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courtneyps's review against another edition
There are a bunch of experiences I didn’t share with teenage Morgan Parker, but I read most of this book thinking *this is me too*. She made me hugely nostalgic for 2008 high school in suburbia, and being an awkward indie-kid with friends you’d die for, more Important Thoughts than you know what to do with, and soooo many feelings. She writes about all of it—plus navigating depression, religion, and being one of the only black kids in school—explosively and beautifully, with no easy plot but all the good good complications.
chelsbethbaute's review against another edition
I really didn’t understand this book. It was a novel, but it was a fictionalized version of the author’s life when she was in high school. The book was more of a collection of short stories. There was legitimately no plot (not being dramatic) and a lot of stories didn’t get tied up. The one thing I did like about this book was the focus on mental health. Mental health matters and is crucial to talk about.
sabrekuhn's review against another edition
5.0
I connected so deeply to Morgan. The prose nails the turbulence of adolescence and being the outsider. This book is amazing.
professor_kei's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing way to experience the raw emotion of a black girl trying to live in a place not designed for her, while trying to figure out who she is.
soupwitch86's review against another edition
5.0
This book managed to be light and deep at the same time. It made me realize things about myself that were painful and hard but necessary and it didn't do it in a way that broke me apart. I cried during some of the book but was able to keep going, it didn't bring me down. It tackles race, racism, depression, and teenage angst in a way I wish I had access to when I was a teenager. Beautiful book.
lpothan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
I probably wouldn't give this type of book a 5 star rating normally. I don't tend to connect with YA, but I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE SEEN BY A BOOK!
I haven't seen many books about POCs who don't fit in in their suburban Christian schools. This book feels so much like what junior high and high-school felt like for me.
This book has such a lovely, true perspective. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. Reading a book like this as a teen would have made ne feel less alone.
I haven't seen many books about POCs who don't fit in in their suburban Christian schools. This book feels so much like what junior high and high-school felt like for me.
This book has such a lovely, true perspective. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. Reading a book like this as a teen would have made ne feel less alone.
debi_g's review
4.0
PRO
pop culture references GALORE, and I caught every allusion!
CON
the setting is 12 years ago, which, for the YA crowd, might seem like historical fiction
PRO
questioning: authority, morality, religion, parental pasts, self-hood, sexuality, friendships, existence...
CON
the resulting narrative can feel scattered and a bit tough to track at times...just like the moods of a teen (so maybe it's intentional?)
PRO
Skewers the sameness of suburban strip malls, the hypocrisy of teens assumed to be righteous, and the closed minds of certain educators
CON
The POV benefits from hindsight.
PRO
I read it in two sittings.
CON
It's over. I very much enjoyed the company of the characters. Black Daria! Be still, my heart.
Lines that resonate:
"Isn't it weird what gets trapped in your head like a splinter?" (30).
"It's weird that something that other people celebrate, find comfort in, can make me so traumatized and fearful" (54).
"Sometimes, in our white oasis, it's hard to tell what year it is, exactly how far America has come or not come" (116).
"Congratulations. One day this will all just be an anecdote" (272, and the acknowledgements).
"It gets better, but then it doesn't, and then it does again. That's the thing about living...it's actually not so bad. Anyway, you'll see" (317)
pop culture references GALORE, and I caught every allusion!
CON
the setting is 12 years ago, which, for the YA crowd, might seem like historical fiction
PRO
questioning: authority, morality, religion, parental pasts, self-hood, sexuality, friendships, existence...
CON
the resulting narrative can feel scattered and a bit tough to track at times...just like the moods of a teen (so maybe it's intentional?)
PRO
Skewers the sameness of suburban strip malls, the hypocrisy of teens assumed to be righteous, and the closed minds of certain educators
CON
The POV benefits from hindsight.
PRO
I read it in two sittings.
CON
It's over. I very much enjoyed the company of the characters. Black Daria! Be still, my heart.
Lines that resonate:
"Isn't it weird what gets trapped in your head like a splinter?" (30).
"It's weird that something that other people celebrate, find comfort in, can make me so traumatized and fearful" (54).
"Sometimes, in our white oasis, it's hard to tell what year it is, exactly how far America has come or not come" (116).
"Congratulations. One day this will all just be an anecdote" (272, and the acknowledgements).
"It gets better, but then it doesn't, and then it does again. That's the thing about living...it's actually not so bad. Anyway, you'll see" (317)
allgloss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
caitlyn888's review against another edition
4.0
This is a semi-autobiographical story about Morgan Parker, a Black teen living in a white suburb of SoCal and attending a private Catholic school during the 2008 Obama presidential campaign. Author Morgan Parker does a phenomenal job of really articulating the thoughts of character Morgan as she wrestles with her depression and anxiety. She uses moments of racism in the story to show white readers why some of their preconceived notions about Black people and race are harmful and incorrect.
There were also some quintessential teen angst moments that just brought me right back to life as a teenager, going "Oh my god, YES." (Probably helps that I was also a teenager during this time period, so it was a highly relatable premise.)
I would recommend this as a read-a-like to Candice Carty-Williams' "Queenie" for the confessional-style story about mental health, being Black in a white space, and coming-of-age.
There were also some quintessential teen angst moments that just brought me right back to life as a teenager, going "Oh my god, YES." (Probably helps that I was also a teenager during this time period, so it was a highly relatable premise.)
I would recommend this as a read-a-like to Candice Carty-Williams' "Queenie" for the confessional-style story about mental health, being Black in a white space, and coming-of-age.
srmilesauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Morgan is a California girl but she’s far from typical. Fresh from a suicide attempt and on the shaky ground of recovery, she’s figuring out how to deal with parents who don’t understand her moods (though, she doesn’t really understand them herself), and how to continue to survive as one of only a handful of Black kids at a private Christian school. She doesn’t look like the other girls, dress like the other girls and she prefers Emo to Hip-Hop. Firmly outside of what passes for normal at her school she’s not really doing so well and without a roadmap she’s got to learn what “okay” means for her and how get there safely.
I enjoyed the book. Reading about the experiences of a Black girl dealing with depression and anxiety is absolutely needed and anyone whose wondering what anxiety feels like will appreciate the first person view from inside Morgan’s head. We see her thoughts spiral, and journey with her as she makes decisions based on insecurity or whim. We feel the world close in on her in social situations root for her when she makes gains. Morgan does get a happy ending, but like life it isn’t like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a sunset you watch from your favorite spot on a hill on really nice Summer day, perfect in its way.
I enjoyed the book. Reading about the experiences of a Black girl dealing with depression and anxiety is absolutely needed and anyone whose wondering what anxiety feels like will appreciate the first person view from inside Morgan’s head. We see her thoughts spiral, and journey with her as she makes decisions based on insecurity or whim. We feel the world close in on her in social situations root for her when she makes gains. Morgan does get a happy ending, but like life it isn’t like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a sunset you watch from your favorite spot on a hill on really nice Summer day, perfect in its way.