Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

6 reviews

jenn_'s review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, War, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Grief, and Pregnancy

shannonredwine8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Child death, and Death of parent

k_galloway's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Racism, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Hate crime, Gaslighting, Grief, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Violence and War

Minor: Pregnancy

very graphic child sexual abuse scene

morganperks's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? No

4.0

good soup (partially set on an island 😏)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Classism

tpogin's review

emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Addiction