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firedew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
michelleub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content
cdace8's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Eating disorder, Medical content, Sexual content, and Suicide
sashajames's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
strawb3rrykyli3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Sexual content
zpitts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
kfisher2024's review
3.0
Craig was fine but his attitude towards women was kinda hard to read. There was a lot of objectification and
All in all, I feel like this is a great book for people struggling with any kind of mental health issues. I like how he decided to do what was best for him rather than his academic future. The book also focuses on the importance of asking for help when needed and shows that the pros outweigh the cons.
I would definitely recommend reading this.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, and Misogyny
quinnpjd930's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Self harm, Suicide, Drug use, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Outing, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
sprucewillow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I appreciate the reviews that said the book was funny and depicted mental health issues without being depressing, which holds true. The humor wasn't super ha-ha funny but instead witty. The tone of writing felt accurate to the voice of a 15 year-old boy. Craig's relation to his peers were also accurate to his age. As much as I hated reading it, his innermost thoughts about school, girls, and other characters in the book also felt realistic. Particularly his worries about school hit hard because I know I had some of those same thoughts when I was 15.
I have several gripes about this book that kept me from enjoying it. Spoilers from now on:
- The characters were flat, particularly the women. There is no difference in Nia and Noelle besides their names, described appearances, and their relation to Craig (hot girl who goes to his school versus other hot girl who is also in the hospital). I hate that I read several pages worth of descriptions of what they were wearing, their tits, their thighs, etc. I don't think Craig's mother and sister ever shared a significant interaction. This book does not pass the Bechdel test, lol. All the prominent female characters were there to serve Craig in some way. Again, main-character syndrome.
- Noelle seemed particularly useless. Her only use in the plot was to be the next love interest once Nia was out of the picture. Craig and Noelle's relationship was in general just annoying to read about. It was a terribly convenient romance.
- The depiction of mental illness, disordered eating, etc. was very compelling in the first two parts of the book (why those were my favorite sections). Once Craig gets into the hospital, all his symptoms seem to disappear. All that happens while he's in the hospital is fussing over girls and talking to the other hospital residents. I suppose it makes sense, because once his primary stressor cannot bother him (school) then of course his symptoms would lessen.
- Overall this story could have been condensed. 400+ pages was a drag to get through.
RIP Ned Vizzini
Graphic: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Vomit
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, and Alcohol
valreadssometimes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
To put it this way, the book most definitely feels like it was written by a teenage boy. There are multiple references to sex that are raunchy and really distracted me from the main message. The narrator, Craig, cannot describe a single female character without it feeling vile. There’s even a line where a character’s breasts are said to roll along with her eyes (I had to put the book down and reflect).
Not only that but the characters all felt two dimensional. As you can probably assume, none of the female characters are there for anything other than to be fantasy material for Craig.
Oh yeah, there’s also slurs in here, as well as just really offensive descriptions. The trans character mentioned on the back cover appears ONCE, and it’s only to be some sort of twisted comedic relief. We never get any of her story, and the scene she was in left a bad taste in my mouth.
I don’t understand why I tortured myself with finishing the book.
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault and Self harm