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rebornrosess's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.75
an incredibly impressive debut novel! i had to read this for class and i can see why. despite this being a fiction novel, it’s scarily grounded in a reality that feels all too familiar and richardson does a great job at creating a lived-in world (although it does become very expositional at time.)
i was really loving this novel up until the second part. cw: sexual assault why the hell was it necessary for rowan to make sexual advances on elimina in exactly the same way her sexual abuser did?? right after she disclosed that to him on the SAME page?? it was incredibly disappointing especially given it drove the rest of the novel’s plot.
that scene soured my opinion on the novel for a while, especially because it never addresses it again, but other than that, i’d say this is an essential read. a heartbreaking and visceral look into systemic racism.
i was really loving this novel up until the second part. cw: sexual assault
that scene soured my opinion on the novel for a while, especially because it never addresses it again, but other than that, i’d say this is an essential read. a heartbreaking and visceral look into systemic racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Child abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Classism, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.0
For the longest time, I wasn't drawn to this book. But I am not really sure why. It was available to borrow from my library as an ebook, so I picked it out for Black History Month. And wow, wow, wow! It was not what I was expecting, but was so much more. I feel Richardson has a masterpiece on her hands. I truly don't know what more to say. It was beautifully done all around. Not an easy read, but an important one that frames injustice in a whole new light. Please read it and don't sit on it like I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicide, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Rape
Minor: Classism and Racial slurs
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
brogan7's review against another edition
Not emotionally convincing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
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, colourismsoobooksalot's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Gutter Child is both alarming and fascinating in it's depiction of a dystopian alternate reality.
Elimina Dubois lives in a nation divided into the Mainland and Gutter. She was raised in the Mainland despite being destined for the Gutter. When her mother passes, she is sent to an academy intended to prepare Gutter children to work in a trade to pay off their debt to society.
I went into this fairly blind and it took me awhile to wrap my head into the depicted system and characters, but once the story took an unexpected turn, I was hooked!
I don't read a lot of dystopian fiction, but it's always so interesting to become part of a world with features and experiences that so mirror our own.
Canadian debut author Jael Richardson has created an unforgettable tale with parallels to issues of colonialism, race, class, of society's have and have-nots, of rising up against the system.
Recommended!
Elimina Dubois lives in a nation divided into the Mainland and Gutter. She was raised in the Mainland despite being destined for the Gutter. When her mother passes, she is sent to an academy intended to prepare Gutter children to work in a trade to pay off their debt to society.
I went into this fairly blind and it took me awhile to wrap my head into the depicted system and characters, but once the story took an unexpected turn, I was hooked!
I don't read a lot of dystopian fiction, but it's always so interesting to become part of a world with features and experiences that so mirror our own.
Canadian debut author Jael Richardson has created an unforgettable tale with parallels to issues of colonialism, race, class, of society's have and have-nots, of rising up against the system.
Recommended!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Miscarriage
bookishbrittany's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide
jfriend_3's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Trafficking, Violence, Rape, Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, and Forced institutionalization
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