Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

2 reviews

tangleroot_eli's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

A magical realism adventure that's also an allegory for depression. A few notes don't resonate with me, but overall, what a symphony.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Blood, Death, and Self harm

Minor: Bullying

Moderate: Mind control

patricktreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.25

We Are All Good at Smiling is a haunting story of two friends who lost their siblings and blame themselves for their losses. The work passes through the journey of their grief and fight to free themselves using fairytales and fantastical stories.

This was one of the first books I have read in a verse format, and while it was a little hard to get used to, once I did I loved it. The way the characters are written pulls us further into the journey without letting go. Also, as someone who has dealt with lose of friends, family, and more it was a journey that cause me to reflect on my own losses. 

I think and hope that this story can help readers understand and move forward from their grief, especially the young readers that this book is targeted for. It is an absolute recommend from me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Confinement, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness