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Content snapshot
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Violence
Very heavy
Extreme and relentless violence—shootings, torture, murder—depicted with documentary realism throughout
Language
A lot
Raw and profane street language consistent with the setting
Sexual Content
Some
Sexual references; some scenes depicting assault and exploitation
Substance Use
A lot
Crack cocaine trade is central to the narrative; extensive drug use depicted
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Depicts the psychological normalization of violence and the destruction of innocence
What this book is about
Based on true events, Paulo Lins's landmark Brazilian novel chronicles the rise of gang warfare in Cidade de Deus, a housing project on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Spanning three decades, it follows a cast of criminals, innocents, and survivors as crack cocaine and automatic weapons transform a community. Unflinching in its portrayal of systemic violence.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Extreme gang violence and murder
Drug trade and crack cocaine epidemic
Sexual assault and exploitation
Depictions of childhood exposure to violence
Reader Verification
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