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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was awful. So naturally I give it 5⭐️
I wanted to throw up. I cried. The plot twist was unexpected.
This was a hard read. The subject is heavy, you follow a school shooter through the tragedy, the events leading up to it, and those after.
There’s several POV hopping between past and present day to help you better understand the situation and the events that led up to it. One of the biggest takeaways is that someone loved the shooter too. Another being that bullying is so easy to ignore when it’s not happening directly to you and if it is, many will do almost anything to make it stop. Some even resorting to violence.
I’m heartbroken. I’m satisfied by the ending. But the journey there was a stretching and heavy one.
My only true complaint was the excruciatingly long chapters. But Jodi… you ripped my heart out. So I’ll let that slide.
🌶️ there’s a couple mentions of sexual acts but they’re not explicitly described
🤬 explicit language infrequently used
TW: severe bullying, violence, homomisia, PTSD, explosion/bombing, gun violence, school shooting, murder, imprisonment & criminal trial, sexual assault, codependency, abusive relationship, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, sexual assault, grief, suicide & suicidal ideation, loss of a child, drug use/abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Was written by someone who was never a high school student when school shootings were a big thing, and it shows.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
tense
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:
Yes
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I heard this book was banned in many high schools, it peaked my curiosity and checked it out. My only disappointment was figuring out the plot twist at the end early on, but did have a moment where I closed the book and had to stop and process; and I like that from an author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a reread so I can discuss it with my banned book club. I tried audiobook this time and can honestly say, it holds up.
I was looking at a few articles and some speeches by Picoult herself. It is interesting that most of the challenges/bans are due to the word 'erection' and little to no discussion about bullying, toxic teen relationships, gun safety, etc.
Is it a perfect novel? I don't know. Is it timely and does it offer a lot to think about? Absolutely. After all, my sons last day of high school included an armed assailant on campus and him locked away in the back of the library so... you tell me. IS it timely and something we should be talking about?
I was looking at a few articles and some speeches by Picoult herself. It is interesting that most of the challenges/bans are due to the word 'erection' and little to no discussion about bullying, toxic teen relationships, gun safety, etc.
Is it a perfect novel? I don't know. Is it timely and does it offer a lot to think about? Absolutely. After all, my sons last day of high school included an armed assailant on campus and him locked away in the back of the library so... you tell me. IS it timely and something we should be talking about?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes