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waywordxwitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
stressedspidergirl's review
4.0
This took me a while to get into the prose novel style. I read a few pages and gave up on it, at first. Then I came back to it, wanting to try again.
It was a lot easier and my brain went along with it. I think it was really worth it.
I don't know a lot about the music industry other than like most industries, it can be really predatory. Muted does a good job of showing what it's like to be trapped in an abusive relationship, with no real way out.
I respect how it's handled, and I respect that the darker aspects of the book are not highlighted the way that some authors would have. It's enough to know certain things happened without dragging out each and every sordid detail of it.
I'm not sure this is a book I would read again, or at least not for a long time, watching Denver's slide downwards, and everything else that happens isn't something I especially want to revisit. But I do think it was worth the time spend reading.
*minor spoilers*
The ending is not a happy one, but I think in other ways justice was still served. I think if the book hadn't had that addition, it wouldn't have gotten much of a rating from me, because bleakness for the point of despair alone just doesn't work for me personally. So while I don't require a happy ending, I prefer when there's some kind of satisfaction. I think the reader gets that from this.
It was a lot easier and my brain went along with it. I think it was really worth it.
I don't know a lot about the music industry other than like most industries, it can be really predatory. Muted does a good job of showing what it's like to be trapped in an abusive relationship, with no real way out.
I respect how it's handled, and I respect that the darker aspects of the book are not highlighted the way that some authors would have. It's enough to know certain things happened without dragging out each and every sordid detail of it.
I'm not sure this is a book I would read again, or at least not for a long time, watching Denver's slide downwards, and everything else that happens isn't something I especially want to revisit. But I do think it was worth the time spend reading.
*minor spoilers*
The ending is not a happy one, but I think in other ways justice was still served. I think if the book hadn't had that addition, it wouldn't have gotten much of a rating from me, because bleakness for the point of despair alone just doesn't work for me personally. So while I don't require a happy ending, I prefer when there's some kind of satisfaction. I think the reader gets that from this.
bibliobrittish's review against another edition
4.0
I am gutted. Muted is a powerhouse of a novel, the verse fully charged and ready to rip you apart. For me (someone who was manipulated by men promising stardom in the form of record deals and late nights in the studio), it hit way too close to home. But then again, I knew it would.
This is a story that too often makes headlines and is promptly forgotten because it feels ethereal and statistically irrelevant. Tami Charles grounds those headlines in characters that jump off the page and pull you into their world of big emotions and even bigger dreams. She tackles how easily one can fall victim to manipulation and abuse, almost especially when made to feel empowered and mature. But Muted isn't just a rise to fame gone wrong - it's an endearing friendship story, a coming-of-age story about how confusing it can be to grapple with one's own sexuality. It's terrifying and dark and an undeniably difficult read, but also incredibly gripping and well-written.
If you devoured Tiffany Jackson's Grown or Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X, this one's for you. But be mindful as you read, and take the breaks you need.
This is a story that too often makes headlines and is promptly forgotten because it feels ethereal and statistically irrelevant. Tami Charles grounds those headlines in characters that jump off the page and pull you into their world of big emotions and even bigger dreams. She tackles how easily one can fall victim to manipulation and abuse, almost especially when made to feel empowered and mature. But Muted isn't just a rise to fame gone wrong - it's an endearing friendship story, a coming-of-age story about how confusing it can be to grapple with one's own sexuality. It's terrifying and dark and an undeniably difficult read, but also incredibly gripping and well-written.
If you devoured Tiffany Jackson's Grown or Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X, this one's for you. But be mindful as you read, and take the breaks you need.
shemyshines98's review
4.0
Very beautiful but heartbreaking story of a girl trying to achieve her dreams, by any means necessary. Denver knows that school isn't for her like her sister. But music? That runs in her veins. She made friends and eventually made a group. Long story short, they meet the King of R&B and all their dreams come true, well almost... What looked like a dream, became a nightmare overtime. Denver didn't realize this until it was too late. After having parents that she felt didn't support her, listened to her or was even there for her, it was easy for her to run off with Dali to live with Merc. To only find out that Merc had I'll intentions and being with him was a mistake.
I was so shocked by the ending as with most stories we usually get a happy ending. Not this time around and it hurt but it's so raw and real as most don't even end well.
Spoilers: Denver and Dali are secret lovers.
Denver dies in the end trying to save herself and Dali.
Dali was held captive while pregnant and gave birth to a baby named Denver Lee Gomez.
Many others were held captive as well.
I was so shocked by the ending as with most stories we usually get a happy ending. Not this time around and it hurt but it's so raw and real as most don't even end well.
Spoilers: Denver and Dali are secret lovers.
Denver dies in the end trying to save herself and Dali.
Dali was held captive while pregnant and gave birth to a baby named Denver Lee Gomez.
Many others were held captive as well.
zbrarian's review
5.0
This was an incredibly well written, emotional, keep you up all night until you finish, heart wrenching, breath taking Novel in Verse. It was written in the same vein as Tiffany D. Jackson's Grown, however, it has a twist you don't see coming. A novel full of diverse characters, focusing on a hot topic of today: abuse of power, the price of fame, and the ripple effects it can have on you and those you love. Lesson to be learned from this novel: be careful what you wish for...
nssutton's review
3.0
Received an ARC in exchange for a fair review.
As a librarian making recommendations to teens — this book is fabulous, such a page turner, that twist!
For me personally — the twist was well executed and so surprising but it did change how I felt about it. I think my own expectations of the story had more to do with that, then anything specifically from the text.
As a librarian making recommendations to teens — this book is fabulous, such a page turner, that twist!
For me personally — the twist was well executed and so surprising but it did change how I felt about it. I think my own expectations of the story had more to do with that, then anything specifically from the text.
runningonwords415's review
4.0
Wow wow wow. Talk about a twist of an ending! A very timely novel-in-verse that seeps innovation & creativity in every chapter. Perfect for fans of GROWN!
readingwithmygoldens's review
4.0
This is my first time reading a book in verse. I had previously listened to [b:Clap When You Land|52516332|Clap When You Land|Elizabeth Acevedo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1570558443l/52516332._SX50_SY75_.jpg|68292349], so I'm happy to have both experiences under my belt. I think both have something to offer in terms of strengths over the other, but I believe I will choose to listen to novels that are written this way in the future. I realize this has nothing to do with the book itself (more the format), but wanted to include it in the event it will help you decide how to consume this book!
Before I get into my review, I want to mention that I am ignorant and I didn't really think too much about what "true story" this was based off of when I began to read it. I kind of just started the book and as I was reading, I saw some similarities to R Kelly, but didn't give it that much more thought. After finishing the book and doing some googling...WOW. This book has to be based off of R Kelly. If you are familiar with that story and anything in it might be a trigger warning for you - I urge you to consider if you really think you should read this. There are ALOT of trigger warnings. Sexual abuse, manipulation of minors and young women, sexual assault and the list could go on. So please be forewarned.
Now to discuss my rating. I'm kind of stuck on how to properly assign a number to this. I think it's a very powerful account and was written very creatively, but the pacing was a challenge for me. It took a good chunk of time for the story to develop and then you got to the end and everything happened really fast (and I mean a lot was put into the end) that it was a little overwhelming and then it just ended. So the book was very back heavy. Some things were resolved in the end, but not enough for me. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, but it was a little jarring. I was fortunate to discuss the book with a friend (who had also read it) before writing this review and we both struggled with just how much was put into the back end and why. After doing my google research on who I believe this story to be crafted after, I sort of understand more about why the author decided to include that much in the end. (I'm sorry if I'm being vague, I don't want to ruin the story for those of you who want to read it.) I've also seen comparisons of this to [b:Grown|49397758|Grown|Tiffany D. Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579764388l/49397758._SY75_.jpg|67096697], which is on my list, but I have not had the opportunity to read yet.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book to read, but I don't know enough about YA books of like minded content to tell you where this ranks. All I can do is tell you its worth your consideration and that it comes with a lot of heavy material. I'm really glad to have read it and for the experience it provided me as a reader and I look forward to the author's next book.
Thanks to Scholastic YA for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 02/10/2021
Publication Date: 02/02/2021
Before I get into my review, I want to mention that I am ignorant and I didn't really think too much about what "true story" this was based off of when I began to read it. I kind of just started the book and as I was reading, I saw some similarities to R Kelly, but didn't give it that much more thought. After finishing the book and doing some googling...WOW. This book has to be based off of R Kelly. If you are familiar with that story and anything in it might be a trigger warning for you - I urge you to consider if you really think you should read this. There are ALOT of trigger warnings. Sexual abuse, manipulation of minors and young women, sexual assault and the list could go on. So please be forewarned.
Now to discuss my rating. I'm kind of stuck on how to properly assign a number to this. I think it's a very powerful account and was written very creatively, but the pacing was a challenge for me. It took a good chunk of time for the story to develop and then you got to the end and everything happened really fast (and I mean a lot was put into the end) that it was a little overwhelming and then it just ended. So the book was very back heavy. Some things were resolved in the end, but not enough for me. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, but it was a little jarring. I was fortunate to discuss the book with a friend (who had also read it) before writing this review and we both struggled with just how much was put into the back end and why. After doing my google research on who I believe this story to be crafted after, I sort of understand more about why the author decided to include that much in the end. (I'm sorry if I'm being vague, I don't want to ruin the story for those of you who want to read it.) I've also seen comparisons of this to [b:Grown|49397758|Grown|Tiffany D. Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579764388l/49397758._SY75_.jpg|67096697], which is on my list, but I have not had the opportunity to read yet.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book to read, but I don't know enough about YA books of like minded content to tell you where this ranks. All I can do is tell you its worth your consideration and that it comes with a lot of heavy material. I'm really glad to have read it and for the experience it provided me as a reader and I look forward to the author's next book.
Thanks to Scholastic YA for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 02/10/2021
Publication Date: 02/02/2021