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challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars
I was feeling very burnt out while reading this. Life right now is rough, and even rougher for BIPOC. I've been very invested with the BLM, trans rights, and defunding police movements over the last couple weeks, so I felt now was a great time to read this book. But I actually think I would have gotten a lot more out of it if I had read it when it wasn't on my mind already. The injustices black people, indigenous people, and people of colour are currently facing are horrifying. It's a lot to dismantle, and a lot of work and personal growth left to do. So I burned myself out by picking up this book.
But when I finally got fully into it, I wept. It was perfect. What needed to happen, happened. It didn't have a rosy, picture perfect, tied up ending. Maybe it was a little neater than real life, but hey it is a YA novel after all.
I think anyone new to these movements, especially youth, would find this book a great resource.
Recommend to educators, parents, and anyone wanting to start getting involved in social reform.
I was feeling very burnt out while reading this. Life right now is rough, and even rougher for BIPOC. I've been very invested with the BLM, trans rights, and defunding police movements over the last couple weeks, so I felt now was a great time to read this book. But I actually think I would have gotten a lot more out of it if I had read it when it wasn't on my mind already. The injustices black people, indigenous people, and people of colour are currently facing are horrifying. It's a lot to dismantle, and a lot of work and personal growth left to do. So I burned myself out by picking up this book.
But when I finally got fully into it, I wept. It was perfect. What needed to happen, happened. It didn't have a rosy, picture perfect, tied up ending. Maybe it was a little neater than real life, but hey it is a YA novel after all.
I think anyone new to these movements, especially youth, would find this book a great resource.
Recommend to educators, parents, and anyone wanting to start getting involved in social reform.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief
challenging
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Police brutality
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual content
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality
Moderate: Death, Gun violence
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
CW: description of a fiery, car accident, death of a loved one, gang violence, police brutality, racism, racial slurs, physical fighting, imprisonment, grief, gun violence, death by shooting, violence.
The switch between point of view from 1st person to 3rd person took some getting used to. I listened on audio and read physically and I would recommend the audio. It's narrated so well with every detail. When the news reports came up, the narrator switched to a new's anchor voice to really capture the scenes. I also would've liked some stronger character development at the end for Justyce and we could've gotten more depth into his character. However, I'm wondering if that is what we get in the sequel, Dear Justyce. I also think Justyce deserved some black joy to combat the several heavy topics.
Overall, really great and impactful read about police brutality and being a young Black boy in America.
The switch between point of view from 1st person to 3rd person took some getting used to. I listened on audio and read physically and I would recommend the audio. It's narrated so well with every detail. When the news reports came up, the narrator switched to a new's anchor voice to really capture the scenes. I also would've liked some stronger character development at the end for Justyce and we could've gotten more depth into his character. However, I'm wondering if that is what we get in the sequel, Dear Justyce. I also think Justyce deserved some black joy to combat the several heavy topics.
Overall, really great and impactful read about police brutality and being a young Black boy in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief