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kfergy'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Mass/school shootings, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Self harm, Vomit, and Kidnapping
gilroi's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
It's deftly written while always having incredibly clear prose that is neither 'invisible' or bland-- every word is chosen thoughtfully, even if the vocabulary and sentence structure is often simplistic. It reminds me of my favorite Palahniuks and Pat Barkers: a book that never talks down to its readers, trusting them to understand the complexity of thought found in its straight forward (and occasionally blunt) packaging.
And the messages this book sends are very complex and well thought out: is it possible to cover true crime in a moral way? What type of people bully and what type people are bullied? What's the cost of not 'fitting in' as a child? How does the internet warp young minds? What kind of person is a 'good' victim? Are 'good' victims real, or an invention of narrative convenience? Can children's play and imagination build up to murder? What kind of child is capable of murder, and is that capability innate, or does it grow over time? When does bullying become criminal? What amount of bullying is acceptable or 'normal'? And, perhaps most importantly, the question the book tackles in its final section with one of the most richly layered and consequential plot twists I've ever seen:
Even if they're not doing it in prose, everyone is forming a narrative in their heads. No one in these forums and blogs and chatrooms and social media accounts was an actual witness to the events they're compelled to discuss. Is all of that just a different kind of fanfiction? And if it is, who has the moral high ground? Who is engaging in these topics in a respectful way?
Is anyone?
Is the only way to answer these questions in a way that's respectful to the victim, this book seems to say, is to just write fiction. So Eliza Clark did, and I think it's one of the most engaging, creative, layered and thoughtful books I've ever read.
...At least, I think so. I don't know much about true crime, but Eliza Clark clearly does.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Sexual assault
sangsmiles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
evawondergem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Torture, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Classism
amy14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Self harm, Torture, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
polly_ellen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And then finally, the commentary on the ethics of the book and the true crime genre at the end just added to the intrigue and made the book even more unique. Would really recommend.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
plstr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Racism
rebeckareads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Toxic friendship
ashleighcattell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
lauraaaclaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Racism