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reading_giraffe's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, this book was hard to get through as a dark-skinned black girl. Not to be too honest on main, but I've been Genesis in front of that mirror wishing for different hair, different skin, a different me.
Despite all that, I felt that this book was not amazing narratively. It was let's explore this trauma and rush through to an unsatisfying end.
Despite all that, I felt that this book was not amazing narratively. It was let's explore this trauma and rush through to an unsatisfying end.
ngreader's review against another edition
4.0
MAN this book was hard to read. It's a gritty and realistic book about colorism and self-hatred and learning to undo the work that was put in you. It's also about verbally abusive parents who themselves have issues with substance abuse. It's about learning to make friends in middle school. It's about learning to love yourself.
It's definitely a hard upper middle school/teen students read. But MAN is it good. SO painful but SO good.
*contains one swear word that is called out as bad by the mother, alcoholism by father, bullying, slight self-harm by protagonist (trying to change skin color)*
It's definitely a hard upper middle school/teen students read. But MAN is it good. SO painful but SO good.
*contains one swear word that is called out as bad by the mother, alcoholism by father, bullying, slight self-harm by protagonist (trying to change skin color)*
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. Such a great one for tweens who feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Great about loving yourself and where you come from. #weneeddiversebooks
calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
5.0
Love love love! Thank you Ms Williams for writing this book!
lesdel70's review against another edition
5.0
Though it took me a bit to get into it, I loved this book. It taught me a lot.
jlynnreadsandwrites's review against another edition
4.0
Genesis Begins Again holds no punches. It deals with housing insecurity, having an unreliable parent, making friends, and colorism. Everything happens through Genesis' eyes as she navigates the world around her.
At 13, Genesis has a list of 96 reasons she dislikes herself. And while it is common for 13-year-old girls to dislike themselves, Genesis' story is one I have never seen told before in this way. (Which may be entirely on me.) It opens with Genesis bringing friends home to discover her family has been evicted, an experience many kids are familiar with but isn't often told in books.
It directly discusses colorism and its affect on Genesis. I read this book while on a reading committee for a book award and the one black woman on our committee appreciated the way colorism was discussed as she herself had experienced it growing up and could relate to Genesis' experience. As a white person, I feel that is the most I should say on a topic that does not affect me. I was deeply moved by Genesis' struggles and found my heart aching for her.
This book is important and powerful. It also hits an age group that is often overlooked: middle schoolers. It's hard to find books with characters between ages 12-15. There are so many books about being 12 but being 13 is different. When you're young a year makes a big difference. And, in general, kids don't like to read below their age.
I loved this book. I loved its honesty. I loved the friends Genesis found and how they help her start to see the world and herself a little differently. I loved Genesis' mother who loves her daughter fiercely and unconditionally. I loved the teacher who takes Genesis under her wing. I liked that there wasn't a neat resolution to the story because that isn't how life works but it still ends on a hopeful note.
At 13, Genesis has a list of 96 reasons she dislikes herself. And while it is common for 13-year-old girls to dislike themselves, Genesis' story is one I have never seen told before in this way. (Which may be entirely on me.) It opens with Genesis bringing friends home to discover her family has been evicted, an experience many kids are familiar with but isn't often told in books.
It directly discusses colorism and its affect on Genesis. I read this book while on a reading committee for a book award and the one black woman on our committee appreciated the way colorism was discussed as she herself had experienced it growing up and could relate to Genesis' experience. As a white person, I feel that is the most I should say on a topic that does not affect me. I was deeply moved by Genesis' struggles and found my heart aching for her.
This book is important and powerful. It also hits an age group that is often overlooked: middle schoolers. It's hard to find books with characters between ages 12-15. There are so many books about being 12 but being 13 is different. When you're young a year makes a big difference. And, in general, kids don't like to read below their age.
I loved this book. I loved its honesty. I loved the friends Genesis found and how they help her start to see the world and herself a little differently. I loved Genesis' mother who loves her daughter fiercely and unconditionally. I loved the teacher who takes Genesis under her wing. I liked that there wasn't a neat resolution to the story because that isn't how life works but it still ends on a hopeful note.
neglet's review against another edition
Ended up reading this in one sitting, it was that compelling following Genesis as she struggles with so many challenges—new school, alcoholic father, her own self-esteem. Emotionally rich and extremely satisfying.
jenn_kidd's review against another edition
5.0
Very powerful book about race, prejudice, self-worth, and new beginnings. I also loved the influence of Mrs. Hill, the music teacher, helping Genesis uncover something that made her special.
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
In the middle of reading this, my hold on [b:New Kid|36005510|New Kid|Jerry Craft|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1544415378s/36005510.jpg|57574554] came in. I was so excited, I set this book aside and finished New Kid the same day I started it. Then I found myself really not wanting to go back to Genesis. I feel a little guilty not finishing it, but I think I read enough to understand that even though this a good book, it's too depressing for me right now. The part where I put it down Genesis had just really hurt herself trying to exfoliate to make her skin lighter. Her grandma had just told her that her life would be easier if she were lighter. She's adding to a very long list of things she hates about herself.
This brings to mind a critique of [b:Eleanor & Park|15745753|Eleanor & Park|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1341952742s/15745753.jpg|17225055] that I recently read on Twitter. The reviewer felt uncomfortable with Park's self-hatred as a person of Korean descent. Park wishes that he looked more like his brother who can pass for white. The book is set in Nebraska in the 1980s and I believe the author intended readers to understand Park's feelings within this historical context. Still, the self-hatred is never addressed in a satisfactory way for a lot of readers.
It's a very tricky thing to portray self-hatred in books for children because you run the risk of unintentionally communicating to the reader that the self-hatred is somehow justified. Let's hope that any reader who needs a message of self-acceptance makes it all the way through this book.
This brings to mind a critique of [b:Eleanor & Park|15745753|Eleanor & Park|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1341952742s/15745753.jpg|17225055] that I recently read on Twitter. The reviewer felt uncomfortable with Park's self-hatred as a person of Korean descent. Park wishes that he looked more like his brother who can pass for white. The book is set in Nebraska in the 1980s and I believe the author intended readers to understand Park's feelings within this historical context. Still, the self-hatred is never addressed in a satisfactory way for a lot of readers.
It's a very tricky thing to portray self-hatred in books for children because you run the risk of unintentionally communicating to the reader that the self-hatred is somehow justified. Let's hope that any reader who needs a message of self-acceptance makes it all the way through this book.
taviamorgan's review against another edition
3.0
this was good but i just didn’t love it. i felt like it was a little boring and could have overall just done more. the conversations around colorism and substance abuse and everything were really good and i think they’re really important but i just didn’t really enjoy reading this one. i just wanted it to have more entertainment factor. i was a little bored and just felt like i was annoyed a lot.