Trinidadian accent made it so much better. Both narrators are quite talented and really embodied the characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, Homophobia, Abandonment, and Cancer
Minor: Physical abuse and Religious bigotry
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really incredible story of two young girls discovering themselves together while each facing their own struggles. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book with to specific complaints.
1. The writing was all done in the vernacular and tone of the point of view characters. This was mostly fine, and I really loved the way the narrators brought the voices of the characters to life. That said, there were times modern slang was used in a way that felt a little bit "that's what the youths these days are saying" and not super authentic. There are also several different words used for different parts of anatomy, and every time I cringed.
2. The ending. I won't get into specifics, but it felt out of place and almost like a cop out.
Honestly though, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. If you need a comp, maybe The Fault in our Stars meets Anger Is a Gift, but like... nothing like either one.
1. The writing was all done in the vernacular and tone of the point of view characters. This was mostly fine, and I really loved the way the narrators brought the voices of the characters to life. That said, there were times modern slang was used in a way that felt a little bit "that's what the youths these days are saying" and not super authentic. There are also several different words used for different parts of anatomy, and every time I cringed.
2. The ending. I won't get into specifics, but it felt out of place and almost like a cop out.
Honestly though, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. If you need a comp, maybe The Fault in our Stars meets Anger Is a Gift, but like... nothing like either one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Homophobia
Moderate: Physical abuse
amivireads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? N/A
2.5
2.5 stars
I wanted to love this book so much, there’s not many books about queer black girls. I really thought I would rate this 5 stars but the writing style made it so difficult to enjoy. Listening to the audiobook helped but not enough. And one of the many things I didn’t understand were Mabel’s dreams, they made no sense! The ending stoped this book form being a 3 star read. I hate the ending, it makes no sense for me and really ruined the book.
I wanted to love this book so much, there’s not many books about queer black girls. I really thought I would rate this 5 stars but the writing style made it so difficult to enjoy. Listening to the audiobook helped but not enough. And one of the many things I didn’t understand were Mabel’s dreams, they made no sense! The ending stoped this book form being a 3 star read. I hate the ending, it makes no sense for me and really ruined the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
bookdragon217's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? N/A
4.75
"The Blackness between the stars is the melanin in your skin. I read it in a book. I take it to mean that as Black folks we are limitless. That, maybe, our blackness holds our dreams, not just churches and Bibles?"
I finished this one earlier in the week and I am still basking in the glow of the magic in its pages. Junauda Petrus' writing skills are gold. I especially love the structure of the book because it wove in astrology, feminism, ancestral powers, magical realism, spirituality and healing, queer love and astronomy. She showed out with this treasure and reminds the world that Black people are magic PERIOD!
I loved the dual point of views of Audre and Mabel. Their characters had depth and I enjoyed their transformations and adjustments to their new situations. My heart broke for the abuse and eventual uprooting that Audrey faced for being a queer Trinidadian. Mabel's storyline was a gut punch very early on. I loved the exploration of their identities through books, horoscope and ancestral gifts of healing. Petrus made every scene on the page come alive. I know the ancestors approve because this book was an ode to the beauty and magic of Blackness and an offering to thank them for all their knowledge and talents.
Not only did this book have great quotes but it also expanded on interesting themes:
🌠 Family is sometimes made and not just blood ties.
🌌 Freedom starts in the mind and heart.
🌠 Black identity and feminism is magic and transcends what is seen.
🌌 Knowing yourself fully requires knowledge of all that ancestors have to teach.
🌠 To see the future, you may have to visit the past.
🌌 Trusting yourself and your inherent gifts is crucial to your identity.
🌠 Love is meant to be free, not boxed into categories.
🌌 Understanding multiple forms of spirituality help you experience humanity fully.
🌠 Blackness is limitless.
🌌 There is no place in the world for hate of any kind.
🌠 You have to be uprooted in order to bloom where you're supposed to.
🌌 Identity is a lifelong journey and not a linear pathway with only one option.
🌠 Books open minds, save lives & provide healing.
🌌 True healing is holistic.
This book will live in my heart forever.
I finished this one earlier in the week and I am still basking in the glow of the magic in its pages. Junauda Petrus' writing skills are gold. I especially love the structure of the book because it wove in astrology, feminism, ancestral powers, magical realism, spirituality and healing, queer love and astronomy. She showed out with this treasure and reminds the world that Black people are magic PERIOD!
I loved the dual point of views of Audre and Mabel. Their characters had depth and I enjoyed their transformations and adjustments to their new situations. My heart broke for the abuse and eventual uprooting that Audrey faced for being a queer Trinidadian. Mabel's storyline was a gut punch very early on. I loved the exploration of their identities through books, horoscope and ancestral gifts of healing. Petrus made every scene on the page come alive. I know the ancestors approve because this book was an ode to the beauty and magic of Blackness and an offering to thank them for all their knowledge and talents.
Not only did this book have great quotes but it also expanded on interesting themes:
🌠 Family is sometimes made and not just blood ties.
🌌 Freedom starts in the mind and heart.
🌠 Black identity and feminism is magic and transcends what is seen.
🌌 Knowing yourself fully requires knowledge of all that ancestors have to teach.
🌠 To see the future, you may have to visit the past.
🌌 Trusting yourself and your inherent gifts is crucial to your identity.
🌠 Love is meant to be free, not boxed into categories.
🌌 Understanding multiple forms of spirituality help you experience humanity fully.
🌠 Blackness is limitless.
🌌 There is no place in the world for hate of any kind.
🌠 You have to be uprooted in order to bloom where you're supposed to.
🌌 Identity is a lifelong journey and not a linear pathway with only one option.
🌠 Books open minds, save lives & provide healing.
🌌 True healing is holistic.
This book will live in my heart forever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Physical abuse
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Medical content
annalisaely's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This was very emotional and a beautiful story about love and loss and being yourself and relationships. Lots of girl love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Grief, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry