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ajay913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Child death
Moderate: Sexism, Child abuse, and Racism
Minor: Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Murder
jrae_miller's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content, Death, and Physical abuse
Minor: Confinement, Child death, Gun violence, and Bullying
jenndazzle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
jharman44's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, and Child abuse
Moderate: Racism
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's been 15 years since I read this book, and while I remembered some of the big plot points, I picked up on a lot more of the nuanced messages this time around.
What I had once considered a time travel adventure story is actually much darker. Jessie, the main character, grows up in a cult based around around beliefs and life styles of the 1840s. It isn't until the people running the show--literally, the cult is on display to the public--introduce diphtheria to the tiny town that Jessie's "ma" decides that action needs to be taken.
Cue Jessie on a journey of modernity: 1840 --> 1996.
The main message of the story is what happens when anti-vaxxers and fake news mongers are revealed to be what they truly are. It is a cautionary tale that uncomfortably lines up with where we are as a nation in 2021.
What I had once considered a time travel adventure story is actually much darker. Jessie, the main character, grows up in a cult based around around beliefs and life styles of the 1840s. It isn't until the people running the show--literally, the cult is on display to the public--introduce diphtheria to the tiny town that Jessie's "ma" decides that action needs to be taken.
Cue Jessie on a journey of modernity: 1840 --> 1996.
The main message of the story is what happens when anti-vaxxers and fake news mongers are revealed to be what they truly are. It is a cautionary tale that uncomfortably lines up with where we are as a nation in 2021.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Violence
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