Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

10 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

Honest and emotional and full of love. This book about siblings, and friends, and first loves encapsulates a true coming-of-age novel. It’s well-written — sometimes funny, sometimes gritty, sometimes tender. You can’t help but love the characters and their quest for finding a sunken ship that built an entire town. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Alcohol, Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

lilifane's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.0

I had a totally different idea about the plot of this book. I might have mixed it up with something else and since I don't read synopses, I was really surprised what this book was actually about. And pleasantly surprised even because it has so many things I love to read about. 
A small coastal town, family history, mystery and adventure, a treasure hunt, sibling dynamics, a friends group, LGBTQIA representation. And I really really enjoyed the majority o the book. The main character went through some hard hitting things and made some questionable decisions, but I still enjoyed reading from her perspective. 
I was disappointed by the last quarter of the book, though. The plot didn't really progress, and then it was suddenly over, but the ending took half an eternity to conclude. Weird pacing and I get the focus was on some important topics, but still, the rest was just forgotten somehow. 
But yeah, still liked and enjoyed the majority and the atmosphere was perfect for a summer read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Drug use, and Homophobia

brookey8888's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I just don’t think this book was for me. I can see why a lot of people like this and I did like the topics discussed, but that being said I didn’t love it. I thought the characters were honestly annoying and the  “quirky” style of character was too much for me. As for the romance I thought it was cute, but I honestly didn’t like how they tried their friend(also violet totally had feeling for him, but that just disappeared). I also wish that we got to see more of Sam and violet and their relationship develop and grow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Outing, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt

skudiklier's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

The writing in this was beautiful, and I love the bi/pan rep! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Biphobia, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Homophobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Death, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child death, Outing, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

Drowning

aseel_reads's review

emotional medium-paced

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

2.5

not really sure how i feel about this but i don't think i liked it very much.... i dislike the parents, i think the mental health rep, while i guess could be accurate for some people, would definitely be triggering for some. the things the MC was doing, would have made more sense if she was aged up a few years. it was fun seeing twelfth night retold. i feel like some of the side characters were more interesting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Sexual content

lipstickitotheman's review

adventurous emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship

averyrembish's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Medical content, Outing, and Cursing

Minor: Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Homophobia, Blood, Car accident, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, and Vomit

yvonne_cl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Homophobia, and Chronic illness

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Cancer

daydreamermoonwalker's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

This book was truly incredible. The characters felt so real, the prose was lovely, the relationships between the characters were so heartfelt, and the the theme was so touching and important. The last true poets of the sea was heart achingly beautiful and has earned a place as one of the best books I've ever read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

for_esme_with_love's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• 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

4.5

My teenage self feels incredibly seen by the protagonist, Violet, who is one of the most richly crafted characters I have read in YA fiction! A former child actor who is reeling from a traumatic family event, Violet is used to coping with her anxiety through alcohol and sex. But this summer she is rocking a freshly shaved head and is determined to turn over a new leaf, throwing herself instead into investigating a shipwreck that may hold a secret about her family's past. The real intrigue of this book is the depth of the supporting characters, all deeply lovable as well as flawed, who embrace Violet with open arms to help her solve the mystery. The love interest is beautifully rendered as a full, imperfect human, and even though the romance is a more minor plot it is no less satisfying. Also bonus points for depicting a character responding very reasonably to romantic rejection, which is rare to see, and queer story without a focus on coming out! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying and Child death

A suicide attempt of a family member is a primary aspect of the plot (not depicted). One of the characters lost a sibling when they were younger and discusses this loss. There is also a scene where the main character goes out with an older man who may not realize she is underage. She is ok, but the scene is uncomfortable.