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saskiahill's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Violence and Grief
unomi57's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Cancer and Violence
cosmicpanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Bullying, and Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, and Violence
tifftastic87'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
4.5
Conor's mom is sick, like really sick, and everyone knows it is the end, except for him. When his mom is admitted to the hospital, a strange thing happens with the yew tree in the backyard. It comes to Conor at night and tells him there will be an exchange of tales, three from the monster and one from Conor. That's when things start to spiral.
Overt Grief
Lately, I have really been about stories with grief. This one really hit the mark. I know this is a middle grade (maybe early YA) book, but damn the imagery - both the words and the art - really expressed how Conor was feeling. It was frustrating, reading this as an adult, and seeing none of the other adults be honest with him about what was happening. We constantly underestimate children's abilities to understand the world around them and expect that they don't feel emotions how we do, when they are usually feeling them much, much stronger.
Story Length
Honestly, I kind of wish this were a longer book. I would have like a little more detail in the monster's stories, a little more back story on some of the characters, and perhaps even a short epilogue. That's my major qualm, is the story felt rushed when it didn't need to be and I felt it should have given space to some of the themes that required a little bit more.
Content Warnings
Detailed descriptions of bullying, grief, loss of a parent, cancer, and medical situations.
Moderate descriptions of violence.
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, Terminal illness, Bullying, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Murder
lectora21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
gillianengelbrecht'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Medical trauma and Violence
Minor: Medical content
mad_henshall's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Violence
inirac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Violence
cream_biscuits's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cancer, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, and Violence
kryolitee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence