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fairy_gardenn's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, Abortion, Racism, and Rape
karol99's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Bullying, Hate crime, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Slavery, Physical abuse, Suicide, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
audc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think the last 200 pages were written first because of the quality of the writing.
The premise of this book is SOOO interesting and the world SOO intriguing, but the author does little to even scratch the surface of this iceberg and decides instead to focus on the melodrama and break neck, choke-full plot twists.
The characters were TOO young! The thoughts and series of events that the author needed a certain age to process causes a disconnect between their age (13 and 14/15) and their voice. The author put them through So much and the impossibility that these children handle something that would even cause adults multiple breakdowns; they were more than in over their heads with the MULTIPLE conflicts they faced in one lifetime. It also felt a little rushed as the ramifications and significance of certain events weren’t allowed to sink in or explored.
The character changes gave me a WHIPLASH!! One moment Magaret is hopeful for change and the next she’s spiteful. Minerva is horrid and written as a villain for the entire book and not in a way where we could relate.
And I really felt like there were there only to advance the story. Exhibit A: Lynette
I don’t know if it was just me but I found it really difficult to read in Callum’s perspective. He goes back and forth through a lot of emotions and is not only unsure what he wants but doesn’t have a fixed identity. (I appreciate how he was written as he was going through A LOT, however, his emotions would take sudden quantum leaps.)
I didn’t feel any connection to the characters.
The characters were never really given good motive and that made them feel one dimensional.
Like, only Mr.Hadley remains in character.
Perhaps because of Sephy’s age, but fir a lot of the book -except when convenient- Sephy is not able to get even a fraction if the stuff Callum is going through (maybe this was done on purpose) but that was frustrating.
This is supposed to be a reality where Africa colonises, however, for a large portion of the story (descriptions, religion, clothes, food, buildings, government etc.) has a very Western glasses over it… This disappointed me the most. Some concepts or things (like hanging) were included but not explored or explained and may have gone unnoticed to the inexperienced.
Though it is once implied that Crosses are as violent as Noughts - Callum’s thoughts on discrimination in court rulings-, we only read them committing justice system crimes/ mundane harassment/ segregation etc. while Noughts LITERALLY bombed A Mall! I don’t know if the author did this subconsciously or on purpose…
A nice quote
“And the fear I felt then was like a moment spent dying.”
Graphic: Colonisation, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abortion, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
ells_shelves's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Hate crime, Death, Classism, Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, Suicide, Racism, Murder, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
rchristine11's review against another edition
2.75
It’s clear the author had good intentions but this was just a huge miss for me.
Graphic: Murder, Kidnapping, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
gemmacateshort'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Violence, Hate crime, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
billie1401's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Rape and Abortion
12dejamoo'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
5.0
Moderate: Kidnapping and Death
Minor: Sexual content and Rape
graciethomson's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
robyn_quick's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
- honestly the best book i have read for the course
- to reverse the real-life race treatment, we are shown how absurd prejudice really is. From having brown plasters to schools not being equal for all, to noughts being hung for crimes they did not commit, you cannot tell yourself that this is fiction because it is happening now.
- Blackman also perfectly balances a light-hearted humour with nail-biting scenes in various parts of the novel
'D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?' I ask.
[...] 'I used to think about it a lot,' I sigh. 'Dreams of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, equality of life, a level playing field...'
- we know that this is not how the situation plays in real life, that supposed superiority from any group leads only to inequality and prejudice.
Moderate: Abortion and Violence
Minor: Rape