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rickybereadin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Self harm, War, and Rape
Moderate: Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Violence
beatsbybeard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Set in a small town experiencing the depths of post-industrialization, war frenzy, and the opioid crisis, I was somewhat excited to read this because it focused on people only a little older than me reflecting on their high school experiences in this dismal place. It’s plenty dark, with varieties of addiction and emotional/physical abuse haunting each character in depressing ways. One of the book’s four sections is a particularly well written introspection from an Iraq/Afghanistan war vet, and there are luscious passages throughout that belie the author’s MFA writers workshop background.
My quibbles with the book unfortunately dogged the whole thing – the author is too often wordier than he needs to be (which ends up deadening the impact of some genuinely good writing), and his female characters seem hopelessly lost to his high school brain (in that they express/think little beyond social machinations, romantic prospects, and illicit sex). One particular character speaks only in Manic Pixie cringe and her Asian identity is examined only as a one-off thud of a joke at her own expense. (And none of the characters in high school speak like high schoolers!)
Although the book takes too long to get there, its climax hooked me. It reaches a double peak of cathartic violence, righteous on one hand and depressing on the other. High school can be ruthless, teenagers uniquely cruel as the looming slam of adulthood awakens them to their own power, and some people never escape that ghost. This book captures how much of a waking hell that is.
Graphic: War, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
nellem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, War, and Sexual assault
kaci_g's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
danaaliyalevinson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexism, Religious bigotry, War, Xenophobia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Murder, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Violence
jstar98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
whatskatiereading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: War
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
rhiannon_reads3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Eating disorder
chromatiicas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Drug abuse, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Violence
lindasandor's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Drug abuse
Minor: Eating disorder and Gun violence