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jaz_gets_literary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
After an incident with her boyfriend, Angel’s mother ships her across country to live with her uncle. Angel’s upset with her mother and nervous about starting a new school. New York isn’t like California. She is welcomed into the new school with opened arms and starts to think that maybe things will turn out okay.
While this book does cover a few heavy topics, it is handled beautifully. These topics are off page but you can confer what has happened. These topics need to be discussed more in literature especially for this age group. Speaking of literature, I love that Angel begins to see and find herself in the Black books that her teachers present to her. We really need more teachers like that now. Im also glad that Angel stood up to the librarian that said something to her about reading “the classics.” <Insert Eye roll> The books she was reading are The Classics.
I wish that the book was a tad bit longer to delve into Angel’s realization of her relationship with her ex and its complexities. I feel like it was wrapped up too quickly at the end and I really wanted that to be throughly explained that in the end she understood. I think that would be helpful to young women around her age who are going through similar things. Overall I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.
While this book does cover a few heavy topics, it is handled beautifully. These topics are off page but you can confer what has happened. These topics need to be discussed more in literature especially for this age group. Speaking of literature, I love that Angel begins to see and find herself in the Black books that her teachers present to her. We really need more teachers like that now. Im also glad that Angel stood up to the librarian that said something to her about reading “the classics.” <Insert Eye roll> The books she was reading are The Classics.
I wish that the book was a tad bit longer to delve into Angel’s realization of her relationship with her ex and its complexities. I feel like it was wrapped up too quickly at the end and I really wanted that to be throughly explained that in the end she understood. I think that would be helpful to young women around her age who are going through similar things. Overall I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
tahsintries's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Addiction and Gun violence
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? N/A
3.0
This book really reminded me of Elizabeth Acevedo's "The Poet X" but with less poetry but a lot of prose. Unfortunately it wasn't as riveting. This ending also reminds me of "Breathing Underwater" by Alex Flinn, which is another book about teenage domestic abuse that I liked more than this one.
This is the story of a young high school girl who escapes an abusive relationship. After a terrible attack happens she's sent to live with her uncle in New York (the main character, Angel, is from California.) Angel joins a reading program at her school called H.E.R. where she reads classic Black literature from authors like; Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Jason Reynolds, and more. Angel finds comfort in these author's words. In this program Angel meets other young women who are going through various issues.
This story seems like it's a letter to young Black people who are survivors. Even though we don't explicitly see Angel during the attack, we know that it happened and I think this is a good way to deal with trauma in fiction stories. Implied abuse is enough, all the terrible details don't need to be shared. The main character and some of the other characters were involved in dangerous situations like gun violence or domestic violence but those scenes or situations weren't described in too much detail.
I think with all the popular music references in this book means it could be very relatable to young adults, the target audience. The main character at one point looks to music to help her through her emotional issues.
All in all it was an okay book, I'm giving it 3 stars out of 5.
This is the story of a young high school girl who escapes an abusive relationship. After a terrible attack happens she's sent to live with her uncle in New York (the main character, Angel, is from California.) Angel joins a reading program at her school called H.E.R. where she reads classic Black literature from authors like; Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Jason Reynolds, and more. Angel finds comfort in these author's words. In this program Angel meets other young women who are going through various issues.
This story seems like it's a letter to young Black people who are survivors. Even though we don't explicitly see Angel during the attack, we know that it happened and I think this is a good way to deal with trauma in fiction stories. Implied abuse is enough, all the terrible details don't need to be shared. The main character and some of the other characters were involved in dangerous situations like gun violence or domestic violence but those scenes or situations weren't described in too much detail.
I think with all the popular music references in this book means it could be very relatable to young adults, the target audience. The main character at one point looks to music to help her through her emotional issues.
All in all it was an okay book, I'm giving it 3 stars out of 5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Violence
antonique_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gun violence
bgoodbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Read for Bad Bitch Book Club's Not So Young Adult Sub-Group.
I've never read a book in verse before and I really enjoyed this one! I liked the short chapters that were written in different forms. I loved the strong Black female role models for Angel and her friendship with Eva.
This is a very quick read that I would definitely recommend to high school age people!
Favorite Quotes:
"I prefer to move in silence, like Lil Wayne's lyrics about lasagna."
I've never read a book in verse before and I really enjoyed this one! I liked the short chapters that were written in different forms. I loved the strong Black female role models for Angel and her friendship with Eva.
This is a very quick read that I would definitely recommend to high school age people!
Favorite Quotes:
"I prefer to move in silence, like Lil Wayne's lyrics about lasagna."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Gun violence and Child death
annastasia_will's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
This is one of those YA books that I would have enjoyed much more at a younger age (the intended age for YA), but I still thought it was endearing and hopeful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Gun violence
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