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moody_gobling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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? No
1.5
Seemed a lot like misery open to me. I found a lot of things to be contrived and unrealistic. I am grateful that I read it before giving it as a gift to the person I had intended to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
elaineh7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual assault
eternalparadox's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction
kweaver_pdx's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction
sarah984's review
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I don't really know what to think about this book. The true story of the orphan trains is interesting, tragic and important, but the author made every possible wrong decision.
The characters are all flat stereotypes (drunk Irishman, bitter Native American foster child, kind teacher with no characteristics) and the story follows very predictable beats. The constant use of "Indian" in the modern sections is mind-boggling. The story is written like a middle-grade book to teach kids about the orphan trains, but contains a graphic rape scene.
This is an important story to tell, but there must be better books about it.
The characters are all flat stereotypes (drunk Irishman, bitter Native American foster child, kind teacher with no characteristics) and the story follows very predictable beats. The constant use of "Indian" in the modern sections is mind-boggling. The story is written like a middle-grade book to teach kids about the orphan trains, but contains a graphic rape scene.
This is an important story to tell, but there must be better books about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Addiction
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