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ericaflaten's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
4.5
Very powerful story, and really well-written. Quite heavy so be mindful to take care of yourself if deciding to delve into this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Suicide
deandra_lalonde's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Slavery
dunollie's review
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Racism
Minor: Sexual violence
kelly_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Title: Gutter Child
Author: Jael Richardson
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 26 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Haunting • Raw • Original
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the dystopian world of a nation divided into the privileged Mainland and the policed Gutter, Jael Richardson's debut tells the story of Elimina, one of 100 Gutter children taken to be raised in the Mainland as part of a social experiment. Following the death of her Mainland mother, her life is completely upended when she finds herself living a life of servitude. Gutter Child explores a fractured world of disadvantage and injustice that is all too real, and is a timely story of both perseverance and bravery, and of strength and survival.
💭 T H O U G H T S
My expectations going into this one were sky high given its popularity, and that certainly could have impacted my experience with it. I absolutely see its merits, and commend Jael Richardson on such a fierce debut. However, I didn't love it.
The parallels to the real world cannot be ignored. It is very well written, and heavy novel with strong themes and an in depth exploration of race, class, privilege, identity and colonization guaranteed to spark discussion. Where I couldn't get on board is in the structure. The dialogue at times seemed repetitive, and outside of Elimina, I felt the character development was lacking. It felt more to me like a YA dystopian than anything else. Finally, the ending felt so rushed, which I now understand may be due to the fact there's talk of a sequel. With all this being said, this is a timely, heart-breaking and important book, that will have me thinking long after I've finished it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Book clubs
• fans of YA dystopian
• readers who enjoy a good coming of cage story
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
" 'Purpose gets you through whatever comes.' "
" 'We didn't plan this or ask for this. But we ended up here anyway. And all we can do it try to survive.' "
"When I drew pictures of mother and me, I used Peach for her and Chestnut for myself. 'Why is your skin named after something soft and sweet and mine is something hard and bitter?' 'Because you are so much tougher,' she said. I thought that was a very good answer. And maybe it's true. But I am forced to be tough. It takes a particular kind of strength to exist in a world where you are not wanted that doesn't feel like strength at all. Like giving up or giving in would be easier, smarter even. Maybe that is my chestnut, my toughness. The fact that I am still here."
Author: Jael Richardson
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: January 26 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Haunting • Raw • Original
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the dystopian world of a nation divided into the privileged Mainland and the policed Gutter, Jael Richardson's debut tells the story of Elimina, one of 100 Gutter children taken to be raised in the Mainland as part of a social experiment. Following the death of her Mainland mother, her life is completely upended when she finds herself living a life of servitude. Gutter Child explores a fractured world of disadvantage and injustice that is all too real, and is a timely story of both perseverance and bravery, and of strength and survival.
💭 T H O U G H T S
My expectations going into this one were sky high given its popularity, and that certainly could have impacted my experience with it. I absolutely see its merits, and commend Jael Richardson on such a fierce debut. However, I didn't love it.
The parallels to the real world cannot be ignored. It is very well written, and heavy novel with strong themes and an in depth exploration of race, class, privilege, identity and colonization guaranteed to spark discussion. Where I couldn't get on board is in the structure. The dialogue at times seemed repetitive, and outside of Elimina, I felt the character development was lacking. It felt more to me like a YA dystopian than anything else. Finally, the ending felt so rushed, which I now understand may be due to the fact there's talk of a sequel. With all this being said, this is a timely, heart-breaking and important book, that will have me thinking long after I've finished it.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Book clubs
• fans of YA dystopian
• readers who enjoy a good coming of cage story
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
" 'Purpose gets you through whatever comes.' "
" 'We didn't plan this or ask for this. But we ended up here anyway. And all we can do it try to survive.' "
"When I drew pictures of mother and me, I used Peach for her and Chestnut for myself. 'Why is your skin named after something soft and sweet and mine is something hard and bitter?' 'Because you are so much tougher,' she said. I thought that was a very good answer. And maybe it's true. But I am forced to be tough. It takes a particular kind of strength to exist in a world where you are not wanted that doesn't feel like strength at all. Like giving up or giving in would be easier, smarter even. Maybe that is my chestnut, my toughness. The fact that I am still here."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent and Mental illness
classism, colourismemblazedwords's review
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage
onemamareads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/gutter-child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Child abuse, Murder, Violence, and Racism
amandamagdic's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
In Gutter Child, Richardson writes a poignant look at race and segregation that resonates with current world events. Written in a dystopian setting, we are brought into two worlds. The mainland for the privileged white people who came and took over the island, and the gutter - home to the dark skinned natives who were oppressed.
Our heroine Elimina ( or Lima), grows up on the mainland as a project child knowing she's different but not realizing the drastic differences between the classes. This all changes when as a teen her "mother" passes away and she's sent to am institution to learn job skills to help work off her "debt" to society. Having been told nothing of the Gutter System growing up this comes as a surprise to our MC and thrusts her into a whole unknown world of inequality.
Written in more of a YA format than adult fiction, this book takes a deep look at colonialism, racism, and injustice concurrent with the world today. It explores coming of age and choosing for ones self what you want from your life. It's a heart wrenching tale that will make you take pause and think. This was my first book by Richardson but it won't be my last.
Our heroine Elimina ( or Lima), grows up on the mainland as a project child knowing she's different but not realizing the drastic differences between the classes. This all changes when as a teen her "mother" passes away and she's sent to am institution to learn job skills to help work off her "debt" to society. Having been told nothing of the Gutter System growing up this comes as a surprise to our MC and thrusts her into a whole unknown world of inequality.
Written in more of a YA format than adult fiction, this book takes a deep look at colonialism, racism, and injustice concurrent with the world today. It explores coming of age and choosing for ones self what you want from your life. It's a heart wrenching tale that will make you take pause and think. This was my first book by Richardson but it won't be my last.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Torture
annabend's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
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