Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

83 reviews

space_bandit's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

toadlovesreading's review

dark emotional sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, and Violence

miniando's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Racism

cwatson1234's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Physical abuse

iheartm4m's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, and Blood

atlas_likes_to_read's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was a beautifully written story that I had to give five stars. Initially, I was going to give a 4.75, but the fact this is based partially on true events makes it even more heartbreaking and pushes it up to five stars. Amal is a fantastically mapped out character and Yusef is so strong for everything he's been through and so amazing for all he's achieved. I recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are uneducated on the justice system, and to black youth trying to find their way.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality

black writers, diversity, incarceration, poetry, art, strong main characters, black youth, POC, creative

melmattocks21's review

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

While this was a quick read, it took awhile due to the heavy content. I enjoyed reading Amal’s story, but couldn’t believe how abrupt the ending was. That disappointed me because I felt there was so much left unsaid. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Confinement

thyroyalreader's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Cursing, Violence, and Classism

criticalbooks's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, and Violence

brookey8888's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

4.5

Wow was very good. I honestly had no clue what this was about when I picked it up, I just recognized the author. This is such an important story that everyone should read. It does discuss hard, but important topics so be prepared. Some of the poems(?) gave me goosebumps. The reason it’s a 4.5 is because it did take me a while to get used to the verse and kind of connect with the story, but once I did I couldn’t put this down. Highly recommend! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Hate crime