Reviews

True True by Don P. Hooper

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amesnotamy's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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

5.0

georgia_sara93's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

Gil has been accepted to Augustin for his senior year. He’s the first student to be accepted in his senior year to Augustin, but on his first day he’s already facing racism for being Jamaican and one of the few Black students at the school. By the end of his first week he’s suspended after he’s the target of a racist attack. Using The Art Of War Gil starts to fight back. But in the mean time he’s trying to balance friendships at home and managing with his dad being back in Jamaica and his Granmas dementia.

This book is so incredible and powerful. Facing managing racism in institutes is always an incredibly difficult thing and something I’ll never really know as a white person. But these stories always aspire to look at more ways I can help to attempt to dismantle systems if and where I can. And there will always be more that I can do. Once again this book shows the power of a YA novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC.

510heather's review

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A charming YA book that I wish I could get my kids to read.

sogladtoreadyou's review against another edition

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5.0

Gil is a smart boy from Brooklyn with Jamaican roots. He has been accepted to go to a private school called Augustin Prep, where he can really shine in robotics. Within the first week at his new school, Gil gets into a physical fight and is put on probation.

He feels disappointed and feels like he is disappointing his mom, dad, grandma, and friends. Gil struggles to find his place in this school as it is predominantly white with very few POC. The dean doesn’t even listen to his side of the story after the physical fight. Gil is trying to figure out who he can and can’t trust at this school. He also is struggling at home with trying to keep up with his close friends.

How does Gil deal with racism at his new school? How does he get across to people that he was mistreated at school? How does he balance school life and personal life?

I enjoyed reading Gil’s journey, but it is not a light book. This book is pretty strong and will give you a better sense in racism and what POC have to deal with, especially when you are in a different socioeconomic status. Even though you can clearly see that Gil is struggling and feels alone, it’s really nice to see that he always has his grandma’s love and support.

thenextgenlibrarian's review

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5.0

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” -Sun Tzu, The Art of War

zbrarian's review

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5.0

An amazing debut YA book. I have never wanted to throw a book more out of anger. The microaggressions that Gil and his fellow POC classmates endure at Agustin Prep made me so angry (which speaks volumes about the quality of the writing of the author). I wanted to slap the parents and Dean. Good thing they are only characters but what an amazing representation of those who speak these microaggressions on a daily basis. I really liked the characters Gil and his grandma. Gil for standing up for what he believed in and Grandma for showing him the right way to stand up. Just wow. I look forward to more YA from this author.