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gmamartha's review against another edition
3.0
Since this won the Printz honor award, it is classified as teen literature, and its main character is indeed a teen. But with the raw topics of violent sudden death of children, detailed romance, and in the end rape and murder, I cannot personally recommend it for teens. This story uses wonderful writing to bring back the historical setting of East Texas oil fields of 1937, bringing to light the cultural divide and segregation of New London, Tx.
chris10b's review against another edition
3.0
If you like living with the feeling of impending doom and waiting for the other shoe to drop, then you're going to love this book.
This is a work of historical fiction, although very loosely based on the 1937 New London School explosion in Texas. Although none of the characters are real, much of Perez's depiction of life in Texas and the South in the 1930s rings true.
Be forewarned that there is no hope in this novel. And I get that if the author wanted to maintain realism, there was no hope to offer, but this book covers some pretty heavy stuff--violence, alcoholism, child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, incest (sort-of), an attempted lynching, murder. It was a hard read. You almost need some kind of hope, even small, to get through it. If I hadn't needed to read it for class, I don't think I would have finished...or honestly, even started it.
And I can't imagine how this is considered YA literature. I mean, I'm all for letting young adults read what they want to read--but if I, as a 29 year history major struggled with the content of this book, then I'm really not sure about the whole marketing it to teenagers thing.
I don't know--I'm struggling with this. It's a well written book. There is a lot of truth in the society in portrays. I just feel like I could have done with out it.
This is a work of historical fiction, although very loosely based on the 1937 New London School explosion in Texas. Although none of the characters are real, much of Perez's depiction of life in Texas and the South in the 1930s rings true.
Be forewarned that there is no hope in this novel. And I get that if the author wanted to maintain realism, there was no hope to offer, but this book covers some pretty heavy stuff--violence, alcoholism, child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, incest (sort-of), an attempted lynching, murder. It was a hard read. You almost need some kind of hope, even small, to get through it. If I hadn't needed to read it for class, I don't think I would have finished...or honestly, even started it.
And I can't imagine how this is considered YA literature. I mean, I'm all for letting young adults read what they want to read--but if I, as a 29 year history major struggled with the content of this book, then I'm really not sure about the whole marketing it to teenagers thing.
I don't know--I'm struggling with this. It's a well written book. There is a lot of truth in the society in portrays. I just feel like I could have done with out it.
myriadreads's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, but so very, very ugly. Particularly grim for a YA title, with very little light or hope. I know that this is an important book, but it is so awful that I wish I hadn't read it.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
3.0
Gut-wrenching. Heart-breaking. Masterful, and beautifully written, beautifully woven.
But also that knowing, the whole book, that this would circle around the explosion that is still the biggest school disaster in American history, and knowing that that would not be the worst of what would happen. Dread of what was to come and the realization of that dread makes this not a book I would recommend. But for those who are willing to face the worst of what people can do to each other in order to experience a novel that is worthy in every sense, this is the book.
But also that knowing, the whole book, that this would circle around the explosion that is still the biggest school disaster in American history, and knowing that that would not be the worst of what would happen. Dread of what was to come and the realization of that dread makes this not a book I would recommend. But for those who are willing to face the worst of what people can do to each other in order to experience a novel that is worthy in every sense, this is the book.
leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Alcohol, Child death, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Vomit
hillsax's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
danne789's review against another edition
3.0
I'm honestly not sure how to rate this book. It was definitely well written, and it does a good job illustrating the racial tension and racism of Texas in that time. But there was very little about the North London School Explosion. That event felt like a minor subplot. I was expecting more about that explosion from this book.
The book is very sad for a number of reasons, not just the explosion. There are some very hard parts to read through that deal with sexual assault. I felt bad for almost every character in this book. I also read this on the heels of another book dealing with SA, so maybe if I'd had some space between the two I'd have had a different view of it.
The book is told from different characters points of view, and some pages have only a paragraph. So it was a quick read, but despite being a well written, quick read, it was hard to get through.
The book is very sad for a number of reasons, not just the explosion. There are some very hard parts to read through that deal with sexual assault. I felt bad for almost every character in this book. I also read this on the heels of another book dealing with SA, so maybe if I'd had some space between the two I'd have had a different view of it.
The book is told from different characters points of view, and some pages have only a paragraph. So it was a quick read, but despite being a well written, quick read, it was hard to get through.
jenpost78's review against another edition
4.0
Tragic. Awful. Horrific. Bleak. Graphic.
Even though this story was all of these things, it is worth acknowledging the event it is centered around and the perspectives of the POC within it.
The subject matter is heavy but well written.
Even though this story was all of these things, it is worth acknowledging the event it is centered around and the perspectives of the POC within it.
The subject matter is heavy but well written.