Reviews tagging 'Racism'

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

48 reviews

purplepenning's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Oof. I'm going to need a beat to process this one. My initial response is: 👏👏👏 I'm so glad this book exists and I can see how it might work especially well for teenagers. But it's doing just a few too many things at once for my tastes. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Bullying, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Racial slurs

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.

---

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

valerira123's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Grief, Self harm, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

malinski42's review

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

This is a beautiful book that gives incredibly specific and accurate insight into clinical depression. As someone who has struggled with depression nearly my whole life, I really connected to this book. I really appreciate Amber McBride and her bravery to share this story. It is creative, insightful, and incredibly personal. I truly loved this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Self harm, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism

stephanielee's review

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Racism, Blood, and Self harm

smcaput2's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Grief, Death, Bullying, and Self harm

ladyhunbun's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This book really connected with me as a therapist working with teens with depression as well as someone who was a teen with depression. At times I struggled with the pacing (though this got better once I picked up the audiobook). Overall a resonant book even if sometimes a little ethereal. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Racism, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

sarafinley's review against another edition

dark 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? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Racism

percyvale's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Racism, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Racial slurs, and Mental illness

kerrygetsliterary's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Grief