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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I absolutely adored this book. Once again I love my job because I always find interesting books crossing my desk and this one was so intriguing! I read it in a few hours partly because it was so good and partly because I started it at 10pm and by the time I was feeling sleepy I had to know how it ended or I couldn’t sleep! (Also I don’t think I would recommend doing this as I did have some very strange dreams after consuming the book and immediately going to bed hahaha)
I really enjoyed the world Tirado sets up and the nature of the echo game. I grew up in the era of bloody mary chants at sleepovers and creepypasta internet, so the premise of having a urban legend/game actually work immediately hooked me. I was really curious too to see if the story would feel difficult to follow with the world jumping. Instead the narrative felt, to me at least, pleasantly linear. It felt a little like we were walking the journey of the book as the characters followed the echo journey and I really enjoyed that. Especially for a YA book I think it’s a great use of scifi type world building that still feels accessible for people who may have a hard time keeping multiple plot lines straight.
Honestly though my favourite aspect of the story was the use of the echo game to discuss the history of a place. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I love how the echo worked within the city context and I love the lessons learned in the process of playing the game. I’ve already recommended this book to coworkers and friends, and if you have a scifi loving teen I would absolutely run this one by them!
I really enjoyed the world Tirado sets up and the nature of the echo game. I grew up in the era of bloody mary chants at sleepovers and creepypasta internet, so the premise of having a urban legend/game actually work immediately hooked me. I was really curious too to see if the story would feel difficult to follow with the world jumping. Instead the narrative felt, to me at least, pleasantly linear. It felt a little like we were walking the journey of the book as the characters followed the echo journey and I really enjoyed that. Especially for a YA book I think it’s a great use of scifi type world building that still feels accessible for people who may have a hard time keeping multiple plot lines straight.
Honestly though my favourite aspect of the story was the use of the echo game to discuss the history of a place. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I love how the echo worked within the city context and I love the lessons learned in the process of playing the game. I’ve already recommended this book to coworkers and friends, and if you have a scifi loving teen I would absolutely run this one by them!
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Interesting concepts, but just wasn’t for me.
Also, shout out to the Fordham cameo, that was pretty hilarious.
3/5 stars
Also, shout out to the Fordham cameo, that was pretty hilarious.
3/5 stars
*Vincent Tirado is a nonbinary/queer author who uses they/them pronouns.*
I picked up this book at the local library after finishing their other book, We Don't Swim Here. As some reviewers mentioned, Burn Down Rise Up is the better book regarding plot structure and flow, and I can see why after reading all seven parts.
The plot of this book revolves around a historic burning of The Bronx (NY) back in the 1970s, an event linked to redlining, racist policies, and class discrimination. The documentary film Decade of Fire dives deeper into this topic if you are interested in learning more about it.
In Burn Down Rise Up, Raquel's mother is in a coma after being infected by a toxic mold, and her crush Charlize's cousin Francisco (nicknamed "Cisco") is trapped in an apocalyptic parallel universe linked to the historic burnings of the 70s. To save her mother and rescue Cisco, Raquel must play "The Echo Game", which involves hopping on a haunted MTA train in the middle of the night and traveling to The Echo universe.
Tirado is a Black and Puerto Rican author with a Bronx upbringing, and they implement elements of their culture in a way that smoothly flows with the plot. For example, the use of resguardos, or protective talismans, in Santeria. Raquel uses the resguardos to ward off the evil spirits of The Echo that harass and haunt her in her dreams.
There is also sapphic romance in this book. It's a nice and fluffy, childhood best friends-to-lovers romance.
I picked up this book at the local library after finishing their other book, We Don't Swim Here. As some reviewers mentioned, Burn Down Rise Up is the better book regarding plot structure and flow, and I can see why after reading all seven parts.
The plot of this book revolves around a historic burning of The Bronx (NY) back in the 1970s, an event linked to redlining, racist policies, and class discrimination. The documentary film Decade of Fire dives deeper into this topic if you are interested in learning more about it.
In Burn Down Rise Up, Raquel's mother is in a coma after being infected by a toxic mold, and her crush Charlize's cousin Francisco (nicknamed "Cisco") is trapped in an apocalyptic parallel universe linked to the historic burnings of the 70s. To save her mother and rescue Cisco, Raquel must play "The Echo Game", which involves hopping on a haunted MTA train in the middle of the night and traveling to The Echo universe.
Tirado is a Black and Puerto Rican author with a Bronx upbringing, and they implement elements of their culture in a way that smoothly flows with the plot. For example, the use of resguardos, or protective talismans, in Santeria. Raquel uses the resguardos to ward off the evil spirits of The Echo that harass and haunt her in her dreams.
There is also sapphic romance in this book. It's a nice and fluffy, childhood best friends-to-lovers romance.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Gave me Tiffany Jackson vibes! I think gentrification and using the past as horror is always very, very clever. The game component I could have done without, it felt like one too many things? But overall, not bad!
I thought this was a great book that really taught me a lot I never would’ve known. Plot was sort of predictable, but overall consistent and easy to follow thanks to the great exposition and world-building
adventurous
dark
tense
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
“Stranger Things meets Get Out” and “love letter to the Bronx” are the two perfect ways to describe this. Definitely spooked me but they’re also in high school so it still had a bit of a YA feel, in a fun way, and it also managed to touch on some heavy issues while including humor! 4.5 but deserves the 5 star for some more hype