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bibliomich's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a challenging read, but one that was phenomenally well written and featured compelling characters. The pacing was a little inconsistent, and I was surprised by the abrupt ending, but it didn't frustrate me in the same way that it seemed to frustrate many other readers.
What I enjoyed:
- The format: I love texts in verse (so I may be a little biased), but I do believe that the format worked exceptionally well for this book. Candice Iloh is a poet, and I loved their writing style (and would love to read more of their work).
- The relationships between the protagonist and their friends and family members: One of the real strengths of this book was Iloh's complex protagonist. In so many ways, Cerulean is mature and wise beyond their years, but they also find themselves facing systemic racism and bigotry within their high school, as well as a significant family crisis. These events trigger Cerulean to make complicated choices as they decide what they want and what they need. Watching the ripple effects of these choices, particularly the way they impact Cerulean's friends, is one of the most interesting parts of the book.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the advanced listener copy.
What I enjoyed:
- The format: I love texts in verse (so I may be a little biased), but I do believe that the format worked exceptionally well for this book. Candice Iloh is a poet, and I loved their writing style (and would love to read more of their work).
- The relationships between the protagonist and their friends and family members: One of the real strengths of this book was Iloh's complex protagonist. In so many ways, Cerulean is mature and wise beyond their years, but they also find themselves facing systemic racism and bigotry within their high school, as well as a significant family crisis. These events trigger Cerulean to make complicated choices as they decide what they want and what they need. Watching the ripple effects of these choices, particularly the way they impact Cerulean's friends, is one of the most interesting parts of the book.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the advanced listener copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC of this beautiful book. Narrator Mila Myles did a fantastic job!
This short contemporary fictional novel-in-verse is about Cerulean, a queer, nonbinary, Black teenager in the Bronx. This shows you how exhausted Cerulean is of microaggressions, bullying, feeling wildly unseen/unheard/invalidated; and also dealing with overtly transphobic, homophobic, and racist bullshit they have put up with.
Though Cerulean is surrounded by an incredibly supportive and accepting inner circle made up of both biological and found/chosen family, patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy are clearly still part of the dominant narratives, especially at school. A family tragedy forces Cerulean to contend with changing their post-high-school plan, and we oscillate between the options with them.
Whatever your opinions are on Cerulean's choice, there is so much power in the fact that it is indeed *Cerulean's* choice in a world that tries so determinedly to take folks like Cerulean's choices away, and I can't ignore that.
I would absolutely read more from Candice Iloh in the future <3
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC of this beautiful book. Narrator Mila Myles did a fantastic job!
This short contemporary fictional novel-in-verse is about Cerulean, a queer, nonbinary, Black teenager in the Bronx. This shows you how exhausted Cerulean is of microaggressions, bullying, feeling wildly unseen/unheard/invalidated; and also dealing with overtly transphobic, homophobic, and racist bullshit they have put up with.
Though Cerulean is surrounded by an incredibly supportive and accepting inner circle made up of both biological and found/chosen family, patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy are clearly still part of the dominant narratives, especially at school. A family tragedy forces Cerulean to contend with changing their post-high-school plan, and we oscillate between the options with them.
Whatever your opinions are on Cerulean's choice, there is so much power in the fact that it is indeed *Cerulean's* choice in a world that tries so determinedly to take folks like Cerulean's choices away, and I can't ignore that.
I would absolutely read more from Candice Iloh in the future <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Bullying, Racism, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
amberlfaris's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Racism
Moderate: Medical content and Fire/Fire injury
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
kaitlynreadsbooks's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
hobbithopeful's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Thank you Penguin for this ARC
Great premise, very poor execution that made little to no sense, lacking any emotional impact and feeling unfinished.
I was so excited to read this, it checks all my book boxes. BIPOC mc? Check. Queer? Check. Issues of racism? Check Check. Told in verse? Check.
Just when we are introduced to the characters and get to see a horrible situation happen at Cerulean's school, there is an accident with their Father, who ends up bedridden and heavily injured. You might think, hey this is where we get to connect with the characters more and see what is going on. Especially with the pile of past due bills on the table. Nope they just leave? Ditches their girlfriend, their friends, their loving family? And then there's a time skip and it's years later and we just see other people's povs? There was no emotional impact except for confusion. You don't have any time to connect to the characters or even really form an attachment to them. It's mentioned so many times how loving their family is, and yet they leave. It just feels incredibly unfinished and didn't make any sense at all plot or character wise. Maybe if we had gotten more time to get to know and care about the characters, then it would have had a greater impact. If anything the actions just made me confused, and I just didn't understand why the book just ended. I wasn't in a place of wanting to read more, I just was so confused by how the story went. It truly feels unfinished. If the book was twice as long and gave us time to at least know Cerulean and maybe to give more foreshadowing I would have understood it more.
As it stands this is such a great premise, but a book that I am truly surprised to see getting published.
(Listen and I feel entirely less crazy reading all the reviews who share the same mindset!)
I would not recommend this book. At this time I wouldn't read anything else by Candice Iloh either.
If you are looking for a good BIPOC queer verse book I recommend [book:The Black Flamingo|41020406]
Great premise, very poor execution that made little to no sense, lacking any emotional impact and feeling unfinished.
I was so excited to read this, it checks all my book boxes. BIPOC mc? Check. Queer? Check. Issues of racism? Check Check. Told in verse? Check.
Just when we are introduced to the characters and get to see a horrible situation happen at Cerulean's school, there is an
As it stands this is such a great premise, but a book that I am truly surprised to see getting published.
(Listen and I feel entirely less crazy reading all the reviews who share the same mindset!)
I would not recommend this book. At this time I wouldn't read anything else by Candice Iloh either.
If you are looking for a good BIPOC queer verse book I recommend [book:The Black Flamingo|41020406]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Abandonment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
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