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cow_png's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
ALSO super hated the just mega transphobia like for no reason?? she was there just to be transphobia, left, got called a slur and never talked about again!
it was an ok book, been of a let down :(
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Deadnaming, Hate crime, and Transphobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Antisemitism
sprucewillow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I appreciate the reviews that said the book was funny and depicted mental health issues without being depressing, which holds true. The humor wasn't super ha-ha funny but instead witty. The tone of writing felt accurate to the voice of a 15 year-old boy. Craig's relation to his peers were also accurate to his age. As much as I hated reading it, his innermost thoughts about school, girls, and other characters in the book also felt realistic. Particularly his worries about school hit hard because I know I had some of those same thoughts when I was 15.
I have several gripes about this book that kept me from enjoying it. Spoilers from now on:
- The characters were flat, particularly the women. There is no difference in Nia and Noelle besides their names, described appearances, and their relation to Craig (hot girl who goes to his school versus other hot girl who is also in the hospital). I hate that I read several pages worth of descriptions of what they were wearing, their tits, their thighs, etc. I don't think Craig's mother and sister ever shared a significant interaction. This book does not pass the Bechdel test, lol. All the prominent female characters were there to serve Craig in some way. Again, main-character syndrome.
- Noelle seemed particularly useless. Her only use in the plot was to be the next love interest once Nia was out of the picture. Craig and Noelle's relationship was in general just annoying to read about. It was a terribly convenient romance.
- The depiction of mental illness, disordered eating, etc. was very compelling in the first two parts of the book (why those were my favorite sections). Once Craig gets into the hospital, all his symptoms seem to disappear. All that happens while he's in the hospital is fussing over girls and talking to the other hospital residents. I suppose it makes sense, because once his primary stressor cannot bother him (school) then of course his symptoms would lessen.
- Overall this story could have been condensed. 400+ pages was a drag to get through.
RIP Ned Vizzini
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, and Alcohol
kimrice992's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: War
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
isabellabolanos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage, Self harm, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment
devinthedaydreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Deadnaming, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Transphobia
limp_lettuce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
littlefox1322's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Outing, and Alcohol
sofiasantos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Minor: Miscarriage
anniereads221's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Deadnaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
bill369's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My favourite character is Noelle. She appears about halfway through the book and she's truly cool. She got a good but not very complicated backstory, she's sarcastic, funny and intelligent. I really like her. Since the story is mostly happening at Six North, an adult psychiatric hospital, there is obviously a strong character development. I've grown to love the characters, because of how real and well written they are. My other favourites are Ebony, Humble, Muqtada and Craig himself.
The theme is great. I learned so much about adult psychiatric hospitals in a fun way plus I haven't read any book from this environment yet, which made this book experience even more special. This book truly shifted my point of view on psychiatric hospitals and when a book does that, then it's a good book.
The lines are:
„And I hate boys.“ she says.
„But a guy's different,“ I say.
„Maybe a little,“ she says.
The ending was beautiful and hopeful. I wish I knew if things truly worked out, but perhaps sometimes I just have to let myself believe that things will work out. Nothing bad to say about the ending.
I'm content with this book. I was great, slow and smart. I didn't give it five stars, because it didn't make me cry and the story was quite simple in my opinion. Those aren't bad things, but for me, they are necessary to give the book five stars.
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis