Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

10 reviews

savheath's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Cursing, Police brutality, Blood, Death of parent, Deportation, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Medical content, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit

Minor: Kidnapping and Torture

jordynkw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Child death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Sexual violence

100_pages_hr's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Harrowing fictional account of three teenagers who flee danger in Guatemala for a better life in the United States. This was almost impossible to listen to because their lives were so difficult but I think sometimes we need to read the hard books to be reminded about how fortunate we are. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Confinement, Grief, Sexual assault, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Rape, Blood, and Vomit

tinana's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

hootreads's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Blood, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Trafficking, and Vomit

Minor: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Car accident, Kidnapping, Rape, and Stalking

ginadapooh's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship

lastingliterature's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

Jenny Torres Sanchez tells the story of three kids who are running for their lives from Guatemala to the United States. Their names are Pequeña, Chico, and Pulga; their names all might be “small” but their dreams are big and they know they will never achieve them if they stay in their country. Each kid is carrying a different kind of trauma that they must battle on the tumultuous journey, and they must rely on each other to reach their goal.

This is a story that will break your heart but is so necessary to read. We have all heard the stories of what has been going on at the US/Mexican border; this book not only covers that but focuses on how the children got to where they are. All that these three characters want is to live, as simple as that. It is gut-wrenching to think about how desperate you would be to leave your only family and friends at that age just to have the smallest chance of survival.

You will be screaming for Pequeña, Chico, and Pulga to keep fighting and will probably need a tissue or seven… Torres Sanchez covers quite a lot for a 350-page book as it alternates from Pequeña’s perspective to Pulga’s. While the beginning is a little bit slow, I found myself not being able to put the book down for the remainder.

I am also looking at adapting this book into my 9th-grade curriculum! For any teachers out there, this would be a phenomenal addition. Check out the content warnings at the bottom of this review and be aware there are a few curse words (f-bombs), but nothing I see as an issue.

In short: read this. You won’t be disappointed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CW: gun violence, murder (on-page), death of parent (off-page), rape, sexual assault, death of child (on-page), graphic accident, grief, depression, violence

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Death, and Child death

savannah_jw's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Gut wrenching. I cried for the kids the story follows. I was a little disappointed with the ending because I wanted more, but at the same time it’s nice how it was left up to imagination. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

mandkips's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Confinement, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Blood, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, Sexual violence, Rape, and Racism

savgulick's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Child death, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Rape and Confinement

Minor: Sexual violence