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andeez's review against another edition
5.0
The beauty of this book will stick with me for a long time.
Genesis is sick of being evicted from place to place. Her alcoholic father will not pay the rent and every time she starts again, he promises he'll change. They finally move to a house in the Detroit suburbs - but is it too good to last?
Genesis makes real friends at her new school. She's never had friends before. Certainly not ones to take cheesey photos with. With the help of her choral teacher, she finds her voice and channels the spirits of Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James. Has she finally found a place she can be herself? If she wasn't struggling with her whole appearance, she might be happy.
This book covers alcoholic parents, mean girls, racism within the Black community, and nagging grandmothers. But it also dives into friendships and having each others' back.
Recommended for grades 5 and up.
Genesis is sick of being evicted from place to place. Her alcoholic father will not pay the rent and every time she starts again, he promises he'll change. They finally move to a house in the Detroit suburbs - but is it too good to last?
Genesis makes real friends at her new school. She's never had friends before. Certainly not ones to take cheesey photos with. With the help of her choral teacher, she finds her voice and channels the spirits of Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James. Has she finally found a place she can be herself? If she wasn't struggling with her whole appearance, she might be happy.
This book covers alcoholic parents, mean girls, racism within the Black community, and nagging grandmothers. But it also dives into friendships and having each others' back.
Recommended for grades 5 and up.
plant_child__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
chickchick22's review against another edition
5.0
I cried. Tears streaming down my face. This was an amazing book. It really was a book on how to love yourself, how others can help. Just wow.
ahpotts's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to Alicia Williams read this as an audiobook and I loved it. Genesis is an incredible character - so realistic as a 13 year old that it was sometimes painful to hear; so relatable that I want to give this book to approximately all of the 12 year olds in my life. Williams’ reading voice made the character come even more alive; I actually found myself thinking about Genesis once when I was going about my daily routine. The other characters, kids and adults, are well rounded and believable, too, and their various motivations very honest. I also loved that Williams manages to bring the complex issues of the book to a satisfying conclusion that isn’t sticky sweet.
emmbien's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a sweet, fun, and good book. Yeah, I’m 27, but 13 year old Genesis is such a relatable and lovable character. We need more middle grade fiction like this.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. My favorite middle grade books tackle heavy topics but they end on a hopeful note.
Genesis has a lot on her shoulders. She has never made true friends because her alcoholic father keeps losing jobs, defaults on rent, and her family keeps getting evicted for being squatters. Genesis and her mother keep having to move back in with Genesis's judgmental grandmother until Genesis's father can come collect them again. To top all of these issues oof, Genesis has a deep seated hatred for herself, due to demeaning comments Genesis's father has made about her skin shade.
I'm not really sure where Genesis's mom was during this incident but having open conversations about colorism and prejudice within their own community sure could have gone a long way to preventing deep seated trauma within Genesis.
This read might be too mature for some readers, but then again, this is, unfortunately, a lived experience for some middle grade readers. This could be a beneficial read for any middle grade child to learn about colorism.
Genesis has a lot on her shoulders. She has never made true friends because her alcoholic father keeps losing jobs, defaults on rent, and her family keeps getting evicted for being squatters. Genesis and her mother keep having to move back in with Genesis's judgmental grandmother until Genesis's father can come collect them again. To top all of these issues oof, Genesis has a deep seated hatred for herself, due to demeaning comments Genesis's father has made about her skin shade.
I'm not really sure where Genesis's mom was during this incident but having open conversations about colorism and prejudice within their own community sure could have gone a long way to preventing deep seated trauma within Genesis.
This read might be too mature for some readers, but then again, this is, unfortunately, a lived experience for some middle grade readers. This could be a beneficial read for any middle grade child to learn about colorism.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Genesis is a heroine with a lot going on in her life. Her father gambles and drinks too much, so her family is constantly being evicted from their houses. She wishes she were different in many ways including having lighter skin and straighter hair like her mom. When her family has to move one more time, and Genesis finds herself starting over yet again, she vows to make some changes. Some of the changes like finding her voice and making friends are good. But some of the changes are dangerous. Williams created a believable and sympathetic character in Genesis that audiences will truly feel for as they follow her journey.
jlynnreadsandwrites's review against another edition
4.0
Genesis Begins Again holds no punches. It deals with housing insecurity, having an unreliable parent, making friends, and colorism. Everything happens through Genesis' eyes as she navigates the world around her.
At 13, Genesis has a list of 96 reasons she dislikes herself. And while it is common for 13-year-old girls to dislike themselves, Genesis' story is one I have never seen told before in this way. (Which may be entirely on me.) It opens with Genesis bringing friends home to discover her family has been evicted, an experience many kids are familiar with but isn't often told in books.
It directly discusses colorism and its affect on Genesis. I read this book while on a reading committee for a book award and the one black woman on our committee appreciated the way colorism was discussed as she herself had experienced it growing up and could relate to Genesis' experience. As a white person, I feel that is the most I should say on a topic that does not affect me. I was deeply moved by Genesis' struggles and found my heart aching for her.
This book is important and powerful. It also hits an age group that is often overlooked: middle schoolers. It's hard to find books with characters between ages 12-15. There are so many books about being 12 but being 13 is different. When you're young a year makes a big difference. And, in general, kids don't like to read below their age.
I loved this book. I loved its honesty. I loved the friends Genesis found and how they help her start to see the world and herself a little differently. I loved Genesis' mother who loves her daughter fiercely and unconditionally. I loved the teacher who takes Genesis under her wing. I liked that there wasn't a neat resolution to the story because that isn't how life works but it still ends on a hopeful note.
At 13, Genesis has a list of 96 reasons she dislikes herself. And while it is common for 13-year-old girls to dislike themselves, Genesis' story is one I have never seen told before in this way. (Which may be entirely on me.) It opens with Genesis bringing friends home to discover her family has been evicted, an experience many kids are familiar with but isn't often told in books.
It directly discusses colorism and its affect on Genesis. I read this book while on a reading committee for a book award and the one black woman on our committee appreciated the way colorism was discussed as she herself had experienced it growing up and could relate to Genesis' experience. As a white person, I feel that is the most I should say on a topic that does not affect me. I was deeply moved by Genesis' struggles and found my heart aching for her.
This book is important and powerful. It also hits an age group that is often overlooked: middle schoolers. It's hard to find books with characters between ages 12-15. There are so many books about being 12 but being 13 is different. When you're young a year makes a big difference. And, in general, kids don't like to read below their age.
I loved this book. I loved its honesty. I loved the friends Genesis found and how they help her start to see the world and herself a little differently. I loved Genesis' mother who loves her daughter fiercely and unconditionally. I loved the teacher who takes Genesis under her wing. I liked that there wasn't a neat resolution to the story because that isn't how life works but it still ends on a hopeful note.