Scan barcode
starrysteph's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
4.5
An energizing explosion of heart & spirit, with characters that speak earnestly and directly with a yearning that is incredibly affecting.
We’re following Sarai, a Puerto Rican teenager living in Bushwick. She shares her hopes, she questions her identity, she agonizes over her familial pain & trauma, and she wonders about the future of her neighborhood and community. Sarai’s personality bursts from the page as she shares her quietest thoughts and her loudest dreams, all in verse.
This book covers tough subjects as Sarai faces all sorts of challenges: familial trauma, abuse, sexual assault, drug use & overdosing, teenage pregnancy, sexism & objectification of young women, ignorance & privilege, gentrification, and much more.
The writing and voice is distinctive and connected and powerful. I was captivated by Sarai and hopeful for her and heartbroken for her.
I found the ending to be a little bit crushing; the very last piece was too quick of a wrap up and some threads didn’t come together in the way I had hoped they would. I would have preferred getting maybe one more year of Sarai’s life and expanding on the conclusion.
CW: death (including child death), drugs & drug overdose, pregnancy, sexual assault (of a child), child abuse, mental illness, sexism, fatphobia, body shaming, ableism, domestic abuse, miscarriage, police brutality, gun violence, addiction, racism, toxic relationship, religious bigotry, psychosis, classism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug use, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexism, Child death, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Body shaming, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Gun violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Classism, Sexual harassment, and Police brutality
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
I definitely recommend the audiobook of this because it's read by the author and there's just something about listening to poetry read by the author. Phenomenally done. A lot of the poems here pack a punch. Something I'd want to highlight if I had a physical copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
stephanieridiculous's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
Nothing happens on screen- I think most if not all of the potentially triggering content is mentioned/alluded to, but isn't detailed on page. Some aftermath is discussed, too, but nothing graphic. The book begins with a content warning essentially, too, so you know what you're getting into.
More...