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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I loved this Black girl coming of age story! The book is well written and seems to capture the thoughts of a teenager girl and her friends. A few things in the plot were predictable, but it didn't put a damper on the strength of the story. And finally, cover art that lives up to the dopeness of the writing. Recommended for readers of YA and those interested in books that center Black girlhood.
My first Brandy Colbert book! I loved this one so much! It handles the topic of addiction so well, has multiple queer characters, (one of the scenes is them going to pride!), is sex-positive and so well written. This book is only 300 pages yet every character is fully fleshed out and I easily cared about everyone. I can't wait to read more by this author this was amazing.
I LOVED this book 90% of the way, but there's a ... "twist" in the end, which I just hated. Seemed unnecessary and contrived! Wish the ending had lived up to my expectations, but I looooved the rest of the writing.
emotional
reflective
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
Another great YA book from Brandy Colbert.
I’ve read several of her books now and I can count on meaningful, heart wrenching, deep characters who navigate a spectrum of important social issues when I pick up her books.
In this particular story, Dove is learning about first love, about herself and who she is growing into and about where she comes from. She’s learning that not everything is clear cut and that she’s evolving as a person as she heads into her junior year.
I love Colbert’s writing in how she develops characters that I quickly root for and invest in. Her way of writing issues that teens face and give them the weight and respect they deserve is fantastic.
I find because of the candour of the topics addressed it could be a read for older teens.
I’ve read several of her books now and I can count on meaningful, heart wrenching, deep characters who navigate a spectrum of important social issues when I pick up her books.
In this particular story, Dove is learning about first love, about herself and who she is growing into and about where she comes from. She’s learning that not everything is clear cut and that she’s evolving as a person as she heads into her junior year.
I love Colbert’s writing in how she develops characters that I quickly root for and invest in. Her way of writing issues that teens face and give them the weight and respect they deserve is fantastic.
I find because of the candour of the topics addressed it could be a read for older teens.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Abortion
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
This was a great book about family, identity, first love, and finding yourself. I also loved how this book put a spotlight on addiction and how it affects families. I also loved the question that kept popping up which was is addiction a disease? Dove's family was dysfunctional but they all loved her. I loved Dove's friendship with Laz and her love story with Booker.
There was A LOT going on in this book. It’s a YA book but a lot of my middle grades kids like to read up so I have to preview to make sure the book’s content is age appropriate for them. This book is not appropriate for middle graders as there is a lot of explicit sexual activity and reflection related to sexual activities that developmentally is out of their reach, but I do recommend for high schoolers.
Anyways I liked the book enough. The end was a lot better or more focused than the first half-3/4ths of the book. The story was good and the writing kept my attention but honestly that middle grade/YA genre centering Black and Afrolatino/a youth is filled with really REALLY strong writers (Thomas, Reynolds, Acevedo, Zoboi, Jackson, Alexander, etc.,) and In this particular book it’s the story/content that sells the story not the storytelling/prose, so there is a little sense of missing or apathy related to the writing.
I’d choose this book for my older kids 13+ especially in units related to coming of age, character arc and development, sexuality diversity, the disease of drug addiction, and maybe diverse families.
One small little note, I thought she wrote Birdie kinda whiny and I didn’t like that. I think there was a way to articulate or demonstrate her innocence without making her sound like a whiny, self centered brat which she often did. I also thought her characterization of Carlene was inconsistent in a way that was not solely due to character development, and sometimes her description of drug addition and recovery is a little too sanitized compared to reality, but luckily most kids today won’t know the severity of how bad it gets so maybe that’s a good thing.
Anyways I liked the book enough. The end was a lot better or more focused than the first half-3/4ths of the book. The story was good and the writing kept my attention but honestly that middle grade/YA genre centering Black and Afrolatino/a youth is filled with really REALLY strong writers (Thomas, Reynolds, Acevedo, Zoboi, Jackson, Alexander, etc.,) and In this particular book it’s the story/content that sells the story not the storytelling/prose, so there is a little sense of missing or apathy related to the writing.
I’d choose this book for my older kids 13+ especially in units related to coming of age, character arc and development, sexuality diversity, the disease of drug addiction, and maybe diverse families.
One small little note, I thought she wrote Birdie kinda whiny and I didn’t like that. I think there was a way to articulate or demonstrate her innocence without making her sound like a whiny, self centered brat which she often did. I also thought her characterization of Carlene was inconsistent in a way that was not solely due to character development, and sometimes her description of drug addition and recovery is a little too sanitized compared to reality, but luckily most kids today won’t know the severity of how bad it gets so maybe that’s a good thing.
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Drinking Buddy: Know When to Say When
MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Drug and Alcohol Use, Strong Language
Talky Talk: This Bird Will Fly
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ, Race Relations, Cool Aunt
Bromance Status: Party Host
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Drinking Buddy: Know When to Say When
MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Drug and Alcohol Use, Strong Language
Talky Talk: This Bird Will Fly
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ, Race Relations, Cool Aunt
Bromance Status: Party Host
Read the full book report here.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual content, Alcohol