Reviews tagging 'Grief'

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

34 reviews

midnightmarauder's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

This One Summer follows Rose, a young teenage girl as she and her family go on their annual getaway to the fictional Awago Beach. There, Rose gets to see her longtime best friend, Windy, and the pair find out more about each other and what they want out of life.

I initially read this book because I heard it was banned due to its inclusion of LGBT characters, amongst other topics. However, there's no explicit inclusion of any LGBT characters. Allusions were made of Windy being lesbian/bisexual (ex. her saying that she doesn't want a husband; going to the 'lesbian camp'; showing slight jealousy when Rose shows interest in the boy who works at Brewster's, etc.), but it is never explicitly stated. 

Other reasons why the book ended up being banned are because of the profanity and sexual comments that the children make, including Rose and Windy. They overhear two workers at Brewster's call the girl's they're hanging with

sluts

, and Rose and Windy begin to repeat it. Even after Rose's mom overhears the two using such language and tells them it isn't appropriate, they repeat it later on in the novel. On top of that, the two Brewster's workers

actively talk about sex

and one of the girls they mess around with goes on to

get pregnant

. Those themes make a little bit more sense as to why some parents weren't happy with the novel.

Overall, I liked the book. This is the second book I've read by the Tamaki cousins; the first one being Roaming. I do like This One Summer much better, because the characters actually feel like they have some sort of depth (albeit minor).  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Grief, Miscarriage, Cursing, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Suicide attempt

bi_n_large's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Cursing, and Infertility

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Gaslighting

Minor: Fatphobia

wad3mil3sgarru2's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Miscarriage

sglance9's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism and Grief

Minor: Suicide attempt and Miscarriage

frantic_vampire's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Somehow this book captures the essence of summer. The vacation, the lake, and late night scary movie sessions with your friends. There was family drama, there was small town drama, and all the adventures a pre-teen on summer vacation could want. Though at times it felt like Rose was a little callous towards a lot of the things that were happening around her. But on the other hand, that’s kind of the way teens and pre-teens can be. My feelings on this one are all over the place. I loved it, I hated it, it made me long for the summers of my childhood. So I think I’m giving this one three and a half stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Grief, and Infertility

Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

horizonous's review against another edition

lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Grief, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Infertility

◦ Mental illness = Depression
◦ Sexism = Slut shaming

ifiwasapuppet's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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: Suicide attempt, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Cursing, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

itsjadenbaby's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

Really did not connect to any of the characters. I found all of them to be quite frustrating. Only finished reading because it’s a quick finish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief

Minor: Bullying

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

It’s a cute, fast read. It’s a slice of life story, so there is no defined beginning or end. Nothing is resolved, which makes sense because that’s how real life works, but as a reader, I prefer knowing without a shadow of a doubt how things turn out for the character.

The two main characters are two girls in their early teens, and it was refreshing to read a story where the children are written realistically!

And the art is incredibly gorgeous!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, and Miscarriage

dlsmk's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infertility, Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Misogyny