Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Exit, Pursued by a Bear

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Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by Emily Kate Johnston

19 reviews

jessicaesubject's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Though Exit, Pursued by a Bear deals with the serious subject matters of sexual assault and abortion, I enjoyed this story and believe it to be an essential book for any teenager and older to read. Hermione is not just a cheerleader, but the co-captain of the team, and she's getting ready for her last year of high school before her life changes. But everything changes before she reaches her last year of high school when she is drugged, raped, and left to die at a summer cheer camp. How she deals with the traumatic event and the fallout from it all is what this book is about. Because of Hermione's memory loss from that night and her amazing support system, the story shows her struggles, but also her push to not let herself be seen as a victim. Without those things, this story could have gone much differently, and the author does make note of that in their author's note at the end. I must also say that I have felt a strong connection to both of E.K. Johnston's contemporary YAs, because I grew up and live in the same area, so I can relate to it, and the characters could easily be people I know. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Content Warnings

ketchupcrisp's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I selected this book based solely on the title and it being recommended to me by StoryGraph. It ended up being a very solid read. I appreciated a lot about its treatment of a difficult topic. Hermione’s relationship to her memories was very nuanced and effective, and as a therapist I appreciated her psychiatrist’s approach.

The no nonsense, no dilemma approach to

abortion

was also supremely well-handled and I am grateful for it. And the strong friendships in the text were something I wish anyone facing these experiences had access to.

Content Warnings

robotnik's review against another edition

4.0

emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I think this book kind of punched me in the face while also being uplifting at the same time. It's so weird calling a book about a rape uplifting, but I don't know a better term for it. I've read a few books with the same sort of subject matter, and they're often hard and depressing and rightfully so because this isn't a happy topic by any means. But, Exit, Pursued By a Bear isn't just a book about it happening and the aftermath. It's a book about the recovery.

A lot of the times in these books, there's a lot of darkness from the main character because of what happened to them and how they're supposed to cope with it without being able to figure out how they're supposed to do that. Hermione (it was way weird remembering this is not a name J.K. Rowling made up) wants to cope with it and she wants to move on from it. And, she comes with a stellar support system most similar protagonists don't get, which is normal seeing as, sadly, they don't always occur in real life. But, Hermione does get one and I feel that's such a good thing to actually see, to see her friends and family rally behind her and not just treat her as this untouchable accident.

I also want to call special attention to the female friendships between the girls in this book. They're cheerleaders but there's no petty drama or queen bee attitudes flying around, causing a riff. They're friends, as they should be for a team who wants to function like a well-oiled machine. Hermione's relationship with Polly in particular is important. They're growing up and they're going to be moving away from each other, but the changes in their lives and their friendship doesn't ruin it for them. Instead, it helps them grow. Shout-out to the boys too for also standing by Hermione after what happens. So often it seems that it's the boys who are the issue because this isn't a "relatable situation" to them so they don't understand, but these boys step up and be good friends as well.

I was also kind of shocked but satisfied with Hermione's solution to her unwanted pregnancy being an abortion. So often it gets left out as an option and (ignoring political/religious opinions on it) it shouldn't be. Hermione knows she's not ready for a child and she doesn't want this one, and there's no "she needs to be a mother or consider adoption because the child didn't rape her" going on. It's she's a young girl who has a bright future ahead of her and a pregnancy/child would derail her plans and she doesn't want it. It's not the right decision for everyone, but it was the right decision for her, and I'm glad that I finally got to see a book where it's presented without her being presented as making a bad choice.

All in all, this was a good read. It's not the most heart-wrenching one, but it's telling a story that deserves to be told while showcasing a result of the situation that normally doesn't get shown.

Content Warnings

kiko_pip's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-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

This was such a heart jerking book. I first read it when it came out and I’ve read it twice since. Definitely hard to come back to because of the heavy plot line and theme, but the

open to interpretation ending pays off in the end

Content Warnings

celadore's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

missgrangerr's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional 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: Complicated

Content Warnings

frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Tagline: "I love you." "I know."

The author takes a famous Star Wars quote (which, to me, feels perfect as an author of Star Wars books), and uses it between to best friends, because deep unending love is not always romantic.

There is something beautiful about this book. It takes place over the span of about 9.5 months, and we get to know Hermione Winters like a little sister or best friend. You want everything to work out for her, even while you know that's a fairytale and this is the real world.

What I adore about this book is how she deals with the aftermath of what happens to her. And that her best friend refuses to back down and protect her. While not everyone on the team supports her (okay, everyone except her ex-boyfriend), as a reader you can't imagine a closer team. A supporting character even comments on it, how her school wouldn't have supported her.

There is a coming out, a trauma response during a dance (with a bit of comedic relief complete with spilled punch), and Hermione's undying love for her team, her parents, and especially her best friend and flying in the air as a cheerleader.

While I don’t care for first person generally, I can’t imagine this book working as well in third person, because Hermione is such a fully fleshed character, as are those closest to her.

Content Warnings