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bookwormdystopian2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Police brutality
lena_krysiak's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Mass/school shootings, Self harm, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Murder
cerilouisereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Ableism
melinajoy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was good. It was dark and challenging and informative and hopeful and good and bad and justice and magical/mystical and Black and very interesting and everything. There's also a lot of trauma in this book, so make sure to read the content warnings.
I think Bitter's character is well named. I loved the teacher and the school and the fight. I appreciated hearing everyone's different accents in the audiobook.
The second half of the book was fantastic, the first half was a little confusing learning everyone's names and relationships (not because the names are hard, but because they're all different genders and who's dating who and who is at the school and who is not, etc). But it's totally worth reading.
I love books that teach us about different backgrounds and real life injustices and still pull us into the book as an escape into a different reality. 4.5 stars!
I think Bitter's character is well named. I loved the teacher and the school and the fight. I appreciated hearing everyone's different accents in the audiobook.
The second half of the book was fantastic, the first half was a little confusing learning everyone's names and relationships (not because the names are hard, but because they're all different genders and who's dating who and who is at the school and who is not, etc). But it's totally worth reading.
I love books that teach us about different backgrounds and real life injustices and still pull us into the book as an escape into a different reality. 4.5 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse
vampire_burrito's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Homophobia
miniingrid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Si os ha gustado Mascota, tenéis que leer Bitter. Y si no habéis leído Mascota, no sé a qué estáis esperando.
Es duro, pero no se recrea ni hurga en el dolor. Y te recuerda que la esperanza es una disciplina, es algo que se tiene que trabajar y por lo que vale la pena hacerlo.
Es duro, pero no se recrea ni hurga en el dolor. Y te recuerda que la esperanza es una disciplina, es algo que se tiene que trabajar y por lo que vale la pena hacerlo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
booksandteatime's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Police brutality, War, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, and Racism
Moderate: Ableism
theoceanrose's review against another edition
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Violence
puggreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Police brutality, and War
hobbithopeful's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? No
4.5
The prequel to Akwaeke Emezi's bestselling novel Pet, Bitter is the prequel to Pet and tells the emotional story of a social revolution and what it costs those in it and around. Bitter is one of the lucky few able to live and create at Eucalyptus, a school dedicated to teaching and protecting creative teenagers. The city around them is ravaged day and night by protests, corruption, and police brutality. Bitter has no desire to join in the protests, she just wants to stay safe, as opposed to some of her friends who risk their lives every day fighting to have a voice. Tensions continue to rise and soon Bitter reaches her breaking point, pouring all of her emotions, anger, and blood into a painting, the consequences of her pain and desire for change have dire results that will change the city forever.
I haven't read Pet yet and all this book did was make me want to read it so badly! I didn't expect the twists and turns this book took, and while I wish I had started with Pet so I would have gotten a better idea of the magic in this world, it was nice to get a foundation for how events were set in motion. Emezi is a fantastic storyteller, her writing drew me in and I felt as helpless and powerless as Bitter and her friends did. A book like this is so relevant to our current political climate, the utter and complete failure of our government and "police protection" that we have in place.
The Cover
There is a scene in the book where Bitter's friend, Blessing, takes a photo of her against a backdrop, which is what the cover looks like. I think it works perfectly. Bitter stares right at the viewer, unabashed, and almost challenging in a way. The vibrant colors, character expression, and everything about the cover makes an eye catching composition that perfectly nails the book.
Cover art by Shyama Golden
I haven't read Pet yet and all this book did was make me want to read it so badly! I didn't expect the twists and turns this book took, and while I wish I had started with Pet so I would have gotten a better idea of the magic in this world, it was nice to get a foundation for how events were set in motion. Emezi is a fantastic storyteller, her writing drew me in and I felt as helpless and powerless as Bitter and her friends did. A book like this is so relevant to our current political climate, the utter and complete failure of our government and "police protection" that we have in place.
The Cover
There is a scene in the book where Bitter's friend, Blessing, takes a photo of her against a backdrop, which is what the cover looks like. I think it works perfectly. Bitter stares right at the viewer, unabashed, and almost challenging in a way. The vibrant colors, character expression, and everything about the cover makes an eye catching composition that perfectly nails the book.
Cover art by Shyama Golden
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, Murder, and Violence