Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

124 reviews

madimads's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Terminal illness

Minor: Child abuse, Cancer, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Child death, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

cheriejanette's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

What a feel good story! I loved this, and I even got a bit teary eyed 🥺🥹 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Child death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Child abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Cancer, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

jhinojosa1's review

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

3.75

Very cute ending, Hugo is definitely top book boyfriends 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Miscarriage, and Child abuse

tinymagpie29's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

An easy and predictable read. As a child free person, I found it very difficult to relate to the protagonist who's main motivation is adopting a child. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse

Minor: Miscarriage and Child death

alanaschulte's review

hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Medical content, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

kds's review

adventurous lighthearted slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Child abuse and Abortion

dkamada's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Really sweet story, seems like it’s targeted at a slightly younger audience, but I appreciate a feel good story where everyone gets their wish in the end

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Incest, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Miscarriage

kimveach's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

This was such a lovely book. I wish I could explain why I liked it so much, but it's really more of a feeling. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Miscarriage, Cancer, and Terminal illness

demara_crim's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse and Cancer

nataliebootlah's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

3.5

This read like a children’s book for adults. It was both whimsical and wholesome, but certainly not realistic. And perhaps that’s the point. 

 

I loved that the story revolved around children who fell in love with books and, within those books, found a place to belong. I did get Willy Wonka vibes in that I couldn’t quite tell if I should like the beloved author of the famous Clock Island book series or be slightly creeped out by his need to save children. Yet the story was endearing. A young woman hopes to adopt a precious, traumatized boy. An elderly author hopes to save the now-adult children who long ago ran away to beloved Clock Island. 

 

Although The Wishing Game is marketed as adult fiction, it felt more YA to me. This one’s for you if you’re looking for a quick, imaginative read with familial trauma, riddles and rhymes, found family, and unique characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Child death

Minor: Miscarriage