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cranedphoenix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Read this because I had read Tiffany D Jackson's "Grown"
And this book is absolutely heart wrenching like finishing I feel like throwing up more than I did while reading it
I cannot believe that Denver got murdered though like I wasn't expecting that ending it's absolutely heart wrenching especially when you just want Denver and Dali to be together and safe
Do love when they include the social media posts even though Denver never got to see some or most of them
Not to much to say besides it's a must read imo but one where you have to take the trigger warnings very seriously
And this book is absolutely heart wrenching like finishing I feel like throwing up more than I did while reading it
Do love when they include the social media posts
Not to much to say besides it's a must read imo but one where you have to take the trigger warnings very seriously
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Gun violence, and Vomit
leahlovesloslibros's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
17-year-old Denver's life is all about music, so when she finds herself receiving attention from one of the biggest R&B stars of her time, Sean "Mercury (Merc)" Ellis, she can't help but think this could be her big break. As she and her friends Dali and Shak get pulled further into Merc's world of parties and other perks, Denver starts to realize that she doesn't have as much of a voice as she originally thought. Now she has to decide, is getting to live her dream life worth giving up her freedom?
Based on true events in the music industry, this chilling story of a teenage girl caught up in her newfound stardom makes the reader reconsider the cost of fame and fortune. Last year I read and loved Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, and this book not only gave me similar vibes, but actually had a storyline that seemed to be almost the same as Grown (not every part, of course, but enough that it's hard to miss if you've read Jackson's Grown). While I really liked Grown, I didn't necessarily want to read another book that was basically the same. That's not to say that this isn't a good story, though; it's just not one I absolutely loved.
If you are going to read this book, definitely be aware of the trigger/content warnings listed below.
Based on true events in the music industry, this chilling story of a teenage girl caught up in her newfound stardom makes the reader reconsider the cost of fame and fortune. Last year I read and loved Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson, and this book not only gave me similar vibes, but actually had a storyline that seemed to be almost the same as Grown (not every part, of course, but enough that it's hard to miss if you've read Jackson's Grown). While I really liked Grown, I didn't necessarily want to read another book that was basically the same. That's not to say that this isn't a good story, though; it's just not one I absolutely loved.
If you are going to read this book, definitely be aware of the trigger/content warnings listed below.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
Moderate: Racism, Drug abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Rape
Minor: Vomit, Gun violence, and Death
Additional TW/CW: divorcemitzybitzyspider's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
readingwordsmith's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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
5.0
Thank you to Scholastic Press for the free ARC copy of Muted. Before diving into my review, please note that it is based on my opinion of the book. As you consider my thoughts, remember that you are allowed to have different feelings about this book. I was sent a free copy by the publisher Scholastic Press as an early review copy, however, that does not affect or influence my review of the book. If you haven't read it yet, feel free to pick up a copy and form your own opinion on it.
Synopsis:
Muted by Tami Charles is a YA novel following Denver and her two close friends, Shak and Dali who are trying to fulfill their dreams of becoming famous singers. Inspired by the R. Kelley events, this book explores the dark, hidden side of the music industry. It shows how a young girl’s dreams are used and exploited against her.
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, Emotional Abuse, Eating Disorder, Body Shaming, Rape, Grief, Murder, Toxic Relationship
Note: This book contains mature and alarming content, please proceed with caution.
Review:
Muted by Tami Charles takes place over the span of a short two-hour plane ride. The entire story is told in flashbacks after all the events have occurred. I loved that we get some good character development on Denver, Shak, and Dali before things start to happen. It really helped me understand their motivations and what really drove them to seek success in the music industry.
I love that the side characters were well fleshed out and developed. I really felt like I could empathize and understand where Denver’s, Shak’s, and Dali’s families were all coming from. There are subtle clues throughout the entire story that I picked up on before any of the main cast that revealed the true nature of Sean “Merc” Ellis. I was surprised it took Denver SO LONG to see what was actually happening. She just closed her eyes to reality because of her DESPERATE desire to become famous which is understandable but frustrating.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was the fact that it was written in verse. It didn’t feel like flowery poetry which was what I feared going into the book. Instead, it was a brilliant way of telling the story. I also loved that the songs that were written in the story, were included and it really helped immerse me into Denver’s world. The format that the story was written in was really consumable and easy to read which also helped to immerse me into the story and the events that were occurring.
The entire plot was leading up to a climax and an UNFORGETTABLE ending. There were a few moments of shock leading up to the main reveal in the story, but they did NOT prepare me. I bawled my eyes out for a good hour after reading the last 30 pages of the story and discovering where the airplane’s final destination was. This book really illustrated the problems with relationships that feature a MAJOR imbalance in power. It also showed the corrupt nature of the music industry in a way I’ve not seen anywhere else. I will continue to reflect on this story and recommend this book for a long time to come.
Rating: 5/5 stars (also 5/5 in terms of tears)
Author: Tami Charles
Genre: YA, hard-hitting contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Synopsis:
Muted by Tami Charles is a YA novel following Denver and her two close friends, Shak and Dali who are trying to fulfill their dreams of becoming famous singers. Inspired by the R. Kelley events, this book explores the dark, hidden side of the music industry. It shows how a young girl’s dreams are used and exploited against her.
Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, Emotional Abuse, Eating Disorder, Body Shaming, Rape, Grief, Murder, Toxic Relationship
Note: This book contains mature and alarming content, please proceed with caution.
Review:
Muted by Tami Charles takes place over the span of a short two-hour plane ride. The entire story is told in flashbacks after all the events have occurred. I loved that we get some good character development on Denver, Shak, and Dali before things start to happen. It really helped me understand their motivations and what really drove them to seek success in the music industry.
I love that the side characters were well fleshed out and developed. I really felt like I could empathize and understand where Denver’s, Shak’s, and Dali’s families were all coming from. There are subtle clues throughout the entire story that I picked up on before any of the main cast that revealed the true nature of Sean “Merc” Ellis. I was surprised it took Denver SO LONG to see what was actually happening. She just closed her eyes to reality because of her DESPERATE desire to become famous which is understandable but frustrating.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was the fact that it was written in verse. It didn’t feel like flowery poetry which was what I feared going into the book. Instead, it was a brilliant way of telling the story. I also loved that the songs that were written in the story, were included and it really helped immerse me into Denver’s world. The format that the story was written in was really consumable and easy to read which also helped to immerse me into the story and the events that were occurring.
The entire plot was leading up to a climax and an UNFORGETTABLE ending. There were a few moments of shock leading up to the main reveal in the story, but they did NOT prepare me. I bawled my eyes out for a good hour after reading the last 30 pages of the story and discovering where the airplane’s final destination was. This book really illustrated the problems with relationships that feature a MAJOR imbalance in power. It also showed the corrupt nature of the music industry in a way I’ve not seen anywhere else. I will continue to reflect on this story and recommend this book for a long time to come.
Rating: 5/5 stars (also 5/5 in terms of tears)
Author: Tami Charles
Genre: YA, hard-hitting contemporary
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Drug abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, and Cursing
betweentheshelves's review
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? Yes
4.0
Told in verse, this book is timely and powerful. More in a review to come later this week!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Drug abuse
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