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lydiaurban's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
valerieaxh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lottie1803's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
suchonalways__'s review against another edition
5.0
"I look at him and I think about how we don’t know the people we think we know at all. How people who are meant to love you, leave you."
In the epigraph of this book, the author uses a sentence from Jordan Peele's Get Out. It's strange of me to notice it because I am one of those bad readers who almost always skip acknowledgement, introduction, author's note, epigraph and so on. But this time I did. I read the quote and thought there's no way this book can even come close to the movie thematically. I thought it would never be possible to shake me to my core with this book. And I won't lie. It's no Get Out. But it's also extremely good. Creepy, haunting, breathtaking and so dangerously brutal.
It's so weird that I did not like any of the protagonists and yet the book, the story moved me this much.
This dark academia young adult novel is not focused on the pursuits of knowledge. Rather it highlights the darkside of it, how mercilessly we have built a system that excludes people the system deems less. How knowledge, education, opportunities are denied to people they don't consider equal. How corrupt and unfair academia can be and is.
In the epigraph of this book, the author uses a sentence from Jordan Peele's Get Out. It's strange of me to notice it because I am one of those bad readers who almost always skip acknowledgement, introduction, author's note, epigraph and so on. But this time I did. I read the quote and thought there's no way this book can even come close to the movie thematically. I thought it would never be possible to shake me to my core with this book. And I won't lie. It's no Get Out. But it's also extremely good. Creepy, haunting, breathtaking and so dangerously brutal.
It's so weird that I did not like any of the protagonists and yet the book, the story moved me this much.
This dark academia young adult novel is not focused on the pursuits of knowledge. Rather it highlights the darkside of it, how mercilessly we have built a system that excludes people the system deems less. How knowledge, education, opportunities are denied to people they don't consider equal. How corrupt and unfair academia can be and is.
tmyers3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hearts4diavolo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
School thrillers are always so fun! Great Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars vibes.
I read this through audiobook, and the narration was very engaging. Devon's narrator, Tapiwa Mugweni, really captured the inner conflict of Devon's character as his life started spiraling from Ace's attacks. And Giamacca's narrator, Jeanette Illidge, served as the perfect somewhat snooty, more than a little neurotic, popular girl.
First, I love dual pov stories! And both Gia's and Devon's unfolding stories were equally engaging. As well as their individual reactions to Ace's demented "game" and their realisation of why Ace was doing what they were doing.
SPOILERS BELOW!!
I love how Gia's and Devon's queerness was portrayed! I love how casually Gia's queerness and her first relationship with a girl bloomed so tenderly and naturally. And Devon. I want to scoop him in a hug.
SPOILERS ABOVE!!
The unfolding mystery itself definitely had me guessing and I was not prepared for the actual reveal. But wow.
SPOILERS BELOW!!
The Ace program being such a widespread, multi generational attempt to destroy the lives and reputations of Niveus' Balck students is so insidious, and *such* a good, chilling allegory for systemic racism and undermining of Black students in school systems. How school systems automatically set Black students up to fail, are more likely to give Black students detentions and suspensions on things they wouldn't punish non-Black students for, and recommend them less for universities/automatically assume Balck students wouldn't be able to get into unis, is so powerfully shown through Ace.
SPOILERS ABOVE!!
Also, the epilogue is very satisfying :). And I'm glad we got one.
I absolutely recommend everyone read this, especially non-Black readers, to understand the systemic racism and racial biases in school systems.
I read this through audiobook, and the narration was very engaging. Devon's narrator, Tapiwa Mugweni, really captured the inner conflict of Devon's character as his life started spiraling from Ace's attacks. And Giamacca's narrator, Jeanette Illidge, served as the perfect somewhat snooty, more than a little neurotic, popular girl.
First, I love dual pov stories! And both Gia's and Devon's unfolding stories were equally engaging. As well as their individual reactions to Ace's demented "game" and their realisation of why Ace was doing what they were doing.
SPOILERS BELOW!!
I love how Gia's and Devon's queerness was portrayed! I love how casually Gia's queerness and her first relationship with a girl bloomed so tenderly and naturally. And Devon. I want to scoop him in a hug.
SPOILERS ABOVE!!
The unfolding mystery itself definitely had me guessing and I was not prepared for the actual reveal. But wow.
SPOILERS BELOW!!
The Ace program being such a widespread, multi generational attempt to destroy the lives and reputations of Niveus' Balck students is so insidious, and *such* a good, chilling allegory for systemic racism and undermining of Black students in school systems. How school systems automatically set Black students up to fail, are more likely to give Black students detentions and suspensions on things they wouldn't punish non-Black students for, and recommend them less for universities/automatically assume Balck students wouldn't be able to get into unis, is so powerfully shown through Ace.
SPOILERS ABOVE!!
Also, the epilogue is very satisfying :). And I'm glad we got one.
I absolutely recommend everyone read this, especially non-Black readers, to understand the systemic racism and racial biases in school systems.
sonovahades's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
This was great. so intense, but in a great way, tho not sure that sounds right. at first, i didn't like chiamaka. she knew what she wanted, sure, but she still acted very naive and very mean. but she got there in the end, so i liked her also. devon was my favourite since the beginning. he was a little pessimistic, but at least more realistic than Chiamaka xd also i love his mom so much... honestly, i figured this book will have a strong theme of racism (which is why i picked it up) i did not expect this. this was so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, and Racism
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Racial slurs
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent