Reviews

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

amy_louise's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

mrsloudlibrarian's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

moodreader89's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? N/A

5.0

callieju's review against another edition

5.0

wow. this was such a powerful book, and knowing the backstory of the author just adds even more depth to it. this is the first book i’ve read that was written in verse, and it was phenomenal. definitely a must read.

bestturnip's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia

abreathoffreshear's review against another edition

informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

a_lowney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

alli_thebookgiraffe's review against another edition

5.0

This book was devastating. This MC was taking the whole situation better than I ever could have. I cannot imagine the terror of being convicted of a crime that you never committed, and a big crime at that. This book had me on the edge of my seat until the very end to see if he would be exonerated or not. After finishing this book, I researched a bit. Black men are seven times more likely to be convicted of a crime they did not commit, and more likely to be later exonerated. If you search the term exonerate, the photos that pop up are of black men. This book deserves much more hype than it has received thus far. I am so happy I gave Zoboi another chance, and I am ready to read all of her books.

adk555's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

schnurln's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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? No

4.5

Favorites:
- "The Thinker"
- "Black Mona Lisa"
- "Blind Justice"
- "Inferno"
- "Processed"
- "DNA"
- "God, The Artist"
- "Pipeline"
- "Microphone"
- "Blind Justice II"