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4.58 AVERAGE
4.58 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
This was an incredibly moving and important book. Published in 2017, the story of Starr, a sixteen-year old who witnesses the death of her friend Khalil at the hands of police is even more relevant today. Prior to Khalil’s murder, Starr struggles with straddling the lines of her identity in her mostly white school vs her neighborhood. When Khalil’s story becomes a national headline, Starr has to step into the headlines to set the story straight, causing the people around her to react in a myriad of ways she never could’ve anticipated.
Written at a young adult level, this is accessible for teens and adults alike and is honestly something all Americans should read. While it’s a heavy topic by nature of the plot, Angie Thomas finds as much light and levity as she can. I was expecting it to be a deeply upsetting story from beginning to end and while the plot is that, the prose and the Starr’s tight-knit, loving family give the novel a sense of hope in tragedy. Highly recommend.
Written at a young adult level, this is accessible for teens and adults alike and is honestly something all Americans should read. While it’s a heavy topic by nature of the plot, Angie Thomas finds as much light and levity as she can. I was expecting it to be a deeply upsetting story from beginning to end and while the plot is that, the prose and the Starr’s tight-knit, loving family give the novel a sense of hope in tragedy. Highly recommend.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I expected the ending, but only because this book was already so realistic. That list, though.
I have ugly cried so much while reading this book... And then that ending and that list. I cried myself dry. Why is this not required reading for every student in fucking America?!
It's been a minute since a book make me feel quite so many emotional extremes AND made me ugly cry several times. And if nothing else, this book should be read for those reasons. But most importantly, it's a powerful book and so well written.
I have ugly cried so much while reading this book... And then that ending and that list. I cried myself dry. Why is this not required reading for every student in fucking America?!
It's been a minute since a book make me feel quite so many emotional extremes AND made me ugly cry several times. And if nothing else, this book should be read for those reasons. But most importantly, it's a powerful book and so well written.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not my usual kind of book, or genre, but I read it because it has been made out to be a brilliant novel, many a time.
I can see why people praise it so highly; it was incredibly well written and didn't shy away from any of the realities of black lives or the pain, and grief, of losing someone so violently and seeing no justice.
I liked that shitty people were not made to have a redeeming arc - just like in real life, we don't all get our happy ending with the bad guys seeing their wrongs.
I can see why people praise it so highly; it was incredibly well written and didn't shy away from any of the realities of black lives or the pain, and grief, of losing someone so violently and seeing no justice.
I liked that shitty people were not made to have a redeeming arc - just like in real life, we don't all get our happy ending with the bad guys seeing their wrongs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Blood
Re-Read Sept 2020 - This was even better the second time around. It was even more relevant because of the BLM movement, but it shows that this movement is not something that is new. It's been going on for so long. It was so eye opening and I feel like literally everyone in America needs to read it. Definitely shouldn't be a banned book!