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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Saying it's a "must read" makes it sound like vegetables. This is a "start to read it and you'll realize how brilliant it is and you'll recommend it because it's that good." As a middle-aged white woman (you'd look at me and think I'm Karen), the part that hit home for me was when Bri's mom Jay speaks at the PTA meeting to the superintendent.
"While some of us are afraid of the impact songs will have on our children, there are parents who are absolutely terrified for the safety of our children at the hands of people who are supposed to protect them."
Yup.
If you are in a book club made up of mostly suburban white people, this should be your group's next read.
"While some of us are afraid of the impact songs will have on our children, there are parents who are absolutely terrified for the safety of our children at the hands of people who are supposed to protect them."
Yup.
If you are in a book club made up of mostly suburban white people, this should be your group's next read.
5 stars, easy. Thomas’ voice for Bri is so fresh, I was jumping up and down because this book will resonate with so many young readers. Bri’s dream is to be a rapper and she sees it as her ticket out of the Gardens. She’s dealing with the trauma of losing her dad, also a rapper, to gun violence, her mom’s history of addiction and absence, the heat being off and needing to get in line for food, her aunt Pooh’s running with the GD’s and inability to rise up and be her manager, and feeling invisible at school. She’s feisty, what some might not erroneously call an angry black girl, and she doesn’t hesitate yo call it what it is. When the security guards at school find her behavior and backpack suspicious, she’s on the ground in plastic cuffs and suspended for 3 days. This coincides with her first rap battle in The Ring and the start of a beautiful mess with her dad’s former manager, Supreme.
I went to see Angie Thomas a few days after this book came out and she said Bri is both soft and introspective and earnest like Tupac and loud and aggressive and angry like Biggie. She knows there are stereotypes about her and she gradually works to undo them. Hip hop lovers will adore the musical references and Bri’s bars. Google Angie Thomas rapping and you won’t be able to get “On the Come Up” out of your head. The touch of romance will go far. Each character is so vividly wrought. There is not a wasted word- her writing is so tight. Outstanding.
I went to see Angie Thomas a few days after this book came out and she said Bri is both soft and introspective and earnest like Tupac and loud and aggressive and angry like Biggie. She knows there are stereotypes about her and she gradually works to undo them. Hip hop lovers will adore the musical references and Bri’s bars. Google Angie Thomas rapping and you won’t be able to get “On the Come Up” out of your head. The touch of romance will go far. Each character is so vividly wrought. There is not a wasted word- her writing is so tight. Outstanding.
I absolutely loved this. The audio book was really great.
wow wow wow just like her first boom this was defo a 5 star read for me I loved every inch of this book. I listened to this on audiobook and it maid it even better as the narrator rapped the rap x
Just as awesome as [b:The Hate U Give|32613366|The Hate U Give|Angie Thomas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476533572s/32613366.jpg|49638190], but it has slightly less of that gut-punch feeling, maybe just because I was prepared by the first book to hear those hard truths that Thomas is so good at describing. I love that Thomas doesn't tie every single thing up nicely at the end because life can be shitty, but I have confidence that Bri is going to take care of all those other things soon.
Whenever Angie Thomas releases a book you just know it will be good.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
Bri has a gift for rapping. She wants to follow her dream and get a deal with a record label to help her family during a financially difficult time. A song she records blows up on social media and suddenly everyone is talking about Bri, but the lyrics were interpreted in a way she did not intend. Is it worth it for the fame, though?
I'm not entirely sure what to say! I liked the book, it was a very easy read, and it was clearly an authentic and heartfelt story. I really appreciated how Bri was not a super likable protagonist. That isn't to say she's unlikable, because she is likable, it's that she's allowed to be brash and loud and make bad decisions. She's also smart and funny and capable of change which is always a good thing to see from a character. I was really into her mother and their relationship, that was really well handled. I'm not a huge fan of rap so I think that was where the dissonance happened for me, but the story itself was really great.
4.5 stars. A great follow up novel after the instant classic of The Hate You Give. Bri's story about following her dreams to rap, despite the financial troubles her family is facing and the trauma she survived in the past, is an incredible story of self-discovery and passion for the art of making music that means something. This book was quick paced with strong characters and the delightful humor Angie shares in her books. I definitely caught myself laughing out loud a few times. There were so many strengths to this book. I loved the friendship of the unholy trinity, Sonny, Malik, and Bri, and I appreciated how the story gave these relationships the space to grow, and a hint of how it might change in the future. While they differed on their opinions of how Bri should handle things like the incident at school, ultimately, they were a delightful support system to each other as they all experienced a few 'firsts' in the story. I also really appreciated the romance in this book. I entirely ship Bri and Curtis. They are adorable together. Bri's family, from her brother and mom, to her grandparents, were all lovingly depicted and their imperfect dynamics were delightful to read about.
How this book differed from The Hate You Give: Where Starr's family was financially on the upper end of the garden, Bri's was struggling to keep the lights on. Starr's had more of an ability to speak up about police violence, where others in other circumstances may not have been able to do the same. Bri did not want to pursue ramifications after her assault at school by those in authority, and others took on more of the fight than she was comfortable participating in, including her mom and the coalition. THUG had some conversations and family moments that were like lightning in a bottle. Absolute perfection in putting into words racial profiling, code switching, etc. I also loved the larger family dynamics of the Carter's. On the Come Up was the story of one family working through tough times and pursuing their goals, where THUG rallied an entire community and fought a system of injustice.
The Conversation Starters: Bri's search for identity in the face of dire financial circumstances was a rewarding journey. Though it could have been easy to sell herself short and help her family, because her family supported her, she could find her own path. She also took a different path from her father with her choices. Bri's reflections on Jojo and how she wanted to create music that she would be proud for the little kids to sing, rather than lead them down a harder path, really shows the impact of pop culture and influence on young minds. I really enjoyed the dynamics of Bri and Aunt Pou (sp.? I read the audiobook, so I'm going by how it sounds.) Grief triggers all sorts of reactions, so how Aunt Pou shaped her life after her brother's death was incredibly impactful, as was her providing for her family with money earned from selling drugs, when they were not able to do so with their own jobs. Jay's addiction and recovery as her reaction to grief and how it affected her kids was quite a journey to read about. Her character growth in the story, supported by reflections of her past, is an important example to see. Jay's speech during the meeting at Midtown talking about the constant racial profiling Bri experienced at school from her teachers was so well said. That speech can be the beginning of a great conversation about bias, privilege, stereotypes, etc.
This book was a great read and can start so many important conversations. I'm so glad Angie continues to share her voice in literature, because she constantly inspires kids who have never found themselves represented in books by putting their realities on the page. For those who can directly relate to the circumstances in the books, reading them shows that they are not alone with their experiences. For those who have not had similar life experiences, these books start conversations and allow them to empathize with the characters, which is what the reading experience is all about.
How this book differed from The Hate You Give: Where Starr's family was financially on the upper end of the garden, Bri's was struggling to keep the lights on. Starr's had more of an ability to speak up about police violence, where others in other circumstances may not have been able to do the same. Bri did not want to pursue ramifications after her assault at school by those in authority, and others took on more of the fight than she was comfortable participating in, including her mom and the coalition. THUG had some conversations and family moments that were like lightning in a bottle. Absolute perfection in putting into words racial profiling, code switching, etc. I also loved the larger family dynamics of the Carter's. On the Come Up was the story of one family working through tough times and pursuing their goals, where THUG rallied an entire community and fought a system of injustice.
The Conversation Starters: Bri's search for identity in the face of dire financial circumstances was a rewarding journey. Though it could have been easy to sell herself short and help her family, because her family supported her, she could find her own path. She also took a different path from her father with her choices. Bri's reflections on Jojo and how she wanted to create music that she would be proud for the little kids to sing, rather than lead them down a harder path, really shows the impact of pop culture and influence on young minds. I really enjoyed the dynamics of Bri and Aunt Pou (sp.? I read the audiobook, so I'm going by how it sounds.) Grief triggers all sorts of reactions, so how Aunt Pou shaped her life after her brother's death was incredibly impactful, as was her providing for her family with money earned from selling drugs, when they were not able to do so with their own jobs. Jay's addiction and recovery as her reaction to grief and how it affected her kids was quite a journey to read about. Her character growth in the story, supported by reflections of her past, is an important example to see. Jay's speech during the meeting at Midtown talking about the constant racial profiling Bri experienced at school from her teachers was so well said. That speech can be the beginning of a great conversation about bias, privilege, stereotypes, etc.
This book was a great read and can start so many important conversations. I'm so glad Angie continues to share her voice in literature, because she constantly inspires kids who have never found themselves represented in books by putting their realities on the page. For those who can directly relate to the circumstances in the books, reading them shows that they are not alone with their experiences. For those who have not had similar life experiences, these books start conversations and allow them to empathize with the characters, which is what the reading experience is all about.