Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

30 reviews

halem13's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Self harm, Violence, Racism, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Slavery

sunshinesyst3m's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.75

Do you know those books that completely wreck your feelings and ruin your life but is so genuinely amazing that you recommend it to all of your friends? This is one of those books. please read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Gore, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Racism, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Police brutality

lilifane's review

emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

Why did I do this to me? I'm a sobbing mess. 
A really good book with great anxiety representation (second book in a row, what are the odds). Loved the characters (a little too much), loved the writing and the atmosphere and how themes like toxic masculinity, intergenerational trauma, internalized racism but also black joy were discussed here. 
As an older sister this was hard to read on so many levels. I loved the way the brothers interacted and talked with each other, got to know each other again. But uff, my poor heart. They both had to go through so much.
There were some things that didn't work for me in the plot/logic of the story when it came to some decisions Alex made. But overall this was a really great although emotionally very painful read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, and Gun violence

Minor: Self harm, Car accident, Medical content, Police brutality, and Slavery

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Racism, Car accident, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Grief

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Slavery, Alcohol, and Colonisation

shutupiamreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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

5.0

What an incredible book. The author did such an amazing job writing characters that you cannot help but love. I didn’t expect this to be a story that goes back generations but I loved how well thought-out Alex’s powers were. Also, the concert scene was fantastic and had me sitting at the edge of my seat - I’ve never read such a riveting description of a concert!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, and Slavery

cranedphoenix's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

I definitely appreciate how they incorporated what it's like being black into this book

the entire thing with their neighborhood and how that is how Izzy ends up dying was not what I was expecting, sure I expected the concert shooting once Eli was being suspicious but to be murdered while almost making it home to safety was wild yet true

The way they tackled fear was excellent was well as Alex forging his own meanings to life and what it means "to be a man"
The complex relationship between Alex and Izzy

and how they made a genuine connection and love up to the end

Not to mention Talia was one of my fav characters and I love when a book includes Spanish since I know Spanish as well

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Car accident, Child death, and Death of parent

amplawrence's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Violence, Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Slavery and Rape

jennyg1234's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad tense 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

It was okay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Minor: Gun violence

erine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was glad at the end to read the author's note about how this began as a novel of Black Boy Joy, but transformed into a novel of Black Boy Joy, Despite. The amount of heavy things after that Despite is long, but understanding a little of how and why it came about helped.

From the get go, Alex has already lost his parents to a car crash, and also his best friend/girlfriend's brother to a different car crash. Ever since losing his parents, Alex suffers from the curse of being able to peek into the future. Alex lives with an Aunt and his younger brother who has closed himself off, so Alex does not have many close relationships. We meet Alex as he's highly anxious over his future visions and his own future, particular his future with his girlfriend Talia. At first, this curse seemed a little contrived, but I liked the backstory that unfolds as the Reader learns more about Alex's family. 

A large portion of the story suffers from the "so many things could have been resolved if you'd just told someone else about what is happening." But ultimately, Alex finds a way to share his burdens and anxieties. This sounds heartwarming or uplifting, but it comes at a very high cost.

Note: a lot of loss through death; extrajudicial murder; gun violence; racism.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Racism

Minor: Car accident

aus10england's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was an interesting one, I tight the story started out really strong, established some interesting themes and storylines I was excited to explore. I found that the book kind of just , fizzled out towards the end? I don’t know. 

I enjoyed the representation of anxiety, and how that related to the characters. The  characters themselves were quite well written, the relationship between Alex and Isaiah specifically made the entire reading experience worth it. 

This this would be a great read for a YA audience in understanding racism and gun violence in America. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Child death, and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse