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tania_mybookishsecret's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Death, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Self harm, and Addiction
dayhod's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Drug abuse, and Murder
Minor: Self harm
easefcik's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
This was beautifully written and absolutely haunting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal death, Self harm, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Addiction, and Grief
racheloddment's review
dark
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Self harm
tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Self harm, Drug use, Animal death, Grief, Vomit, and Suicide
saara_ilona_muu's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Self harm, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Animal death, and Death of parent
chronologically_charlie's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Drug abuse, Racism, Bullying, and Lesbophobia
displacedcactus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
This book was sad as heck. It's full of loneliness and heartbreak and uncertainty.
I expected it to be a horror novel, because, y'know, haunted cemetery, but it's not really scary at all. That's not to say that there aren't moments of intensity. There's some really heavy stuff in here surrounding the main character's mother's death, and the death of the ghost.
I think this one will appeal to teen readers who love a tragic, moody tale. Do take a look at the content warnings -- there's some stuff in here that could be inappropriate or a bit much for younger teens and tweens.
I expected it to be a horror novel, because, y'know, haunted cemetery, but it's not really scary at all. That's not to say that there aren't moments of intensity. There's some really heavy stuff in here surrounding the main character's mother's death, and the death of the ghost.
I think this one will appeal to teen readers who love a tragic, moody tale. Do take a look at the content warnings -- there's some stuff in here that could be inappropriate or a bit much for younger teens and tweens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Sexual content, and Drug use
Minor: Self harm, Racism, Violence, and Vomit
Although there's no play-by-play on-page sex scenes, there is some very frank discussion of sex, masturbation, and a couple of brief scenes/mentions of teens having sex under the influence of various substances. Animal death spoiler:library_kb'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? It's complicated
4.0
I listened to this one as an advance listening copy from @Libro.fm. This is a really interesting book to me because according to what I usually like in stories, I wouldn't like this at all. It is slower paced, character driven, fairly flowery in language, uses a lot of flashbacks to tell the story, does focus quite a bit on the character exploring their sexual identity. However, I could not stop listening to this book--I always wanted to pick it up and keep going. Part of it was the way that Dimaline used themes and motifs, which were just beautiful, and part of it was the mystery of the setting and characterization. Anyways, I think there is a smaller audience for this one, but I would recommend it highly to upper high schoolers who are ready for some more mature content, like character driven stories and very atmospheric reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death
Minor: Self harm and Drug use
readingwithkaitlyn's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
As a queer Indigenous reader and reviewer, this book excited me. In some aspects it delivered and in others I was a bit disappointed. Starting with the writing, if that was what my rating was solely based on, I would have gave this book 5 stars. Cherie Dimaline can tell a story that is vivid and imaginative. The sentences are beautifully constructed and have a simple beauty to them. They aren't super flowery but each line builds a clear image in your head. Having this book set primarily in a cemetery gave it an atmospheric edge. In terms of Indigenous literature, this is a stand out novel. This meshed Indigenous culture seamlessly into a wider story. That allowed for it to be present and relevant to the story without it being the sole focal point. Which, once more, speaks volumes for this book and the way the author constructs stories.
For the plot, I thought it was quite solid. Through Winifred's eyes we see a wider story, focusing beyond the main plot of a lonely girl being in a cemetery and befriending Phil, a ghost who she sees as badass and cool. That remains a central part of the story but there are layers, like grief and neglect, and what that does to people. And what is even more exciting about this story is the way Phil tells us stories of her life within the actual story. And from her eyes we see even more of a plot, like the struggles of finding your place in the world when you're different from others, and how others may interact with you because of those differences. I could feel the connection between Winifred and Phil but wish we could have seen them do more stuff together. Having them work together on a common goal would have tied it all together in a perfect package. Instead it did feel at times like they were working alongside the plot rather than in line with it.
Overall my feelings about the story itself are positive, but there are aspects in the book that I found troubling and dampened my experience, as well as overall thoughts on it. There is tons of fat shaming in this book which made me uncomfortable. It took the pride and joy I felt as a queer Indigenous reader and had me wondering if the author would even tolerate someone like me who is fat. At first it was aimed primarily at Winifred's obese chihuahua. Although uncomfortable, and some thoughts can be drawn if those feelings would be reflected onto people, I could look past a lot of it because of how I was enjoying the story. However, there came a point where Winifred was thinking back on a teacher she had who is described as big and her best friend Jack ended up drawing that teacher as a "fat pig" that the class laughed at. It was the moment that started up their friendship. Even if it is set from the perspective of a kid, and kids can be cruel, it just felt unnecessary. There was also a moment where the same teacher was likened to Hitler, which felt out of place in this book and a bit insensitive to any Jewish readers who might pick it up.
I'm not someone who thinks characters can't be flawed and have arcs, but it makes hesitate on reading again from this author. Who I absolutely still want to read from as a fan of their writing. If that was not in here this book would easily be a 4 star read for me.
Overall, a good book that could use some tweaking and reconsideration for the readers.
As a queer Indigenous reader and reviewer, this book excited me. In some aspects it delivered and in others I was a bit disappointed. Starting with the writing, if that was what my rating was solely based on, I would have gave this book 5 stars. Cherie Dimaline can tell a story that is vivid and imaginative. The sentences are beautifully constructed and have a simple beauty to them. They aren't super flowery but each line builds a clear image in your head. Having this book set primarily in a cemetery gave it an atmospheric edge. In terms of Indigenous literature, this is a stand out novel. This meshed Indigenous culture seamlessly into a wider story. That allowed for it to be present and relevant to the story without it being the sole focal point. Which, once more, speaks volumes for this book and the way the author constructs stories.
For the plot, I thought it was quite solid. Through Winifred's eyes we see a wider story, focusing beyond the main plot of a lonely girl being in a cemetery and befriending Phil, a ghost who she sees as badass and cool. That remains a central part of the story but there are layers, like grief and neglect, and what that does to people. And what is even more exciting about this story is the way Phil tells us stories of her life within the actual story. And from her eyes we see even more of a plot, like the struggles of finding your place in the world when you're different from others, and how others may interact with you because of those differences. I could feel the connection between Winifred and Phil but wish we could have seen them do more stuff together. Having them work together on a common goal would have tied it all together in a perfect package. Instead it did feel at times like they were working alongside the plot rather than in line with it.
Overall my feelings about the story itself are positive, but there are aspects in the book that I found troubling and dampened my experience, as well as overall thoughts on it. There is tons of fat shaming in this book which made me uncomfortable. It took the pride and joy I felt as a queer Indigenous reader and had me wondering if the author would even tolerate someone like me who is fat. At first it was aimed primarily at Winifred's obese chihuahua. Although uncomfortable, and some thoughts can be drawn if those feelings would be reflected onto people, I could look past a lot of it because of how I was enjoying the story. However, there came a point where Winifred was thinking back on a teacher she had who is described as big and her best friend Jack ended up drawing that teacher as a "fat pig" that the class laughed at. It was the moment that started up their friendship. Even if it is set from the perspective of a kid, and kids can be cruel, it just felt unnecessary. There was also a moment where the same teacher was likened to Hitler, which felt out of place in this book and a bit insensitive to any Jewish readers who might pick it up.
I'm not someone who thinks characters can't be flawed and have arcs, but it makes hesitate on reading again from this author. Who I absolutely still want to read from as a fan of their writing. If that was not in here this book would easily be a 4 star read for me.
Overall, a good book that could use some tweaking and reconsideration for the readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Self harm, Death, Dementia, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Cancer and Alcohol
Homelessness, death from childbirth, slurs.
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