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prettypious's review against another edition
4.0
There was A LOT going on in this book. It’s a YA book but a lot of my middle grades kids like to read up so I have to preview to make sure the book’s content is age appropriate for them. This book is not appropriate for middle graders as there is a lot of explicit sexual activity and reflection related to sexual activities that developmentally is out of their reach, but I do recommend for high schoolers.
Anyways I liked the book enough. The end was a lot better or more focused than the first half-3/4ths of the book. The story was good and the writing kept my attention but honestly that middle grade/YA genre centering Black and Afrolatino/a youth is filled with really REALLY strong writers (Thomas, Reynolds, Acevedo, Zoboi, Jackson, Alexander, etc.,) and In this particular book it’s the story/content that sells the story not the storytelling/prose, so there is a little sense of missing or apathy related to the writing.
I’d choose this book for my older kids 13+ especially in units related to coming of age, character arc and development, sexuality diversity, the disease of drug addiction, and maybe diverse families.
One small little note, I thought she wrote Birdie kinda whiny and I didn’t like that. I think there was a way to articulate or demonstrate her innocence without making her sound like a whiny, self centered brat which she often did. I also thought her characterization of Carlene was inconsistent in a way that was not solely due to character development, and sometimes her description of drug addition and recovery is a little too sanitized compared to reality, but luckily most kids today won’t know the severity of how bad it gets so maybe that’s a good thing.
Anyways I liked the book enough. The end was a lot better or more focused than the first half-3/4ths of the book. The story was good and the writing kept my attention but honestly that middle grade/YA genre centering Black and Afrolatino/a youth is filled with really REALLY strong writers (Thomas, Reynolds, Acevedo, Zoboi, Jackson, Alexander, etc.,) and In this particular book it’s the story/content that sells the story not the storytelling/prose, so there is a little sense of missing or apathy related to the writing.
I’d choose this book for my older kids 13+ especially in units related to coming of age, character arc and development, sexuality diversity, the disease of drug addiction, and maybe diverse families.
One small little note, I thought she wrote Birdie kinda whiny and I didn’t like that. I think there was a way to articulate or demonstrate her innocence without making her sound like a whiny, self centered brat which she often did. I also thought her characterization of Carlene was inconsistent in a way that was not solely due to character development, and sometimes her description of drug addition and recovery is a little too sanitized compared to reality, but luckily most kids today won’t know the severity of how bad it gets so maybe that’s a good thing.
artisticallyreading's review against another edition
4.0
You can see this review and many others on my Blog
This story follows sixteen-year-old Dove "Birdie" Randolph, who strives to be the perfect daughter for her parents. She studies hard, gets good grades, and always follows the rules. However, she meets and falls for this boy named Booker who she keeps a secret, knowing her parents won't approve of their relationship due to his troubled past.
Birdie's estranged aunt, Carlene, shows up one day after just getting out of rehab for substance abuse and addiction. Even though Birdie starts sensing some tension among her parents, and Carlene, she starts developing a close relationship with her aunt. That leads to Birdie wanting to take control of her life, and make a few choices she knows her parents won't approve of.
This YA novel is one that talks about so many relevant, and important topics such as Racism, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Anger Management, and many more!
While Birdie is the main character she doesn't completely outshine all of the characters, like a lot of YA books do.
I felt like I knew each and every character, with what they were feeling and going through. And, I'm personally someone who really enjoys a character-driven story more than a plot-driven one. However, I did feel like the plot was lacking a little and it was a little too simple for me. So if you're someone who doesn't enjoy a simpler plot, beware.
This book was being pitched for fans of Nina La Cour and Nicola Yoon. I have yet to read a book by Nina La Cour, but I definitely think the romance in this novel has a Nicola Yoon vibe.
I highly recommend this book if you like YA contemporary.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | TikTok
"With a name like Dove, you got to fly."
This story follows sixteen-year-old Dove "Birdie" Randolph, who strives to be the perfect daughter for her parents. She studies hard, gets good grades, and always follows the rules. However, she meets and falls for this boy named Booker who she keeps a secret, knowing her parents won't approve of their relationship due to his troubled past.
Birdie's estranged aunt, Carlene, shows up one day after just getting out of rehab for substance abuse and addiction. Even though Birdie starts sensing some tension among her parents, and Carlene, she starts developing a close relationship with her aunt. That leads to Birdie wanting to take control of her life, and make a few choices she knows her parents won't approve of.
This YA novel is one that talks about so many relevant, and important topics such as Racism, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Anger Management, and many more!
While Birdie is the main character she doesn't completely outshine all of the characters, like a lot of YA books do.
I felt like I knew each and every character, with what they were feeling and going through. And, I'm personally someone who really enjoys a character-driven story more than a plot-driven one. However, I did feel like the plot was lacking a little and it was a little too simple for me. So if you're someone who doesn't enjoy a simpler plot, beware.
This book was being pitched for fans of Nina La Cour and Nicola Yoon. I have yet to read a book by Nina La Cour, but I definitely think the romance in this novel has a Nicola Yoon vibe.
I highly recommend this book if you like YA contemporary.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | TikTok
tishywishy's review against another edition
4.0
This books hits on so many topics that I wasn't expecting but definitely took it to another level:
-Parental expectations/pressures and how it shapes who we date.
-Asexuality
-LGBTQ identities
-Juvenile Detention
-Racism and how it affects young black boys in particular
-Substance Abuse
-Family secrets
We see and experience it all through the eyes of Birdie who is trying to navigate pleasing her parents and be a regular teenager. It heartwarming, uplifting, and definitely a good read.
-Parental expectations/pressures and how it shapes who we date.
-Asexuality
-LGBTQ identities
-Juvenile Detention
-Racism and how it affects young black boys in particular
-Substance Abuse
-Family secrets
We see and experience it all through the eyes of Birdie who is trying to navigate pleasing her parents and be a regular teenager. It heartwarming, uplifting, and definitely a good read.
sauriaiel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.25
A coming-of-age YA novel about a girl finding her voice and her wings to fly.
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Meet Dove “Birdie” Randolph. She’s always been the good girl her parents want her to be: dating the boy they approved of, quitting soccer to focus on academic and taking tutoring courses in the summer to graduate at the top of her class. When Birdie starts dating someone new, Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past, she starts to push the boundaries of what her parents will allow. At the same time her aunt who she hasn’t ever really spent time with is now living with them, trying to stay clean from her alcohol addiction. Through talks with her cool aunt, Birdie starts to challenge what she’s always known and fights for more.
🪽
Normally I love Brandy Colbert’s books but this one was a bit underwhelming. I still believe it to be such an important novel with themes of family, sex positivity, asexual and queer representation. However even with the twist at the end, I still never fully connected with Birdie or her story. I wasn’t a fan of her mom and how strict she was with Birdie, who was pretty perfect. 3.25⭐️
CW: child abandonment, alcoholism, alcohol, drug use, racism, racial profiling, family estrangement, bullying, death of a parent (cancer), physical assault (recounted)
🪽
Meet Dove “Birdie” Randolph. She’s always been the good girl her parents want her to be: dating the boy they approved of, quitting soccer to focus on academic and taking tutoring courses in the summer to graduate at the top of her class. When Birdie starts dating someone new, Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past, she starts to push the boundaries of what her parents will allow. At the same time her aunt who she hasn’t ever really spent time with is now living with them, trying to stay clean from her alcohol addiction. Through talks with her cool aunt, Birdie starts to challenge what she’s always known and fights for more.
🪽
Normally I love Brandy Colbert’s books but this one was a bit underwhelming. I still believe it to be such an important novel with themes of family, sex positivity, asexual and queer representation. However even with the twist at the end, I still never fully connected with Birdie or her story. I wasn’t a fan of her mom and how strict she was with Birdie, who was pretty perfect. 3.25⭐️
CW: child abandonment, alcoholism, alcohol, drug use, racism, racial profiling, family estrangement, bullying, death of a parent (cancer), physical assault (recounted)
mnvivian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
ekhrtly's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
juliamariereads's review against another edition
3.75
Solid contemporary. Easily recommend for 8-high schoolers.
nklosty's review against another edition
5.0
This well-written book kept me interested the entire time. I particularly liked the relationships within Birdie's family. The dynamics felt real as did the interactions. The struggle of honesty and teenagers is a topic that has numerous tales, all of which could be true. 95*