Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

17 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

---

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

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. 

---

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

---

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!

---

Content Warnings

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

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

---

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

charlottejones952's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Colonisation, Slavery, and Panic attacks/disorders

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Car accident

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Gun violence

elwirax's review

challenging emotional reflective 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

4.0

Trigger Warnings: death of family members, visceral description of anxiety, racism. 

"A man who doesn’t protect his family is no man either but one man can’t protect everyone, and a boy shouldn’t have to try" 

"The Cost of Knowing" was a difficult book both in terms of subject matter and giving an overall rating. Alex's anxiety throughout was so strong it was almost palpable. He was constantly worried that his brother, Isaiah may die at any moment and there was no way he could stop it. These types of emotions were bound to put the reader on edge as well, which made it that much harder to read about. 

Despite this, there were moments where these stresses were somewhat aleviated. I loved seeing Alex and Isaiah grow closer as brothers through their shared powers and rap music. The scene at Shiv Skeptic's concert was amazingly written and I loved seeing Isaiah's character so happy. Their love for eachother is particularly evident here and it really hit hard especially when paired with the ending. 

The author did an amazing job of addressing slavery and Black history, as well as the difficulties of being a Black boy in todays society and having to grow up too fast as a result. Ancestry was incorporated into "The Cost of Knowing" really well and brought a deeper meaning to story. 

However, many of the side characters such as Talia fell flat and the world building wasn't really fleshed out. This book relied heavily on repetition particularly in terms of Alex's power (which was understandable) but quickly got tiring. I also think the last 15% was slightly rushed and could've been drawn out more for a better conclusion. 

Overall, it's clear the authors intent was to focus on familial love and the struggles Black people face due to racism and this is exactly what was accomplished. I would definitely recommend reading "The Cost of Knowing" to those who can.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders

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

Minor: Slavery and Rape

atjude's review

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

Moderate: Car accident, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, and Child death

kaidoz's review

dark emotional inspiring 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

4.0

This book had an interesting premise and lived up to it. It also included reflection on the current state of how black boys in America must live. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gore, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Self harm, Car accident, and Cursing

Minor: Slavery, Sexual content, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Drug abuse