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alexklinect's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
Minor: Excrement, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
nicole_rietveld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Nu am trăit revoluția, părinții mei erau mici când s-a întâmplat și își amintesc puține din comunism, însă mi-a venit deseori să plâng. Mi-am amintit de 10 august 2018, când multă lume a protestat, nici nu mai țin minte pentru ce, dar știu că mă șocase faptul că autoritățile stropiseră protestatarii, iar unii luaseră și bătaie. Nu pot să îmi scot din memorie imaginea de pe ecran a mulțimii de oameni adunați la București.
În acest moment sunt îngrijorată de soarta țării, a viitorilor tineri. Vin alegerile și sincer nu prea există variante convenabile. Mă neliniștește faptul că mulți rezonează cu niște scandalagii, oameni care nu fac ceva concret ca să ajute țara, ci doar știu să dea vina unii pe alții. Cunosc mulți tineri care disprețuiesc propria țară din cauza corupției. E trist când mă gândesc că alții înaintea lor au luptat pentru țara asta...
Întrebarea mea este: Cum putem aduce schimbarea aici?
Graphic: Violence
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Stalking, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Domestic abuse
lyramadeline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Full review to come on my blog.
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Death, Blood, and Gore
arthomas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Torture, Chronic illness, Excrement, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, and War
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
"I Must Betray You" follows 17-year-old Cristian in 1989 Romania. Cristian aspires to be a writer, but in Romania, there are other plans for people. Nicolae Ceaușescu is the dictator over Romania, and he rules his people by instilling fear and isolating them from the rest of the world. Cristian does not want to live this way anymore, and as he begins to learn more about what is happening in the world, he grows the urge to fight back and do something for the country he loves.
This was a difficult story to read because Cristian's life is made so difficult by a cruel and unjust leader. what is even more devastating, is that this book is historical fiction, and events like these occurred so recently. There were moments I was appalled and wanted to put the book down, but at the same time I was entranced by what was happening. I needed to know how Cristian's story ended.
I really enjoyed that this was written for the young adult sphere. I think it is important for young adults to be exposed to history, and historical fiction books are a great, entertaining way to do so. There were moments of violence and gore that were challenging to read, but again, I think it is important to learn that the world is not all sunshine all the time.
Ruta Sepetys is an immensely talented author, and I really enjoyed my first taste of her writing. Her eloquent prose is both beautiful and does not shy away from the truth. She writes raw stories about real hardship, but she does so in a way that makes it impossible to put the book down.
I could feel Cristian's stress radiating from the page, and I wanted to scream at him the truth that was just beyond his grasp. He is a strong protagonist, and I enjoyed his point of view. He was brave in the face of adversity, and he always sought the truth, even when that seemed impossible to do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone, and I cannot wait to pick up more from Ruta Sepetys in the near future.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Death, War, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Grief, Hate crime, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
dale_in_va's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Gun violence, Death, Torture, War, and Violence
mformato's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not a full five stars because of personal reasons. I felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the beginning. Also Cristian felt a little too American for the story. Plot points happened a bit too much out of convenience.
But overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend the book to someone who enjoys reading about revolutions, noir, and an undying spirit of hope in a hopeless land.
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Stalking, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, War, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Gaslighting, and Grief
kenxdoll's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, War, and Violence
adireadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, and Child abuse