Reviews

This book is so important!! Holy shoot. This book was so good. Totally believable and such an important book to read, especially with all the craziness going on in America right now. Jeez. And the alternating narrators and voice actors were perfect. Well done, friends. Well done.

adamderb's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

shemene's review against another edition

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4.0

Zo’n sterk verhaal/thema waar iedereen verplicht over zou moeten lezen.

+ hedendaags, leest makkelijk weg, leuk dat er 2 hoofdpersonen zijn.
- toen ik eenmaal het boek op gang vond komen, was ik al over de helft. Ik miste iets in het verhaal waardoor het 4 sterren is geworden.

bookshelfbybub's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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

5.0

This book masterfully situates two boys at the center of a major political discussion. It blends the personal and the political, highlighting how they can never be separated. Much like Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, it also highlights how members of the same cultural community can react to the same events with different perspectives. Some of the strongest moments in this book occur when characters are put into direct, uncomfortable confrontation with each other. Their experiences and emotions at all times feel human.

Content Warnings

katie1031's review against another edition

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5.0

If you haven't read this book you're missing out. I have read so many books lately that just weren't doing it for me then this book came along and changed everything. The writing is beautiful, the characters are complex and their relationships to each other are beautifully written. The words just jump off the page in this book. I read it in one sitting because from the second I picked it up I couldn't put it down. The topics on race and police brutality are beautifully navigated. Watching Quinn's struggle to come to terms with what he has seem and his internal struggle with wondering if he is part of the problem brought to light the other side of things like this and why it's so important to do something instead of staying silent and standing by while things like this happen. As a black women myself and someone who has been witness to things of this nature in the past it resonated with me deeply. Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely have written a book that is just as gripping as it is important. I know that this book will be in my favorites of the year for sure and I'm so glad I picked it up.

vegprincess's review against another edition

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5.0

Excellent book! This was the book my son chose as his "summer read" for school, so I read it in order to discuss it with him. I loved it. It's about police brutality against people of color, racial tensions, loyalty, and internal conflicts. It's a well-written , relevant book that I feel everyone should read.

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