Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - La casa en el mar más azul. Edición especial: Edición especial con cantos tintados

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

La casa en el mar más azul. Edición especial: Edición especial con cantos tintados by TJ Klune, Carlos Abreu Fetter

1353 reviews

fred___'s review against another edition

sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This was written based on the 60s scoop. Indigenous populations have discussed often that it was not an appropriate thing for a white cis author to cover (and give a happy ending to) because it dismissed the trauma indigenous populations are still living.

Content Warnings

eddieboy's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring relaxing 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

Content Warnings

moond4ncer's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

I loved my experience with this book. Funny, witty, compassionate and a beautiful reminder of all the good things in life. I'll return to this book and recommend it to many friends.

Content Warnings

driedmintleaves's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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: Complicated

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. I have not weeped with tears of joy at a books ending like this in a long time.

Content Warnings

provokamin's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Literally one of the best books I've ever read. I had to force myself to stop reading everytime I picked up the book, because otherwise I would've probably read it in one sitting and I didn't want it to end. The writing is incredibly beautiful and I loved all of the characters so much. I'm going to recommend this book to literally everyone I know

Content Warnings

aruejohns's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous funny hopeful 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

Updating this review because I reread the book and have a few new thoughts - and several questions. First, I don’t think it’s fair to over-analyze this book: its a sweet story that is decently well-written, and a truly fun read. It’s cute, and emotional, and worth the couple of hours it takes to read.

Second (and I am going to over-analyze here), there are definitely elements of “white savior”ism in the book, especially given that it was partially inspired by indigenous “boarding schools” across the US and Canada. Given that fact, the lack of clarity on the family history of many of the characters is also pretty questionable - the book tells us that magical adults exist, but we only meet two - where did these magical children come from?

In the interest of not over-complicating things, I’m going to leave the review there. Do I recommend this book? Yes, probably. But it still has elements that need further discussion, and I’d like to see more of that discussed in more of the author’s work.

Original review below:
I read this book for an equity-focused book club, which certainly colored my impressions if it. It is certainly a delightful read - quick, cute, and lighthearted that does not shy away from the darkness that its worldbuilding implies.
Yet, throughout the book, it fell into the trap of trying to talk about acceptance and diversity through the mask of a fantasy setting without a direct parallel in the real world, and without the actual diversity that the magical elements were presumably meant to invoke. Yes, there were several queer characters, including the main character. However, at several points the text pointed out his queerness in more of a virtue-signaling than actual way: a neighbor having to remind herself to push men on him instead of women, children asking questions unprompted. As in many books, the queer elements felt far more intentionally obvious than natural. There was also only one character described as being non-white, the only child to have skin color mentioned as part of their description.
The book deals heavily with childhood trauma and violence, and I thought it handled the topic well. It was not shied away from, but didn’t appear to be overly sensationalized.
Overall, this book told a sweet story of a found family and a fight for acceptance and forgiveness. I read it in one sitting and it was certainly a page turner - I really enjoyed it. I will certainly be very curious to hear what my book club has to say.

Content Warnings