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wanderingreadingsoul's review
5.0
This book left me scared. No other way to say it. Jamie Ruan and Nancy Luo could, would have been me in my teens if I had not decided to take a different mindset on studies. Asian children will tell you that Asian parents will push you to excel and be the best like it is an obsession and after a point we start to push ourselves and want and need to excel all by ourselves.
I loved how Katie Zhao captured all that so honestly in this book. Her characterizations of each student was on the mark and so well done that I found myself relating at some level to each and every one of them. The plot kept you on the edge of your seat and that climax!
I liked the subtle touch on racism and untrue beliefs people have about Asians too, that we are naturally smart and somehow don't have to work as hard as others - which is not true. We are not all geniuses, but we all do know and have been taught to do our best and work our hardest.
Overall this book will haunt me for a few weeks. It was so good and so well written and I am looking forward to more YA books from this author!
I loved how Katie Zhao captured all that so honestly in this book. Her characterizations of each student was on the mark and so well done that I found myself relating at some level to each and every one of them. The plot kept you on the edge of your seat and that climax!
I liked the subtle touch on racism and untrue beliefs people have about Asians too, that we are naturally smart and somehow don't have to work as hard as others - which is not true. We are not all geniuses, but we all do know and have been taught to do our best and work our hardest.
Overall this book will haunt me for a few weeks. It was so good and so well written and I am looking forward to more YA books from this author!
amazingracerose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Very tropey and gossip girl coded but it was a blast
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A YA thriller about wealth and privilege and the extra pressures children of immigrants face to be the best and perform well in a private NYC high school. Recommended for fans of Gossip Girl, Ace of Spades or White Ivy and excellent on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus - one of my favorites!
TW: self-harm, racism, student-teacher sexual relationship, drug use, mental illness, panic attacks, parental neglect, suicidal thoughts
TW: self-harm, racism, student-teacher sexual relationship, drug use, mental illness, panic attacks, parental neglect, suicidal thoughts
eshalmahmud's review
3.0
This had a lot of potential of being a four-star rating AT THE VERY LEAST. However, if I just wasn't so damn good at predicting plots. Now here's my little plot twist. I'm not good at guessing the plots. There have been many books which people said were predictable to them but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was happening.
The main reason I could figure this plot out so quickly was that it reminded me a little too much of One of us is lying, Like it erminded me a little TOO much of it. And thats how I figured everything out in within, I kid you not, 25 pages I knew the whole plot. In the entire book there was just one plot twist which I wasnt expecting.
The main reason I could figure this plot out so quickly was that it reminded me a little too much of One of us is lying, Like it erminded me a little TOO much of it. And thats how I figured everything out in within, I kid you not, 25 pages I knew the whole plot. In the entire book there was just one plot twist which I wasnt expecting.
faitadeyem0's review
4.0
cute liked it but i don't like nancy too much cause why did she treat alexander like that
dan1el_ji's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
rachyc's review
4.0
Oooh I loved this book. Love the idea of rich students vs scholarships and the pressure of private schools. Really interesting storyline.
crescent_just's review
3.0
I loved the unreliable narration but the mystery aspect was not very suspenseful in my opinion. I did enjoy it though. A solid book.