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sting_ray_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great depictions of mental illness
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Medical content, Self harm, Mental illness, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
beckyremillard's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t find that this book had any sort of mystery in it. There was grief and lots of emotions but the book was absolutely not a mystery. It was a decent book, but not what I like to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Cancer, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Blood
annieslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book felt like free therapy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Self harm, Terminal illness, and Vomit
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was wholly unexpected. I thought I was going to get a dark psychological thriller, but ended up getting a messy, poignant analysis of grief.
This book was beautifully executed with smart pacing. I was compelled to read it in one sitting.
It dealt with a lot of heavy issues through the perspective of a teen really working through huge emotions and circumstances. I liked that therapy was woven into the story and thought the therapy sparked some interesting discussions and points.
I look forward to reading this author’s previous works.
This book was beautifully executed with smart pacing. I was compelled to read it in one sitting.
It dealt with a lot of heavy issues through the perspective of a teen really working through huge emotions and circumstances. I liked that therapy was woven into the story and thought the therapy sparked some interesting discussions and points.
I look forward to reading this author’s previous works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Minor: Forced institutionalization
theartsybookwitch's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tw // blood, tattoos, death, ADHD, anorexia, drugs, addiction, heroin, eating disorders, PTSD (briefly mentioned), alcoholism, depression, knives, razor blades, self sabotage, cutting, needles, self violence, OCD, food, selective mutism, forced to leave, mention of experimentation, cancer, car accident, brain cancer, drugs
Spoilers below
“Saying what if never helped anyone. You can’t undo the bad things that have happened. Pain can’t be avoided, but it can be accepted.”
YALL.
I went into The Castle School thinking it was a mystery novel, but what I got was so much better.
The Castle School took a deep dive into the taboo subjects ((grief, depression, alcoholism, to name a few)) and in my opinion turned it into something beautiful.
I loved reading the chapters of how all the girls were subjected to coming to The Castle School, and how each girl deals with her vice in their own ways.
I feel like this couldn’t have come to me a better time, as I am dealing with grief and death over half a year later. Sheinmel describes grief with a stunning outlook.
Moira’s journey and self discovery was dynamic and reflective of how she was feeling. I feel like Moira was good as a main character but I would’ve loved to see the others as main characters as well.
Overall, TCS has a slow pace but is so powerful and beautiful.
"For one second before I fall asleep, I think I hear music. But maybe I’m already dreaming."
"Natural beauty, Mei decided, was not a straight thing, not a right-angled thing. Beauty was alphabetization and carefully laid plans. Beauty was counting each bristle on a toothbrush, each slat in the blinds hanging above the living room windows. What was beautiful about something as random as the looks she’d been born with? Something over which she had no control, over which her parents had no control?"
"I always hated it that teachers got to choose what books we read during the school year—I firmly believe that what you read is a deeply personal choice—but I quickly realize why our English classes were structured that way. It’s very dull—not to mention confusing—to listen to eleven girls talk about books I’ve never even heard of."
"In stories, things always go wrong at midnight. That’s when Cinderella’s coach turned back into a pumpkin, when she was exposed for who she really was."
"For one second before I fall asleep, I think I hear music. But maybe I’m already dreaming."
"Natural beauty, Mei decided, was not a straight thing, not a right-angled thing. Beauty was alphabetization and carefully laid plans. Beauty was counting each bristle on a toothbrush, each slat in the blinds hanging above the living room windows. What was beautiful about something as random as the looks she’d been born with? Something over which she had no control, over which her parents had no control?"
"I always hated it that teachers got to choose what books we read during the school year—I firmly believe that what you read is a deeply personal choice—but I quickly realize why our English classes were structured that way. It’s very dull—not to mention confusing—to listen to eleven girls talk about books I’ve never even heard of."
"In stories, things always go wrong at midnight. That’s when Cinderella’s coach turned back into a pumpkin, when she was exposed for who she really was."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Child death, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Self harm, and Mental illness
Minor: Car accident and Gore
TW // tattoos, death, ADHD, anorexia, drugs, addiction, heroin, eating disorders, PTSD (briefly mentioned), alcoholism, depression, knives, razor blades, self sabotage, cutting, needles, self violence, OCD, food, selective mutism, forced to leave, mention of experimentation, cancer, car accident, brain cancer, drugs
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