jalexpulliamkepler 's review for:

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

4.75

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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

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An absolute gut punch of a novel with possibly the best ending I’ve ever read. Loses just a smidge for some craft issues that are more than understandable given that this is Adjei-Brenyah’s debut novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness