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justcallmeemily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Police brutality, Bullying, Physical abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Emotional abuse
sarkenobi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Death of parent and Police brutality
maggieparedesauthor's review
- 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
Graphic: Slavery, Colonisation, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Death
that_bookworm_guy's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism
izzylin24's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence
junglejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The authors do such an amazing job creating such gorgeous but heartbreaking work with such few words. The whole thing is captivating. I couldn't put the book down.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs and Grief
Minor: Violence
carriepond's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book was so good— I read it all in one day. It touches on so much— the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, racism, and the power of art. It is heartbreaking but also hopeful. It is a powerful, beautiful YA book in conversation with other works on abolition and the inhumanity of our carceral system. Recommend.
Graphic: Racism, Confinement, Racial slurs, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Bullying and Physical abuse
aprilyvonne's review
- 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
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yousef Salaam was an empowering and poignant story told in verse. I first discovered this unique narrative technique with Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I can truly say that after reading a handful of books in this style, it’s one of my favourites.
The story of Amal, a young Black teen wrongly incarcerated, navigates a deeply flawed world determined to cage him in. With his artistic talent, the support of his mother, and the bonds of friendship, Amal finds the hope within to survive, to thrive, and to heal.
The story was deeply moving and the poetry palpable. Despite the biased and broken system, Amal is able to rise up.
I’ll end this with one of my favourite poems, Dust.
“They can’t kill you in here
but they will try, Umi says
from across the round table
That’s the point
Locking you up isn’t enough
for them They will try
to crush your spirit until
you’re nothing but—
Dust
we both say together
And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks
It rises, I whisper”
…
I encourage you all to read this one. 🫶
Minor: Police brutality, Grief, Violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs
amiraqualls's review
- 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
Graphic: Racism
aniston_pond's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Racism
Moderate: Violence and Murder