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papertraildiary's review against another edition
3.0
Liked it, finished it quickly once I got into the groove, the dialogue is great, the illustrations are great (author is a graphic novelist, this is his first full novel), I liked the dynamism of the characters. It's about an important issue to discuss (white boy loves black girl, white boy's dad is a cop accused of racist actions) though I'm not too sure how to feel about reading it from the white boy's point of view... I see what it was going for - the confusion, outcast, blame, other point of view, who else is affected - but that part will sit with me for a while. *edit* thinking about it more, it seemed like a good effort to show how we need to keep racism in check, how people see the consequences of their words and actions and learn for the better. How and where racism exists. How it can exist in your own family.
Eager to read more diverse books.
Eager to read more diverse books.
izumisano's review against another edition
4.0
This book was too real for me. I'm used to dragons and magic and needing to save the empire, but anyways...
I felt this book did a great job of discussing the race question. In recent years racial tension has risen across the US with the police profiling. This book takes a look at that type of situation in which I feel both black and white can feel they have been represented. While the idea of interracial couples should be passe in 2016 there still are lingering problems. Walter and Naomi struggle through some of these problems some of us might not even think about.
My only complaint about this book is that it seems to end abruptly. Much of the conflict in the book is Walter's cop father is in a racial profiling lawsuit. The Internet gets wind and goes crazy over it. Walter's father badly attempts damage control, making things worse. In the second to last chapter they settle out of court and it becomes a non issue. For something that took up most of the book you expect more of a resolution. We don't even get to learn who did the robberies. Was he right? Was he profiling? (by mistake or not) Was it really Nate and Kate? The cause of their breakup being they didn't know how to divide the spoils. We never learn. I guess the point was it doesn't matter but at the same time it does. I want to know.
I felt this book did a great job of discussing the race question. In recent years racial tension has risen across the US with the police profiling. This book takes a look at that type of situation in which I feel both black and white can feel they have been represented. While the idea of interracial couples should be passe in 2016 there still are lingering problems. Walter and Naomi struggle through some of these problems some of us might not even think about.
My only complaint about this book is that it seems to end abruptly. Much of the conflict in the book is Walter's cop father is in a racial profiling lawsuit. The Internet gets wind and goes crazy over it. Walter's father badly attempts damage control, making things worse. In the second to last chapter they settle out of court and it becomes a non issue. For something that took up most of the book you expect more of a resolution. We don't even get to learn who did the robberies. Was he right? Was he profiling? (by mistake or not) Was it really Nate and Kate? The cause of their breakup being they didn't know how to divide the spoils. We never learn. I guess the point was it doesn't matter but at the same time it does. I want to know.
shemyshines98's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I love the topics brought to the forefront, I love the characters, the comics, everything. This book is something everyone should read. <3 <3
scythefranz's review against another edition
3.0
It centers on the main characters' love story but with talks of racism. RTC.
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
First off — I loved this book. It deals with a lot of heavy issues that need more coverage in YA fiction: racism, police brutality, mental illness, interracial relationships, and even differing expectations from parents for boys versus girls.
My one main complaint, though, is that none of these were discussed enough within this book. The topics were treated too delicately and too lightly, and the conflicts all resolved too neatly. I was also disappointed in the fact that a lot of the black males in the book are aggressive, antagonistic, and rude, who spend their days skipping school and fighting each other. Like wait what?? While Walter is a nerdy white boy who “isn’t a fighter” and who gets teased because he’s nerdy and passive and not a fighter, so he must be gay!
I loved Naomi though. She rocked this book and I want more of her story! The illustrations were amazing and definitely helped add depth to the story. And I want Emond to write a sequel. Because although I didn’t care for Walter, I didn’t despise him either, and I loved the interaction between him and Naomi. They were very real and flawed, and I loved them.
Do recommend.
My one main complaint, though, is that none of these were discussed enough within this book. The topics were treated too delicately and too lightly, and the conflicts all resolved too neatly. I was also disappointed in the fact that a lot of the black males in the book are aggressive, antagonistic, and rude, who spend their days skipping school and fighting each other. Like wait what?? While Walter is a nerdy white boy who “isn’t a fighter” and who gets teased because he’s nerdy and passive and not a fighter, so he must be gay!
I loved Naomi though. She rocked this book and I want more of her story! The illustrations were amazing and definitely helped add depth to the story. And I want Emond to write a sequel. Because although I didn’t care for Walter, I didn’t despise him either, and I loved the interaction between him and Naomi. They were very real and flawed, and I loved them.
Do recommend.
minorasimulator's review against another edition
4.0
Firstly, I was pleasantly surprised that this book did not end how it was going to (although the particular plot line I was thinking of was never officially resolved). Secondly, I was glad with how the subject of race was approached and handled in this story. I felt like it was a fairly accurate representation of the issue is in today's society.
That being said, I just didn't enjoy this book as much as Emond's others (one of which was responsible for rescuing me from a five year slump). And, I hate to say it, I feel like it's because the main character isn't as relatable to me. I very much enjoyed the other characters in this novel (by 'enjoy', I really mean appreciate their complexities and love or hate them either way), but I felt like something was lacking in terms of Walter.
Still, this was an entertaining story and saved me from ten hours of boredom on this bus tour. One hour to go, no books left. #saveme
That being said, I just didn't enjoy this book as much as Emond's others (one of which was responsible for rescuing me from a five year slump). And, I hate to say it, I feel like it's because the main character isn't as relatable to me. I very much enjoyed the other characters in this novel (by 'enjoy', I really mean appreciate their complexities and love or hate them either way), but I felt like something was lacking in terms of Walter.
Still, this was an entertaining story and saved me from ten hours of boredom on this bus tour. One hour to go, no books left. #saveme
biblio23's review against another edition
3.0
Bright Lights, Dark Nights was a book that defied the popular teen writing genre. Yes, there was a love story, but this book also dealt with some touchy, real-world situations. I liked the book, but I guess it was not completly everything I expected.
daisey's review against another edition
3.0
This story took a while to draw me in, but I liked the simple reality of the teen romance. Walter and Naomi did not immediately fall in love, but slowly and confusingly developed and came to terms with their feelings for each other. They faced realistic problems in how to share their relationship with their families. These are characters that I can definitely see teen readers relating to. At the same time, the fact that theirs is an interracial relationship suddenly threw more challenges at them as Walter’s police officer father became caught up in allegations of racial profiling and the ensuing media and online frenzy of the case. Throughout all of the chaos, though, the focus of the story remained on the feelings and actions of Walter and Naomi.
* I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
* I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Grade: C
An e-galley was provided by Roaring Brook Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Bright Lights, Dark Nights (hereafter referred to as Dark Nights) is a book without a solid plot. Racial profiling and Walter's relationship with Naomi are perhaps the most important plotlines but neither really had enough meat to carry the story. Jason and Walter's friendship left me a bit baffled. It sounded like they were good friends, but then everything fell apart pretty quickly after Walter and Naomi became an item. The romantic relationship in this book felt unnatural to me - just the way the two teenagers phrased things and fell in love so quickly and all that jazz. There wasn't enough awkwardness (there was cute awkwardness but that isn't enough). I liked the idea of the interracial relationship, particularly since the scandal with Walter's dad made things complicated. That plotline, although it couldn't carry Dark Nights, was the best part of the book, in my opinion. As a reader, I wasn't sure what to believe. Should I believe Officer Wilcox, since Walter wanted to believe his dad? Or should I believe the kid who was accusing Officer Wilcox of racial profiling? Walter's dad didn't make great choices in the aftermath of the accusations, but they were all realistic. As for other characters, Walter's friends and some other kids at school play a small part in the book but they all felt shoehorned in at times. The presence of Walter's older sister and mother were good, though. Although it felt a bit out of place, the storyline with Walter's mother was good.
Foul language, making out, and physical fights fall under the "ugly."
The Verdict: Good, but not a book I'd reread or shove at people. With some more editing, it could've been even better.
An e-galley was provided by Roaring Brook Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Bright Lights, Dark Nights (hereafter referred to as Dark Nights) is a book without a solid plot. Racial profiling and Walter's relationship with Naomi are perhaps the most important plotlines but neither really had enough meat to carry the story. Jason and Walter's friendship left me a bit baffled. It sounded like they were good friends, but then everything fell apart pretty quickly after Walter and Naomi became an item. The romantic relationship in this book felt unnatural to me - just the way the two teenagers phrased things and fell in love so quickly and all that jazz. There wasn't enough awkwardness (there was cute awkwardness but that isn't enough). I liked the idea of the interracial relationship, particularly since the scandal with Walter's dad made things complicated. That plotline, although it couldn't carry Dark Nights, was the best part of the book, in my opinion. As a reader, I wasn't sure what to believe. Should I believe Officer Wilcox, since Walter wanted to believe his dad? Or should I believe the kid who was accusing Officer Wilcox of racial profiling? Walter's dad didn't make great choices in the aftermath of the accusations, but they were all realistic. As for other characters, Walter's friends and some other kids at school play a small part in the book but they all felt shoehorned in at times. The presence of Walter's older sister and mother were good, though. Although it felt a bit out of place, the storyline with Walter's mother was good.
Foul language, making out, and physical fights fall under the "ugly."
The Verdict: Good, but not a book I'd reread or shove at people. With some more editing, it could've been even better.