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Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi

59 reviews

pitschi's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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? Yes

4.25


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robinks's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This hit soooo close to home. While there were definitely some scenes that I wish could’ve been drawn out a bit longer, I loved getting a glimpse into Bitter’s youth. I read Pet so long ago, and I feel like I’d have a better appreciation of the characters’ journeys if I had read it more recently.

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leafilys's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

I liked this book. It began as magical realism, which I loved, before turning pretty sharply into more of a modern fantasy.
Vengeance and the angels
are incredible metaphors that I’m sure will only become deeper or more interesting upon re-reads, but I wish they had been integrated a little more smoothly into the grounded world of Lucille.

Bitter is an amazingly well rounded and relatable character and her development was so engaging to read about. Her relationships with her friends, boyfriend, and mentors are so wholesome but still realistic. Each side character has a distinct personality and voice, none of them are shallow or simply used as plot devices. 

Reading about Assata was both a beautiful lesson in hope and community, and a brutal examination of the violence that protestors face. I like that this book is somewhat empathetic towards those that turn to violence because of the violence inflicted on them, but still drives home the message that love for your comrades will always be more important than hatred for your enemies.

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gdulecki's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This prequel was so beautiful and special!!! I read pet earlier this year, really enjoyed it, and loved this look back into what came before. I love your mind Akwaeke Emezi!!!!! 

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dominosmum444's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0


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obsessedteach's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious fast-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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kschuster's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-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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dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.5


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mandi_lea's review against another edition

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dark hopeful 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? Yes

4.5


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proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

17-year-old Bitter has grown up in different foster homes and has never felt safe. Now she's got a place at Eucalyptus, a private boarding school for young artists. Here Bitter's gained both friends and safety. But outside school there are riots and demonstrations in the town of Lucille, in protest against the great injustices. While Bitter doesn't want anything to do with the revolution, many of her friends are more active. She soon feels torn between staying within the safe walls of Eucalyptus and her wanting to help her friends. What price is she willing to pay?

A prequel to the wonderful "Pet", and I loved it just as much! It takes place before "Pet" and we get to follow Jam's mother Bitter. Her background and how she met and fell in love with Aloe, Jam's father. We also get the whole revolution that is mentioned in "Pet", and what role Jam's parents played in it. I would say you could read the books in whatever order you like, but "Pet" was written first, if you want to read in publication order.

There's a lot to like about "Bitter": the characters, the language, the diversity. I also like the message that violence isn't the solution in conflicts, and that not everyone needs to stand on the barricade or the frontline, but they still have an important role to play. This is a young adult book that many adults should read. 

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