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signediza's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⚠️ Spoilers Ahead - (Sorry)
A coming of age story of Claude. A young Black man born on the South Side of Chicago who just wants a place where he can fit in while being raised by his civil rights-era grandmother, who tries to shape him into a principled actor for change after being abandoned by his parents. He leaves Chicago to go to school in Missouri, and also didn’t fit in right there.
THEMES/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Abandonment
Social Injustices
Racism
Violence/Riots
Police Brutality
Identity
Microaggression
UNPOPULAR OPINION
While I was sucked in from the beginning about Claude coping with abandonment and what life is like for a Black youth growing up and wanting a place to fit in, the writing style wasn't my favorite.
Some characters get introduced and disappear with little or no development for me. Some parts were confusing and disjointed. And the ending was an unfinished deal for me.
I didn't like Janice. I saw no
vulnerability from her when she got abandoned outright to her face by her mother, unlike Claude.
But I do love Claude's grandma and Paul. They got my attention at a 100%
Overall, the story was fierce with sheer originality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, and Gun violence
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