A review by jalexpulliamkepler
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

4.75

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

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

Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Chronic illness