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A review by s_evan
The Free People's Village by Sim Kern
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I like this author's content on IG and the premise sounded good, but I was disappointed by this novel. When I told myself it was YA, I could accept the writing and approach to telling/showing us about activist circles. Overall it felt very surface and young, which the narrator is, but I feel like needed depth could have be added through more insight, better writing and/or more robust character development.
*TW/SPOILER/LEARNING LESSON: don't shame people who use drugs so that they use alone and OD w/o possibility for reversal. Making someone carry naloxone does NOTHING if that person is alone. For such a "woke" book when it comes to race and class class consciousness, as well as other forms of oppression, it really was not progressive when it came to substance use or people who live with addiction!
https://neverusealone.com/
*TW/SPOILER/LEARNING LESSON: don't shame people who use drugs so that they use alone and OD w/o possibility for reversal. Making someone carry naloxone does NOTHING if that person is alone. For such a "woke" book when it comes to race and class class consciousness, as well as other forms of oppression, it really was not progressive when it came to substance use or people who live with addiction!
https://neverusealone.com/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Rape