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vedpears's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
Such a great book! It was very easy to immerse myself into the story - the characters were believable and all had strong, distinct voices of their own. This book included issues facing youth today - class struggles, racial discrimination, violence from authority, drugs infiltrating neighborhoods and lives therein, friendships and romantic relationships, familial ties, people's expectations and judgements... Excellent writing that I became fully invested in.
I noticed a lot of people have a problem with how Bri speaks to her mother and thinks about her ("she isn't polite enough! That's her mOtHeR!")
Spoilers:
These people must be so fortunate to have never had a parent abandon them. Jay decided to take up the hobby of consuming Crack when her husband/her children's father was murdered. Think about it from a young child's point of view. A young child who had to then be raised by a grandparent that clearly resented that same mother would likely develop a sense of resentment toward her, themself. Bri clearly states she doesn't feel like Jay deserves or should be called mom because of this. Of course there is a lack of respect and reverence from Bri - Jayda broke that sense of security and trust! It's great she turned her life around and came back but that doesn't mean Bri can just magically forget and move on. That was ✨️ trauma ✨️ and that requires a lot of work to heal. Bri's decision making and way of treating others made sense to me. I've met people with similar upbringings who conducted themselves as Bri does in the book.
I noticed a lot of people have a problem with how Bri speaks to her mother and thinks about her ("she isn't polite enough! That's her mOtHeR!")
Spoilers:
These people must be so fortunate to have never had a parent abandon them. Jay decided to take up the hobby of consuming Crack when her husband/her children's father was murdered. Think about it from a young child's point of view. A young child who had to then be raised by a grandparent that clearly resented that same mother would likely develop a sense of resentment toward her, themself. Bri clearly states she doesn't feel like Jay deserves or should be called mom because of this. Of course there is a lack of respect and reverence from Bri - Jayda broke that sense of security and trust! It's great she turned her life around and came back but that doesn't mean Bri can just magically forget and move on. That was ✨️ trauma ✨️ and that requires a lot of work to heal. Bri's decision making and way of treating others made sense to me. I've met people with similar upbringings who conducted themselves as Bri does in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, and Classism
cinceredavis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was extremely well written and very easy and interesting. It's genuine and personal. Bri feels like a natural person and everything she goes through feels very real. I love the casual talk about sexuality and how they don't make it the character's whole personality trait. There's more to them than being attracted to the same sex. This book does have some dark themes such as death, drugs, sexism, and a few other things. I overall loved the book and would've read it in one sitting if it was during the summer and I didn't have school.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Bullying
pastellymoon's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Another work of art from Angie Thomas.
Incredible.
Incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction and Violence
Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent
cassmills's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, and Police brutality
masha_and_the_cat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Death of parent
yabooks4me's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Adored this book! While this does focus a lot on black trauma and institutional racism, it's more about the strong ties of a community and family. I loved the raps!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, and Police brutality
cvaught's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment
ekmook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wanted to read this book as I was enjoyed Angie Thomas’s novels. Both are on my favourites list and both are 10/10 so when I heard that Angie Thomas had written another novel, I instantly went out and brought it and all I can say is WOW!
This book follows sixteen-year-old Bri who, one day, wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of the Gardens. She is the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he could make it big. Bri feels the pressure of filling the shoes of his legacy. But now that her mum has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are becoming a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. As the bills start building up and homelessness threatening the family, Bri no longer wants to make it – she needs to make it and quickly. Will Bri make it to the top? Will she be able to get out of the Gardens? It is set in the United States of America in a community called Garden Heights and it is a young adult realistic fictional book all about race and social justice.
I love this book. It's the same set up as Angie Thomas’s other novels – hard hitting, cutting edge and discusses topic that aren’t easy but needs to be discussed! I liked the fact that it’s set in the same community as the other novels and mentioned the incidents to do with Starr. I liked Bri’s character development and her relationship with her brother and her best mates. I don’t think there is anything wrong with this novel, I just prefer the Carter family to Bri’s family. But I enjoyed the books overall and Angie Thomas is a God-given gift.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent
mllesophie's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.25
Ok, a book about somebody who wants to be a rapper is not for me. But since it was written by Angie Thomas I wanted to read it anyway. Angie Thomas is a really good author and this story made me think about how it is to be black in my neighborhood. I really think that the reality is not the same then the one in this book, but I think this reflection is something that should be happening more often then it is right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Hate crime, Homophobia, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders