Reviews with content warning for Racism - Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

Yet another stunning work of art from Kacen Callender <3 Gosh, I actually cannot get over how talented and incredible they are. Ever since I closed this book, I can't stop thinking about it.

I know it was published in 2022, which was *only* two years ago, but its messages around social media, perceptions, accountability versus shaming, and self-introspection were so fucking powerful, timely, and honestly could act as a primer for anyone joining public online spaces especially. I think this work will be relevant for years to come, as social media evolves and the visceral awareness of which we all have in recognizing we are fallible, we will mess up, and it will likely be recorded. It's uncomfortable, but it's life, and we need to try our best to move forward in ways that do not perpetuate further harm.

UGH I ADORE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I feel like I'm totally botching this review (I'm sorry, I'm not a writer, I'm just a peasant who loves to read) and nothing can do the book justice. It was just so staggeringly authentic and poignant about the time we are living in (I'm grateful for it, don't misinterpret that!)! I really urge everyone to read this, as KC brings up so many important conversations that we should ALL be having (if not already<3).

Lark, our Black main character, is a sweet little naive idealist angelbaby who wants everyone to reach for love first, and wholeheartedly believes everyone comes from love, and that hate is taught. They have amassed thousands of followers (I think about 20k at the beginning of the book) online, and they know that once they reach 50k followers, they will be more enticing for agents to respond to and to actually take their debut manuscript seriously. Lark desperately wants to be a published writer, and their first novel centers around YA main character Birdie, who not only lives on the pages of their manuscript, but is also present with them (sort of as an imaginary firend, but moreso Lark's coping mechanism of talking through their feelings in their head) and who we see on-page in this novel, especially during awkward moments (and there are plenty in this book lol!).

Lark is also still quietly reeling from the fallout of a formative friendship in the past year with Kasim, who acts as a foil of Lark. Kasim is perpetually unimpressed, does not have faith in systems, and is generally pessimistic. He thinks Lark's commitment to love and light is corny, and I don't blame him. He is in a relationship with Sable, who is also neurodivergent and begins to play a bigger role in Lark's journey. Sable doesn't necessarily extend an olive branch out to Lark, but she gives them the time of day, which is more than Kasim's other friends Patch and Micah, can say. They continue to call out Lark online and in person, antagonizing them every chance they get, without ever really trying to open a dialogue, and we see how this exhausts and confuses Lark even further.

The book follows a narrative of someone accidentally posting on Lark's account about "loving someone but being too afraid to tell them," and everyone thinks Lark is in an unrequited love situation. So, because they are scared of optics and think it will help their brand, they lie and say they did post that, and end up confessing their love for Eli, someone they *had* been crushing on, but weren't particularly *in love with* yet. The longer and longer the lie goes, the more and more Lark fumbles with thoughts that they post (like some really cringe-worthy stuff, but that absolutely does snowball into some folks entirely missing the plot ughhh), and the more that Lark must confront if the person they are, is 1) possible in the current world and 2) if they want to evolve and expand their perspective/mindset.

I really enjoyed this book because it speaks to me as a public bookstagrammer; look, I'm a nobody, please nobody roast me hahaha, I just really do get the aspects of navigating an online social media account with many eyes watching you and honestly, sometimes seemingly hoping you will fuck up? Anyway, I love the idea of exploring what it means to truly be an abolitionist; what it means to let go of punitive measures; what it means to be "redeemable" or worthy of a second chance; what it means to be in community with folks & what we owe each other; and what it means to implement these ideals into our daily lives, both on and offline.

There is so much that this book covers with immense care, hope, and passion:

polyamorous relationships and explorations
being autistic, having ADHD, and (undiagnosed) neurodivergence
navigating if YOU are indeed the toxic villain that others say you are while genuinely trying to self-examine and explore why you keep fumbling, and how you can do better
miscommunication in friendships, and how this can snowball into something so much bigger
the writing / querying journey of trying to get your manuscript into someone's hands; simply hoping someone can give you a chance, amidst all of the rejection of being told "not Black enough," "not realistic," "too self-aware or deep FOR A YA CHARACTER," etc. it's brutal out here!
social media: growing a following, the downfall of influencers/being "cancelled," shaming versus holding accountable, optics, how to move forward after making a mistake
absent parents (due to incarceration and systemic racism)
naming feelings, being transparent, opening dialogues, and fostering braver spaces

Quotations that stood out to me (I have 80 highlights, so dwindling this down to 8 was a *journey* and extremely painful hahaha):

I nod, staring at the polished stone. “I think that’s what scares me the most. Being honest, just to be rejected. What’s the point of that?” I ask her. “I don’t want to show anyone my true self, just for other people to say I’m not good enough.”
Sable considers me, her gaze soft. “But being vulnerable is the only way you can really connect to anyone. How’re you supposed to connect with someone as a false version of yourself?”
There’s something about Sable—her energy, maybe—that makes me feel safe, makes me feel like I can practice showing her the real Lark.

“I’m sorry for judging you,” I finally say.
“It’s okay.” They walk back over and lean against their desk, staring hard at their phone.
I kind of wish they would apologize, too, because I don’t think I was the only one who made a mistake— Birdie leans against the doorframe. “Is expressing yourself in a non-harmful way ever a mistake?” —and my feelings are hurt also, but I don’t know how to ask for an apology, and I don’t want them to be mad at me, not anymore, not ever again.

It’s been over a year of this. This growing anger and resentment and hurt. And for what? Why? Because we didn’t know how to communicate yet, to ask each other questions and get clear answers? Jesus. How much might’ve been different if we’d just figured out how to talk about our feelings?

So, here’s one thing about being neurodivergent: When I find an obsession, I really find an obsession, and for some people those obsessions might be something fun and upbeat and cool, like penguins or ice cream, but no, for me, right now, it’s trauma. Maybe that’s not something I should say out loud. “I’m obsessed with trauma.” Ha. Ever since the last class with Mr. S, where he talked about characters and trauma, I’ve started to wonder if I’m a character in a story, and if I need to figure out what my trauma is to start to grow, to change, to learn how to really and truly love myself. I scroll online as I read different web-sites. Trauma is legit stored in our bodies. It’s in our cells, which means that we have our ancestor’s traumas, too, and, holy shit, that’s a lot of fucking trauma—too much for me to even understand. When you heal your own trauma, you’re healing your ancestors’ traumas, too. That’s beautiful. Beautiful enough to make me cry.

White people write novels of dystopian futures and fantasies where they have to escape these systems of oppression, evil monarchs and corrupt governments. They don’t realize that Black people are the actual main characters. We’re the humans with magic in our blood, dismantling the systems from the inside out. We’re the godly beings, taught to be hated and feared. We’re the rebels, fighting for our lives in the streets. Surviving, even when so many want us dead. Thriving, even with what they have done to the people who came before us. It’s a miracle that I’m here. I’m a miracle. Black people are miraculous. That alone should be a reason for me to love myself. Why isn’t it enough?

Instead of wanting to discuss what I said, even if they disagreed with me, they jumped at the chance to attack me in a race for as many likes and retweets as possible, like it’s a competition or a game. What’s scariest of all? I really could be the harmful narcissist in this, trying to convince myself that I’m not. This is such a mindfuck. I’m confused and hurt and frustrated, and I don’t even know if I’m allowed to have those feelings.

Guilt is about action. Guilt lets us focus on what we need to do to make up for our mistake and how we can limit the harm we caused, while knowing with all the confidence in the world that we’re still worthy of love. Each and every one of us.

“No. I like awkward. I like uncomfortable. That’s where the hard conversations happen. That’s where we’re forced to be honest with ourselves and each other. That’s when we start to learn and grow together.”

Content Warnings

mavemarie's review against another edition

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challenging funny informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

A bright and uniquely frustrating exploration of intersectionality in a contemporary young adult setting.

The initial characterizations left me wondering if I was hopelessly out of touch, or if the author was, with today's teens. Every line felt just close enough to believable that it teetered on stereotypical, clearly through the lens of social media. But with a nd sibling who was caught in the throes of pandemic academic life, I think those characterizations might be more accurate than I might have thought to begin with, beyond also being a part of a community I am not steeped in.

The meta of a story about a writer learning about writing and exploring that journey for themselves (and why a story shouldn't do that) was enough to tickle me silly, but compounding that with the narrative voice of a truely neurodivergent mind was a beautiful ride that leaves me craving more. The ride of Lark's trailing mind felt so close to home that being done with this book feels like loosing it's companionship. Where else will I get Hamilton lyrics spliced with intense emotional dialogs?

The exploration of diversity within a single racial community was charming and eye opening on a number of levels, and the social issues addressed and explored by so many different views leaves a lot to dwell on, particularly as a white reader. Sometimes it was a challenging read listening to an echo chamber that mirrors the hatred these characters, (and black society as a whole) were raised in, but undoubtedly worth it. Algorithms keep us in our own corners, and being exposed to the harsher sides of another's is a quick one-two (three, four, five-six) to the gut, which is a reoccurring experience throughout this narrative. But listening and putting defensiveness to the side is necessary for growth, love, and change.

The challenges these characters face are ones we can all learn from regardless of class or creed. From race, age, sexuality, or any other identity we hold, this story is important for you.

Would have rated higher for personal taste in pace and wants for the exploration of character growth, as well as lasting taste in my mouth. Much of this, I think, is attributed to it being for teens. Would have rated it lower if not for how enjoyable a read it was.

For a book that explores accountability, much of it was extreamly surface level, and left me wanting for the main love interest to have found more meaningful progress, specifically in his hand in causing 90% of the harm in this book. He literally begged Lark to keep his secret, and it never gets adressed later, after eveything snowballs. Lots of "sorry"s go around, but Lark is so idyllic that real accountability is rarely given to them. (This can be said for many of the characters.) The snowball of negativity surrounding bullying through social media never really gets addressed as well, except in broad terms that, while realistic given the plot, leave me feeling less than hopeful for it's impact on young readers, and if I didn't enjoy the book as much as I did, I would have rated it lower for it.

Content Warnings

writingcaia's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really like the thematic of Kacen’s books I’ve read so far. Family, romance, race, and most of all self-acceptance, self-love, finding one self.
On this one we have a very eager to please, 17-year-old, Black, neurodivergent, non-binary Lark, who seems to be very confused about who they are and what is really important, which seems to have happened along with their distancing from their best friend, the Black and trans Kasim.
When their Twitter blows up with a recent unrequited love declaration tweet that they realise Kasim wrote on their account by accident instead of coming clean, afraid of the blow back, they perpetuate the lie. Inevitably their lies and the confrontation with their self comes crashing, but not before starting dating with Eli, their crush, and making new friends they might lose if the lie is discovered.
It’s a very interior book, with a lot of inner dialogue, not surprising with a character in the spectrum who wants to be a writer, but there’re external debates too that expand on their thoughts, about truth, race, love, forgiveness, acceptance and accountability.
It has YA tone more than Felix Ever After, just so you know, but it wasn’t juvenile or lame, I actually loved the little quips Kacen added about being a YA vs an adult, and the criticism of one and a the other as readers and people.
Having said that, it did become a bit repetitive towards the middle and I was getting a bit bored with Lark and the constant similar thoughts and actions, but I guess it was the objective to showcase their personality, issues and difficulties, as it then shifts some and the pacing accelerates according to the events that start to occur in and outside Lark’s mind. Still, it did put me off for a bit, luckily I persevered, because the story is worth it.
Last, although we don’t have Kasim’s POV he is very much a present character, and his issues of abandonment, race and depression, plus his own reckoning were some of my favourite parts. In truth, the cast is excellent, and you get a real feel for all of them and their own struggles.
A beautiful story that I’d definitely recommend to teens, and adults who are not afraid to learn and reckon their own selves— bias, prejudices, superiority with seniority will not be tolerated, so buckle up.

Content Warnings

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

I wanted to read this book because I thought Felix Ever After was adorable and wanted to read more of Kacen’s work and this was on Kindle, so I was intrigued. This book was sweet and frustrating at the same time.

This book is based on Lark Winters. They want to be a writer and for now that means posting anything and everything on their social media accounts – just to build their platform. When their former best friend accidentally posts a thread on Lark’s twitter declaring his love for a secret, unrequited crush, Lark’s tweets are suddenly the talk of the school. To protect Kasim, Lark decides to take the fall, pretending they accidentally posted the thread in reference to another classmate. It seems like a great idea: Lark finally gets the courage to ask out their crush, Kasim keeps his privacy and Lark’s social media stats explode. But living a lie takes a toll – as does the judgement of thousands of Internet strangers. Lark tries their best to be perfect at all costs, but nothing seems good enough for the anonymous hordes or for Kasim, who is growing closer to Lark, just like it used to be between them. In the end, Lark must embrace their right to their messy emotions and learn how to be in love.

Kacen has a great way of making you fall in love with these characters and makes you want to protect them. The whole way through this book I just wanted to hug Lark and Kasim and also tell Lark to think before they speak. I love how much of writer they wanted to be and that they were pushing so hard for it, but they also didn’t realize the effect their twitter had on people. I love that everyone in this book was part of the LGBT community and that some of the people were still horrible people (Micah and Patch I'm looking at you). I think everyone should read this book – children, parents, teachers, students. Just to show how easy it can be to accept people who are non-binary and people who are queer and still struggling with their identity, plus with this book being based around the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests – it shows what these kids were dealing with.

I don’t have any weaknesses with the storyline or anything like that. But I would have loved for this to be multiple POV with Kasim’s POV and Sable’s POV. Just to see how they were feeling during the hard-hitting scenes and when Kasim went to New York.

I would love another book in this series of Lark thriving as an author and how Kasim, Sable and Lark get on in their relationship.

Content Warnings

dominiq_ec's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

As a non-binary, Black, neurodivergent adult, I think that I had high hopes for this book because the main cast of characters shared a lot of identities with me. Despite this, I didn't feel like I could identify with this book much, and I'm glad I was able to finish it in two days. If it took me any longer, I was sure that I would have DNF'd it.

Unfortunately Lark's take on leftist ideology was very frustrating, and it didn't really develop alongside their personality development. Yes, they learned to love themselves and value themselves,. but they never really apologized about their cop tweet (which was entirely separate from

how they lied about the unrequited love Twitter thread

, and at the end of the book, when they finally delete their Twitter account, still claims that they're being torn apart. That's not to say that some of those tweeters weren't being unreasonably mean, but some of them were telling Lark that they were being very hurtful, and they still had to take accountability for it, which they never did.

Kasim ... was just kind of an ass, which I was disappointed to read. Aside from him

liking / loving Lark

, he's just a kid with a complicated family situation, a complicated friend situation, and sat by while his friends bullied Lark for waaaay too long, in my opinion.

I felt that Sable and Jamal were a bit ignored. Perhaps I'm biased because they are my favorite characters, along with Birdie, but Jamal isn't really addressed outside of Lark causing and then resolving conflict. Sable

becomes a love interest

in the last 60ish pages of the book, and I think that considering Lark's frustrating aspects/conflicts takes up almost half of the book, I don't think that Sable and Lark's relationship had proper development when it should have.

The Big Red Rally seemed unnecessary. Sure, its an opportunity for Lark to understand how they can put their politics into action, but it just kinda ... hovers. It disrupts the queer Black utopia the setting has. And now that I've mentioned it ...

The entire community center being tolerant of queer / polyam folks never read as realistic to me. Now, I don't live in West Philadelphia (I just realized that's where Fresh Prince takes place), but I can assume that it's probably like the rest of the country in that there's diversity in ideology. Queer insular friend groups makes sense. Queer Black insular friend groups makes sense! A queer...community center...that I assume is open to the public? Less believable. Of course, the community center could have a no-tolerance policy, but considering the amount of public and one-on-one bullying that Lark experienced, the students obviously don't care too much about it.

I'm not even marginally obsessed with social media, nor do I have issues with how others perceive me. I'm very Kasim in that way, so the majority of Lark's issues I didn't relate to. The entire time, I kept thinking "delete your Twitter account," or "Why the hell do you care?" I definitely understand why Lark thought and acted the way that they did, and how their identities fed into their thoughts and actions, but it just...didn't resonate. Like Jamal, I like streamlining my time doing things I like to do, and if social media was that much of a trouble from me, I'd delete it and move on.

Now, to what I loved.

The writing style was magnificent! I feel a certain type of way about modern slang being forced into young adult books, but it felt really natural in this novel! I also think that the long sentences and random topic changes accurately reflect how my own anxiety and hyperverbal autism works. It was wonderful to feel seen in that way.

Jamal and Sable. My favorite characters, hands down. Enough said.

Despite becoming increasingly disinterested in Lark's perspective (I'd quite prefer it had been in Kasim's perspective), I do think that their process in changing and adjusting their behaviors into being less harmful and more assertive was wonderful to read. I think that this was what made me want to finish the book, and I'm so glad it ended this way (it could've been quicker though, but I'm generally impatient).

The cover art??? It's why I picked it up at my local library, despite the fact that the summary was ... confusing. Wow, love. Will be buying some of the artist's pieces when I can.

Content Warnings

robyn_fenix's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Content Warnings

evelynyle_88's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring 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

_nem_'s review against another edition

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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

4.5

Rep: Non-binary (uses they/them pronouns), black & neurodivergent MC, several other trans characters, a few neurodivergent characters, several other POC characters

I related a lot to Lark in this book. The way their thoughts spiral, their non-binary identity and trying to balance social expectations with what you want. I really ended up feeling for them going through all of the different things in the book.

Content Warnings

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Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Lark & ​​Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender

emikateb's review against another edition

violetends's review against another edition

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

mavemarie's review against another edition

writingcaia's review against another edition

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

dominiq_ec's review

robyn_fenix's review against another edition

evelynyle_88's review against another edition

_nem_'s review against another edition

Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender