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sargasso_c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I can't believe I'm typing this but - the book needed to be longer. This book is a series of events that I really would have cared about if I'd been given time and reason to actually care about the characters. Instead, we have a series of confusing, unrealistic events. I beleive author was going for an "It" -like- feeling of it young teens from the 70s/80s saving the neighborhood against all odds (and adults) but it came off as the creative writing assignment of the main character, Curtis. Not a boring read, but not nearly as good as it could have been.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Death, Violence, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Cursing, Torture, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Gun violence
Minor: Bullying, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cancer, and Animal cruelty
opplecopter's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Vomit
stephanieluxton's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
This book is about 14 year old Curtis who sees his best friend get kidnapped, knows who did it, but doesn't have the proof.
I have a very soft spot for horror novels with child protagonists. It's interesting to view horror through a young person's eyes because it sets us up for some serious dramatic irony potential. I especially love the nostalgia of childhood from the time before internet too, so I was looking forward to this.
This book isn't what I thought it would be, unfortunately.
What I wanted it to be was Curtis sneaking around and trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to his friend, while getting more than he bargained for. I was looking forward to a climax involving a brilliant rescue mission or uncovering something even more sinister being discovered.
Instead, we got a very stressful story in which we find out what happened to his friend right away and instead of a super empowering coming of age story we get to experience the feeling of absolute helplessness for 90% of the book. I was STRESSED and not in a good way. I bit off all my nails reading this. It was definitely straddling the line in which I didn't know if I was slipping into the extreme horror genre.
The ending was fine, I guess? Nothing about this book made me feel very good though. I may have had too high of expectations.
I have a very soft spot for horror novels with child protagonists. It's interesting to view horror through a young person's eyes because it sets us up for some serious dramatic irony potential. I especially love the nostalgia of childhood from the time before internet too, so I was looking forward to this.
This book isn't what I thought it would be, unfortunately.
What I wanted it to be was Curtis sneaking around and trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to his friend, while getting more than he bargained for. I was looking forward to a climax involving a brilliant rescue mission or uncovering something even more sinister being discovered.
Instead, we got a very stressful story in which we find out what happened to his friend right away and instead of a super empowering coming of age story we get to experience the feeling of absolute helplessness for 90% of the book. I was STRESSED and not in a good way. I bit off all my nails reading this. It was definitely straddling the line in which I didn't know if I was slipping into the extreme horror genre.
The ending was fine, I guess? Nothing about this book made me feel very good though. I may have had too high of expectations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Kidnapping, Death, Bullying, and Blood
Minor: Animal death
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