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siri1's review against another edition
challenging
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? No
5.0
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
The writing style took some time to jive with and at times was not for me, but the characters and the story!
danishy13's review against another edition
5.0
Such an emotional book for me. Themes of racism, police brutality, and privilege. A recommend read for those wanting to dive deeper into understanding emotions behind an activist and how it can feel to be a young poc.
saintburns's review against another edition
5.0
This book gives an extremely realistic firsthand view of police brutality but also manages to be a primer on community organizing hidden in the depths of a queer love story. I feel like this book is going to be talked about for a long time. I love it thanks.
cerealisafunbath's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
raiofsun's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is heavy. I cried so much reading this because of the reality of it. It isn't my typical genre but I reccomend it for all to read.
schmidtat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
papertraildiary's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, this book. This book is intense. It’s Black Lives Matter but almost written like a dystopian war at times. It’s like The Hate U Give x10. It’s a really tough but worthwhile read.
Moss is struggling with a lot. He saw his father shot by a cop for no reason when he was a kid, and he’s been dealing with extreme anxiety ever since. He’s recognized in public during protests. There’s also Javier, a cute boy Moss meets on the subway. Moss just wants to live a normal teen life, but it gets even more difficult when his school’s employed cop assaults a student and then metal detectors are installed. A huge group of Moss’s friends and family get together wanting to do something but not sure what. I thought it was interesting to show that part, the long talks and strategizing, the reaching out to the community, the planning and outreach, the backlash, the stress. Everything in Moss’s life escalates quickly and he has to figure out what he wants to do about it.
I struggled a bit with the style of writing at first – I found myself getting confused a lot either between how many characters there were but not enough defining characteristics to set them apart. But once I got over that I sprinted through the book, needing to know what would happen next. It’s disturbing and powerful, and it will stay with me.
Moss is struggling with a lot. He saw his father shot by a cop for no reason when he was a kid, and he’s been dealing with extreme anxiety ever since. He’s recognized in public during protests. There’s also Javier, a cute boy Moss meets on the subway. Moss just wants to live a normal teen life, but it gets even more difficult when his school’s employed cop assaults a student and then metal detectors are installed. A huge group of Moss’s friends and family get together wanting to do something but not sure what. I thought it was interesting to show that part, the long talks and strategizing, the reaching out to the community, the planning and outreach, the backlash, the stress. Everything in Moss’s life escalates quickly and he has to figure out what he wants to do about it.
I struggled a bit with the style of writing at first – I found myself getting confused a lot either between how many characters there were but not enough defining characteristics to set them apart. But once I got over that I sprinted through the book, needing to know what would happen next. It’s disturbing and powerful, and it will stay with me.
bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Moss, a Black teen, lives in Oakland, CA, and goes to West Oakland HS. His friend Esperanza (Latina? adopted by an affluent white couple) expertly helps him deal with his anxiety and panic attacks. One day on the way home on BART (the metro system), they meet a cute guy their age who turns out to be gay like Moss. Javier and Moss swap numbers, starting off a sweet romance. As Moss starts the school year (both Javier and Esperanza go to different schools than Moss), changes come in the form of random locker checks by the "school resource officer" (AKA police officer). Moss's trans friend is the first victim, and when the SRO finds a baggie of pills (her anti-seizure medicine, it turns out), he assaults her, enraged that she would "deal drugs" at "his" school. Moss, who likes to stay as far away from police as possible after one shot his dad as he exited a grocery store, stands up for his friend. School admin uses this "altercation" as an excuse to install metal detectors at the entrance. Moss and his friends, assisted by Moss's mom (who has mad organizer skills), stage a peaceful protest that ends up in unthinkable violence. Moss's peaceful protest of that protest's violence also results in unthinkable violence.
Great illustration of the gross misuse of power on the part of SROs and metropolitan police. Lots of LGBTQ+ rep, some disabled rep (anxiety, seizures, long-term difficulty walking due to leg injury). Exploration of white fragility and white saviorism, among other problematic elements of outsiders and proximate people who think they are being allies. Discussion of male body image and fight to remain positive about a body that is not totally ripped.
Best for 7th and up though OK for 5th/6th who are particularly interested and/or knowledgeable about criminal justice reform.
My only real complaint is that the book is really long. At 456 pages of very small print, it could be tough for some kids to read.
Great illustration of the gross misuse of power on the part of SROs and metropolitan police. Lots of LGBTQ+ rep, some disabled rep (anxiety, seizures, long-term difficulty walking due to leg injury). Exploration of white fragility and white saviorism, among other problematic elements of outsiders and proximate people who think they are being allies. Discussion of male body image and fight to remain positive about a body that is not totally ripped.
Best for 7th and up though OK for 5th/6th who are particularly interested and/or knowledgeable about criminal justice reform.
My only real complaint is that the book is really long. At 456 pages of very small print, it could be tough for some kids to read.
angelina3803's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
The realness of this novel is devastating.