Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Cuéntalo

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Cuéntalo by Laurie Halse Anderson

25 reviews

florizona's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

My personal goal of reading everything that Emily Carroll has illustrated led me to pick up her graphic novel interpretation of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, which was not something I’d normally choose, but I really enjoyed it. Carroll’s artwork made the emotionally heavy material easier to bear somehow- in a way it’s not far off from the spooky material that she usually presents- the same anxiety and fear is there, but directed at human physical and social interactions rather than the supernatural. And the satisfaction of having a loved protagonist find reconnection with her family and community is gratifying.

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thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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thisameliagirl's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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gluvsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

‘Speak’ is a graphic novel that explores the dark and haunting aftermath of being a survivor. It is so very needed in today’s society, the topics discussed may be on the heavier side but they are important nonetheless—there should be more books like this one especially in GN form to help reach younger audiences.

It was an emotional read, watching Mel go through the stages of depression, anxiety and PTSD after her sexual assault. From her just wanting to hide and disappear to being able to stand up and speak for herself; from feeling numb, to finally seeing the light was most empowering.

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Quotes:

“It takes more to scare me now.”

“If I try hard enough, maybe I can gobble up my whole head and disappear.”

“I wash my face until there is nothing legit of it. No eyes, no nose… no mouth. A slick nothing.”

“The whole point of not talking about it, of silencing the memory, is to make it go away. It won’t.”

“I just need to hang on long enough for my new skin to graft.”

“They don’t even know me. They have no clue what’s in my head.”

“It’s beginning to feel like IT raped my mind, too.”

“I survived.”

“Frozen stillness melts inside me. Shards of ice drip to the floor and vanish int the puddle of sunlight.”

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