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kennethwade's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
voxelbee's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Sexual violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
kathryngardyne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
strabbyfieldz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty and War
jennifer_vars's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
The novel is a ghost story but not really. What it really delves into is psychological and generational trauma through a lyrical, historical lens. It's part horror and part magical realism. The scary part of this book is not the supernatural aspect, but the horrors humans inflict on one another.
This was my second reading, and probably tougher this time around. I initially picked it up because of all the recent uproar in my state over this particular book. It was the focus of a challenge four years ago but conveniently reimagined for political play this last election cycle.
Surprising to me, I kind of agree that this may not be appropriate for even most high schoolers but not for the reasons used in the challenge. The argument for censorship is that it's too violent and too sexually mature. Well, those are simply bad faith arguments because this book was not assigned to 8 year olds but rather high school students in AP classes (aka college level). Anyone who is being honest knows that teenagers view much worse on their phones that are conveniently available in their pockets at all times. The real reason is Morrison has written a tragic and horrific account of the aftereffects of slavery in America and it makes people uncomfortable.
I wouldn't take it off the list, but the potential problem with assigning the novel is that it is an extremely difficult book to follow. The memories are told in fragmented text and the dialogue of the setting make this book one that requires patience. Some books are meant to be read at the right time in our lives. I'm an avid reader and I'm not sure I would have appreciated or been able to take in all of the nuanced meanings in high school but I don't know. I'm sure having a teacher to guide the book and discussion questions is probably best. Readers should read it when they're ready, and for me that came at my second attempt at 42.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, and Slavery
orlagal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
thatgirlemili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Child death, Sexual assault, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Animal cruelty
readingpicnic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Death of parent
_kimb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Alcohol
r__kat's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty