Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

8 reviews

socalledsookie's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, and Drug use

Moderate: Car accident

Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent

honey_pie's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

3.75

this book is a hard read at times & also some of the writing is a little cringe. but some of it is absolutely beautiful & I'm glad it ended happily. recovery is a hard thing to do & I think this book has a fairly accurate representation of that (as far as I know)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Self harm, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Car accident, Body shaming, and Blood

w0rldofab00kw0rm's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Death, and Self harm

Moderate: Grief, Drug use, and Vomit

solybugs's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

This book is one of the darker books I've read as of late but I don't regret it. I chose this as part of my Gifted and Talented class's Diverse POV unit, and I chose well. This book has beautiful writing that can take your breath away while portraying and handling mental illness-related topics maturely. Not only did I relate to the main character in certain parts but I also related to the people that are viewed as "villains" who were really just trying to help. It was hard to see who was in the right at times. Also the sisterly relationship Lia and Emma had... 10/10, adorbs. Easy 4.5/5 stars, -0.5 because of how many times it made me squirm during the uncomfy parts (as it should that's the whole point but I personally don't like that kind of dark).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, Death, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cursing and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol and Drug use

The eating disorders mentioned are anorexia and bulimia. Hallucinations are also experienced in first person pov throughout the book and are sometimes used to drive the plot forward. The self-harm depicted and experienced is cutting.

rayne_1906's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

3.5

2 hours - I've read Wintergirls so many times I've lost count. It is a book that conflicts me everytime, as it is simultaneously quite poetic yet blunt, and dull yet intriguing. I do like that the main character is never presented as a good person - her disorder has interfered with her relationships significantly, and she has done bad things because of it, but she is increasingly haunted by her actions or lack thereof. However, it does feel a little irresponsible of a book, almost a 'how-to' guide for disordered eating behaviours.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Death

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Medical content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Grief, Body horror, Car accident, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Drug use and Sexual assault

bookishhollow's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Drug use, and Self harm

Moderate: Alcoholism

ninaaaaa's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

janzenriley's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

One of my all-time favorite reads. Challenging and upsetting and ugly, great fictional depiction of an eating disorder devolving over time. Wouldn’t recommend reading if you experience triggers from discussion about food, calories, weight, self-harm, or mental illness. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Drug use, and Death