Beautiful attention to detail
I loved the attention to detail, particularly when it comes to the horror elements. The way we honed in on whatever it was that stood out. And Jake's paranoia was so palpable that a reader could feel it as things started spiraling out of control.
I also really like that we spent time unpacking the ways that racism factors into Jake's life - in both subtle and unsubtle ways. From the bullies to the teachers to the standards he's held to.
Sawyer was... A lot. Though I did like how clear he was when he expressed a need for more (and better) therapy and more direct intervention. Even though he doesn't actually get it, seeing him reaching for it added a much-needed dimension to his character. It would have been so easy to just make him irredeemably bad. But to have him surrounded by terrible, selfish people and have his needs not being met for terrible, selfish reasons went a long way towards enforcing his character.
CW: school shooting, racism, homophobia, attempted rape of a minor, domestic abuse, violence, gore
I also really like that we spent time unpacking the ways that racism factors into Jake's life - in both subtle and unsubtle ways. From the bullies to the teachers to the standards he's held to.
Sawyer was... A lot. Though I did like how clear he was when he expressed a need for more (and better) therapy and more direct intervention. Even though he doesn't actually get it, seeing him reaching for it added a much-needed dimension to his character. It would have been so easy to just make him irredeemably bad. But to have him surrounded by terrible, selfish people and have his needs not being met for terrible, selfish reasons went a long way towards enforcing his character.
CW: school shooting, racism, homophobia, attempted rape of a minor, domestic abuse, violence, gore