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thehmkane's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I'm still crying, so, you know it was good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Police brutality, Alcohol, Medical content, Death, Grief, Racism, Alcoholism, Child death, Racial slurs, and Car accident
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Car accident
legalplanner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Have you been looking for an indigenous own voices story about basketball players? Well don't look any further.
I was hooked as quickly as I started reading this. However, I will say there were some very heavy basketball moments and if you're not a fan of sports ball or not familiar with details of it, you could skim and be able to get away the general info.
HOWEVER, the basketball isn't the most important piece of this story. Graves executed the difficulty of being brown or any minority in a prejudice area perfectly. My heart rate rose when things were getting tense, or I felt like someone was going to mess something up. More importantly, I was in awe how Graves handled the stereotypes that most people have regarding indigenous persons. Those issues are beautifully woven throughout and as a reader it makes you question the things that we are still doing as a society and how change can come in the future.
I also loved that while I thought there was going to be romance there wasn't. Yeah I was mad at first I wanted our guy to get the girl. That wasn't the story that needed told. It was about him finding himself and moving through the journey, and because of that I was glad the romance wasn't as strong as I initially thought.
I absolutely encourage anyone who likes sports, the underdog, or own voices novels to give this one a shot.
I was hooked as quickly as I started reading this. However, I will say there were some very heavy basketball moments and if you're not a fan of sports ball or not familiar with details of it, you could skim and be able to get away the general info.
HOWEVER, the basketball isn't the most important piece of this story. Graves executed the difficulty of being brown or any minority in a prejudice area perfectly. My heart rate rose when things were getting tense, or I felt like someone was going to mess something up. More importantly, I was in awe how Graves handled the stereotypes that most people have regarding indigenous persons. Those issues are beautifully woven throughout and as a reader it makes you question the things that we are still doing as a society and how change can come in the future.
I also loved that while I thought there was going to be romance there wasn't. Yeah I was mad at first I wanted our guy to get the girl. That wasn't the story that needed told. It was about him finding himself and moving through the journey, and because of that I was glad the romance wasn't as strong as I initially thought.
I absolutely encourage anyone who likes sports, the underdog, or own voices novels to give this one a shot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
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