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annaforthebooks'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism
vivireads99's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
khandle3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
0.5
Moderate: Transphobia, Fatphobia, and Racism
ckepic's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Transphobia and Racism
biblio_creep's review
From the jump there is a lot of mention about the main character being Christian, and the two other adult main characters being atheist. We are banged over the head with it on several occasions. It just feels icky, like you're getting reminded that atheists are bad people subtly, over and over. And wouldn’t you know, the Christian ends up to be the hero and the Atheists are bad people. Of course.
Then, we get a plot point/twist using gender identity that I found to be very problematic. In short, it's transphobic. And, it's full of right-wing dog whistles.
Additionally, it's not even well written. There are many other plot points that are introduced and then not mentioned again until the very end, and didn’t even need to be there. And, a lot of confusing or stupid decisions by characters. Just a trope filled mess.
My advice is to not waste your time.
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
mal_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
However, it gave me weird vibes at times.
The "male gaze" experiment at the beginning was weird and didn't relate to the rest of the story.
The anti-religious parents were stereotypical liberals who don't even say "bless you" or celebrate Christmas. They have discussions with the child about private parts and exposing oneself, even buying a graphic sex book for the child. The main character is Christian and saves the child from the parents
There were also fatphobic statements like "she ballooned to a size eight", which is not even fat. The main character criticized her mom for being fat and unhelpful, but all is well when she loses weight.
Other issues include one-dimensional stereotypical characters such the crazy right-wing neighbor and the main character's landscaper Latino friend, and how technology turns children into zombies.
To an extent, I enjoyed the book. I liked its originality with the drawings. Unfortunately, it got heavy-handed with the political and religious ideology, especially toward the end.
Graphic: Murder, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Racism
venusmage's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
An additional nitpick is regarding the book’s art. This is coming from someone with a degree in the fine arts, so this may not bother the average reader, but it’s still worth mentioning. A big gimmick with this book is that it features many illustrations at the heart of the story’s mystery. Some childlike, others more mature and artistic. I think the childlike drawings serve their purpose fine enough while also being a little forgettable. The “better” drawings, though, took me out of the book’s world several times. In the book’s afterward the author interviewed the two artists. The more complex drawings are supposed to evoke a mixed media collage kind of feel - almost abstract (they specifically reference the astoundingly talented illustrator Dave McKean as inspiration) - but ultimately they look like amateur photoshop paint overs. They come off cheap and rushed rather than having an intentional artistic direction. From what little I read it seems the second artist is usually more of a designer and cover artist than an illustrator, and it unfortunately showed through here. His work on the cover looks great, but the interior art was so low quality I first mistook it as being done by a non-professional.
In the end, I’m sad to say the additional art in the book is a fun idea that really doesn’t add anything. The story isn’t enough to make the pictures feel like anything more than padding. I almost wonder if it would’ve been better if the author was forced to describe the artwork instead of showing it, to let the audience conjure something in their minds; but the book doesn’t have a lot of descriptive language that stands out enough for me to believe it would have worked, either.
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism
michaelawatkins's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Racism and Car accident
youthofpandas's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Grief, Addiction, Violence, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug use, Car accident, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Police brutality, Racism, and Infertility
erafact's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
Minor: Racism, Infertility, Infidelity, and Grief