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alilovesbooks4170's review
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Medical content, Self harm, Alcohol, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, and Child death
_theliteraturevillian_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Sage believed for six years her sister died of pneumonia only to find out at sixteen, her twin sister is being held at Willowbrook State School, “home” of the mentally declined. Sage takes a trip to Willowbrook to visit her sister and from there her life will never be the same.
I was rooting for Sage from beginning to end. Every experience she went through I felt with her to the point I was tearing on the train. To know that this story was inspired by true events made me even more emotional. To know that actual people, actual children had suffered, died at Willowbrook makes my stomach churn with disgust. Being a psych grad, I could go on and on about state institutions but we’ll leave that for another day.
2011 I received a letter from CSI (College of Staten Island) congratulating me on being accepted to their school. I turned down the offer due to the commute only for CSI to pop back into my life in the most unexpected way. What use to be Willowbrook State School is now the home of CSI. Definitely glad I turned them down 😩 ANYWAYS…
Character development ✅
Consistent tension✅
Engaging from start to finish✅
With a touch of history✅
Thank you @EllenMarieWiseman for teaching those of us who had no idea about Willowbrook.
Is this a MUST READ or PASS?
ITS A MUST READ
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Vomit, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Ableism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
xenalia's review
4.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Excrement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement
Moderate: Infertility, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Self harm, Abandonment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Death