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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
piggindani's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful. Hard-hitting. Heartbreaking. Current.
Trigger warnings: Racism. Gun Violence. Death.
Miracle’s story is so relevant it could almost be a documentary. And that is heartbreaking. A story that reads as if it is from today's headlines.
After Miracle witnesses the senseless killing of her brother, Andre (known as Dre), at the hands of the police, her life is torn apart.
The best way for me to describe this story is bittersweet.
The bitterness of racism, grief, and the breakdown of not only Miracle’s family and friendship group but of the community as they search for and demand justice.
Yet, sweetness is shown in the actions and words of her family and friends. A beautiful sign of strength, love, and support.
And when the pain becomes too much, she retreats to music. Music is her escape, taking her soul through the past allowing Miracle to connect to her family on a deeper level.
A thought-provoking story. A story that will stay with you. a real story set in fiction.
The ending is clever but a little infuriating. Unanswered questions leave you wanting more, but then you ask yourself, could the book not have been a little longer?
I look forward to reading more by Rodney LaMarr.
Thank you, BookSirens, for the gift of the arc ebook. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Racism. Gun Violence. Death.
Miracle’s story is so relevant it could almost be a documentary. And that is heartbreaking. A story that reads as if it is from today's headlines.
After Miracle witnesses the senseless killing of her brother, Andre (known as Dre), at the hands of the police, her life is torn apart.
The best way for me to describe this story is bittersweet.
The bitterness of racism, grief, and the breakdown of not only Miracle’s family and friendship group but of the community as they search for and demand justice.
Yet, sweetness is shown in the actions and words of her family and friends. A beautiful sign of strength, love, and support.
And when the pain becomes too much, she retreats to music. Music is her escape, taking her soul through the past allowing Miracle to connect to her family on a deeper level.
A thought-provoking story. A story that will stay with you. a real story set in fiction.
The ending is clever but a little infuriating. Unanswered questions leave you wanting more, but then you ask yourself, could the book not have been a little longer?
I look forward to reading more by Rodney LaMarr.
Thank you, BookSirens, for the gift of the arc ebook. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
stitching_ghost's review against another edition
4.0
I came across this series when the 3rd installment came up on NetGalley and the cover art (which was different from the one on here for some reason) was so strikingly beautiful that my attention was immediately piqued.
I expected the tone to be a little grittier given the cover and premise but it's often very matter of fact and I felt like parts of the book were needed another round of edits. The passage of time was also sometimes rendered rather clumsily. There are scenes where the imagery is powerful and LaMarr really finds his stride as a writer which gives me high hopes for the next installment in the series.
I expected the tone to be a little grittier given the cover and premise but it's often very matter of fact and I felt like parts of the book were needed another round of edits. The passage of time was also sometimes rendered rather clumsily. There are scenes where the imagery is powerful and LaMarr really finds his stride as a writer which gives me high hopes for the next installment in the series.
kathaphira's review
4.0
Miracle's Song, by Rodney Lamarr, is about a teenage girl who faces a tragedy in her life and how she copes with it, among other things. There were a lot of different emotions while reading this book… Anger, sadness, confusion, etc.
The very first paragraph of the book immediately drew me in. I had no other choice but to keep on reading because the imagery was so detailed that I NEEDED to know what was going on. There were some instances where I felt that I was right there with the characters and was able to relate to them on a personal level.
Other times, I was given a glimpse into how those who have dealt head-on with racism must feel and it both saddened and angered me.
For the most part, the book flowed smoothly. There several times (2 to be exact) where I felt that transitioning into the next chapter was jarring and left me seeking deliberate closure on the previous chapter. Personally, I felt the introduction to the parents and their interactions with each other were a bit cheesy but maybe I'm just disillusioned with love at the moment.
All in all, I thought this was a pretty decent book. It made me feel a range of emotions and made me feel like I could relate on some level with the main character. I wasn't ready for it to end and felt it could have been a little longer because I really wanted to find out more about several of the events that were taking place during the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The very first paragraph of the book immediately drew me in. I had no other choice but to keep on reading because the imagery was so detailed that I NEEDED to know what was going on. There were some instances where I felt that I was right there with the characters and was able to relate to them on a personal level.
Other times, I was given a glimpse into how those who have dealt head-on with racism must feel and it both saddened and angered me.
For the most part, the book flowed smoothly. There several times (2 to be exact) where I felt that transitioning into the next chapter was jarring and left me seeking deliberate closure on the previous chapter. Personally, I felt the introduction to the parents and their interactions with each other were a bit cheesy but maybe I'm just disillusioned with love at the moment.
All in all, I thought this was a pretty decent book. It made me feel a range of emotions and made me feel like I could relate on some level with the main character. I wasn't ready for it to end and felt it could have been a little longer because I really wanted to find out more about several of the events that were taking place during the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
stitching_ghost's review
4.0
I came across this series when the 3rd installment came up on NetGalley and the cover art (which was different from the one on here for some reason) was so strikingly beautiful that my attention was immediately piqued.
I expected the tone to be a little grittier given the cover and premise but it's often very matter of fact and I felt like parts of the book were needed another round of edits. The passage of time was also sometimes rendered rather clumsily. There are scenes where the imagery is powerful and LaMarr really finds his stride as a writer which gives me high hopes for the next installment in the series.
I expected the tone to be a little grittier given the cover and premise but it's often very matter of fact and I felt like parts of the book were needed another round of edits. The passage of time was also sometimes rendered rather clumsily. There are scenes where the imagery is powerful and LaMarr really finds his stride as a writer which gives me high hopes for the next installment in the series.
woodsbookclub's review
3.0
After the murder of a loved one, Miracle’s life is forever changed. To find peace, she turns to music. But how can she find resolution and justice without reliving the pain?
Rodney LaMarr’s bittersweet and thought-provoking first book tackles important issues such as racism, grief and family. But the end is infuriating. I don’t know if this will be a series, but Miracle’s Song could have been a stellar stand-alone.
The premise is good, although the reference to music, including in the title, led me to have unfulfilled expectations. The mystery related to the memories that Miracle has, but doesn't know how or why, is only solved in the last chapter and doesn't relate in any way to the main plot.
This is a story of a family and how a tragic loss affects each member, and how all of us cope differently with grieving. So, of course, there are many moments when I felt sad and enraged and just wanted to hug Miracle, yell at the officers and smack the bad guys. But there are also too many questions left unanswered.
Besides the imagery and the writing style, both of which I really liked, I feel that the potential of the story has not been fully tapped. If there’s book 2, I will certainly read it though.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rodney LaMarr’s bittersweet and thought-provoking first book tackles important issues such as racism, grief and family. But the end is infuriating. I don’t know if this will be a series, but Miracle’s Song could have been a stellar stand-alone.
The premise is good, although the reference to music, including in the title, led me to have unfulfilled expectations. The mystery related to the memories that Miracle has, but doesn't know how or why, is only solved in the last chapter and doesn't relate in any way to the main plot.
This is a story of a family and how a tragic loss affects each member, and how all of us cope differently with grieving. So, of course, there are many moments when I felt sad and enraged and just wanted to hug Miracle, yell at the officers and smack the bad guys. But there are also too many questions left unanswered.
Besides the imagery and the writing style, both of which I really liked, I feel that the potential of the story has not been fully tapped. If there’s book 2, I will certainly read it though.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
angedvl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
This story is powerful, tragic, and poignant. It left me wanting more of Miracle's story. Miracle turns to music as an escape, and it takes her to another time and place. These glimpses were beautifully written. The author did a wonderful job of writing from Miracle's point of view- I was immersed in her emotions and thoughts.
milily's review
4.0
Miracle's Song, by Rodney Lamarr, is about a teenage girl who faces a tragedy in her life and how she copes with it, among other things. There were a lot of different emotions while reading this book… Anger, sadness, confusion, etc.
The very first paragraph of the book immediately drew me in. I had no other choice but to keep on reading because the imagery was so detailed that I NEEDED to know what was going on. There were some instances where I felt that I was right there with the characters and was able to relate to them on a personal level.
Other times, I was given a glimpse into how those who have dealt head-on with racism must feel and it both saddened and angered me.
For the most part, the book flowed smoothly. There several times (2 to be exact) where I felt that transitioning into the next chapter was jarring and left me seeking deliberate closure on the previous chapter. Personally, I felt the introduction to the parents and their interactions with each other were a bit cheesy but maybe I'm just disillusioned with love at the moment.
All in all, I thought this was a pretty decent book. It made me feel a range of emotions and made me feel like I could relate on some level with the main character. I wasn't ready for it to end and felt it could have been a little longer because I really wanted to find out more about several of the events that were taking place during the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The very first paragraph of the book immediately drew me in. I had no other choice but to keep on reading because the imagery was so detailed that I NEEDED to know what was going on. There were some instances where I felt that I was right there with the characters and was able to relate to them on a personal level.
Other times, I was given a glimpse into how those who have dealt head-on with racism must feel and it both saddened and angered me.
For the most part, the book flowed smoothly. There several times (2 to be exact) where I felt that transitioning into the next chapter was jarring and left me seeking deliberate closure on the previous chapter. Personally, I felt the introduction to the parents and their interactions with each other were a bit cheesy but maybe I'm just disillusioned with love at the moment.
All in all, I thought this was a pretty decent book. It made me feel a range of emotions and made me feel like I could relate on some level with the main character. I wasn't ready for it to end and felt it could have been a little longer because I really wanted to find out more about several of the events that were taking place during the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
malloryybee's review
5.0
A powerful read from start to finish. Miracle’s life is forever changed after a brief encounter results in the devastating death of her older brother, Andre. To find peace during this difficult time, Miracle turns to music, this escape from the present allows her soul to be transported back in time.
I was drawn to this book from the description alone, relating to Miracle in the way she chooses music to step back from the reality she is faced with everyday. What I found was a story of a family and how a tragic loss affects each member. A mother, overwhelmed by the pain. A father, trying to be strong for his daughter. A sister, fighting for the truth to be told. And a community, outraged over the loss of one of their own.
I hope that this is just the start of Miracle’s story, and that down the line we will get answers to some of the questions left unanswered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was drawn to this book from the description alone, relating to Miracle in the way she chooses music to step back from the reality she is faced with everyday. What I found was a story of a family and how a tragic loss affects each member. A mother, overwhelmed by the pain. A father, trying to be strong for his daughter. A sister, fighting for the truth to be told. And a community, outraged over the loss of one of their own.
I hope that this is just the start of Miracle’s story, and that down the line we will get answers to some of the questions left unanswered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
tifany's review
4.0
Miracle’s Song by author Rodney LaMarr is the story of Miracle, who finds her world in chaos following a devastating incident.
This story brings up so many important current issues facing our nation, and our world, today. From racial justice to police brutality, this book provides the reader with a close-up look at the effect these things have on people, on families, and on the population at large.
This is an important, thought-provoking YA read.
Special thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
This story brings up so many important current issues facing our nation, and our world, today. From racial justice to police brutality, this book provides the reader with a close-up look at the effect these things have on people, on families, and on the population at large.
This is an important, thought-provoking YA read.
Special thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
nerolireads's review
5.0
Don't let the book title and the gorgeous cover fool you, inside is a gripping, heart-wrenching tale about the struggles black people face every day. Miracle and her brother deal with racism and (micro)aggression on an almost daily basis fearing for their lives. Until her life is turned upside down during an incident that involves the police.
I think I about felt every emotion when reading this book. For the most part I felt an overwhelming sense of injustice, annoyance and anger about the way Miracle and her brother are treated. The racism and aggression they have to deal with, that black people have to deal with on a daily basis. Rodney touches on the current events and situations in the USA with the mistreatment of black people at the hands of the police and the justice system. Rodney has a way of keeping you aware that while the book may be a work of fiction many of the events are not.
Despite all the emotions it's a beautifully written story that will break your heart. But reading it is more than worth it.
I recommend everyone to read this book. I would even specifically like to invite white people to read this book as I believe this book will create awareness about the importance of the BLM movement.
I think I about felt every emotion when reading this book. For the most part I felt an overwhelming sense of injustice, annoyance and anger about the way Miracle and her brother are treated. The racism and aggression they have to deal with, that black people have to deal with on a daily basis. Rodney touches on the current events and situations in the USA with the mistreatment of black people at the hands of the police and the justice system. Rodney has a way of keeping you aware that while the book may be a work of fiction many of the events are not.
Despite all the emotions it's a beautifully written story that will break your heart. But reading it is more than worth it.
I recommend everyone to read this book. I would even specifically like to invite white people to read this book as I believe this book will create awareness about the importance of the BLM movement.