Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman

2 reviews

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? No

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Animal death, Slavery, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Ableism

Moderate: Abandonment, Trafficking, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Rape, Blood, and Bullying

Minor: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Car accident

esszeegee's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

This is a story that breaks your heart.  It is told from the perspective of two women in two different eras.  Afflicted with albinism, Lilly's mother sells her to the circus during the Depression in the 1930's.  

As Lilly adjusts to circus life, the story changes to Julia. It’s the 1950’s, Julia is 18 and has run away from home, leaving behind her controlling religious mother - this is the area of the book that just slowed everything down.  I would have rather just read about Lilly.  Julia was boring.

This book is a hard read. It is dark, disturbing and filled with an intense amount of suffering.  Be aware there is physical as well as emotional abuse, and severe mistreatment of animals in this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse