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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book!
This book is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking story, told from multiple viewpoints, about how members of the community deal with the police killing of an unarmed 13-year-old Black girl.
Given the number of Black folx murdered by police in recent years, this story obviously felt very realistic. The way the author uses the voices of different characters (members of the community who knew the girl who was killed, interviews with professors, artists, folx who left the community, social media posts, etc.) really helped to move the plot along and invoke several emotional responses as I read. Learning more details about several of the characters’ pasts (and how they were all connected) made me feel invested in their stories and enabled me to feel like I was able to experience a bit of their world.
The viewpoints of the white characters in this story really helped give voice to how racism works both covertly and overtly in our society. Readers get to see how a well-meaning yet sheltered white college student (whose middle name clearly should’ve been “microaggressions” when we first meet him) begins to grow into a more knowledgable and empathetic person who actually decides to become an accomplice for POC. Readers also get to experience some of the disgustingly blatant racism POC experience, via social media posts and protestors who show up to the young girl’s funeral saying she got what she deserved.
Light It Up is a painful and realistic look at our society, that will hopefully challenge readers to have honest conversations about how to combat microaggressions, police brutality, and systemic racism - and promote dignity and humanity for all.
This book is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking story, told from multiple viewpoints, about how members of the community deal with the police killing of an unarmed 13-year-old Black girl.
Given the number of Black folx murdered by police in recent years, this story obviously felt very realistic. The way the author uses the voices of different characters (members of the community who knew the girl who was killed, interviews with professors, artists, folx who left the community, social media posts, etc.) really helped to move the plot along and invoke several emotional responses as I read. Learning more details about several of the characters’ pasts (and how they were all connected) made me feel invested in their stories and enabled me to feel like I was able to experience a bit of their world.
The viewpoints of the white characters in this story really helped give voice to how racism works both covertly and overtly in our society. Readers get to see how a well-meaning yet sheltered white college student (whose middle name clearly should’ve been “microaggressions” when we first meet him) begins to grow into a more knowledgable and empathetic person who actually decides to become an accomplice for POC. Readers also get to experience some of the disgustingly blatant racism POC experience, via social media posts and protestors who show up to the young girl’s funeral saying she got what she deserved.
Light It Up is a painful and realistic look at our society, that will hopefully challenge readers to have honest conversations about how to combat microaggressions, police brutality, and systemic racism - and promote dignity and humanity for all.
I received an advanced copy of this from the publisher via Net Galley.
I'm not sure what more to say about this book that hasn't already been said.
Convo with husband while I was reading this book:
Husband: What's wrong?
Me: Just reading a difficult book.
H: So don't read it
M: NO WAY!. Just because it's a difficult topic doesn't mean it shouldn't be read. This book makes me reflect and learn/grow as a human being.
H: Well that is a good reason.
"Light It Up" is the follow up to "How It Went Down." I have not read this one, but Light It Up provides enough background to the first story, that it can stand on it's own. There are a few instances, where context and actions from the first could be helpful in understanding character motivation, but it didn't detract.
I love how this novel was presented. Racial injustice affects the entire community, and Kekla Magoon gives up a multitude of characters to get to know. We learn how each of them is connected to the murder of Shae Tatum and how the aftermath affects them. There are many characters, but how they are presented keeps it from feeling scattered. And they are multi-dimensional, which lends to characters you can relate to.
As another reviewer commented, this book reminds me about how my viewpoint, white privilege and language I use can further harm and perpetuate hateful/racist behavior.
I'm not sure what more to say about this book that hasn't already been said.
Convo with husband while I was reading this book:
Husband: What's wrong?
Me: Just reading a difficult book.
H: So don't read it
M: NO WAY!. Just because it's a difficult topic doesn't mean it shouldn't be read. This book makes me reflect and learn/grow as a human being.
H: Well that is a good reason.
"Light It Up" is the follow up to "How It Went Down." I have not read this one, but Light It Up provides enough background to the first story, that it can stand on it's own. There are a few instances, where context and actions from the first could be helpful in understanding character motivation, but it didn't detract.
I love how this novel was presented. Racial injustice affects the entire community, and Kekla Magoon gives up a multitude of characters to get to know. We learn how each of them is connected to the murder of Shae Tatum and how the aftermath affects them. There are many characters, but how they are presented keeps it from feeling scattered. And they are multi-dimensional, which lends to characters you can relate to.
As another reviewer commented, this book reminds me about how my viewpoint, white privilege and language I use can further harm and perpetuate hateful/racist behavior.
It's gonna have to be a no for me. I really wanted to like this story but unfortunately everything about it--from the writing style, the characters and how important topics were approached--irritated me. The dialogue at times wasn't believable, every character (except maybe two?
Wow. That was a powerful book. I picked up this book because of the summary--13 year old girl, unarmed, is shot in the back by a police officer for essentially jogging while black. It's implied that she had her earbuds in as she did her usual routine of jogging and didn't hear the officer when he shot her. When I first started the book, the style of it kind of threw me because the story moved along from different perspectives and I was not yet familiar with the characters. But it didn't take me long to sort them out and it really helped tell the story, especially when discussions of racism, white privilege, and so on where happening between different characters. Many of the discussions covered in this book are reminiscent of real-life conversations I've had with people, both on and off social media. These are important conversations to have and I think this book is an important book to read, especially if you're not a POC, but you're trying to better understand what POC go through every day. On a related note, this is a follow-up of a previous book, How it Went Down, which covers the shooting of Tariq, who is mentioned several times in this book, but I did not know this when I began this story, and while reading the first book might add another layer of depth to this book, this story stands alone very well.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Kekla Magoon, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Kekla Magoon, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
an important read, and also one that broaches the subject of race and discrimination (and how that ties into police brutality to minority groups) in an interesting/unique format. i loved the way kekla magoon wrote the story in little vignettes told from different viewpoints, as it really showed the way a community can be impacted and what that looks like. magoon’s words were powerful and, at times, uncomfortable, as it should be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder
Didn't realize this was a follow-up to "How It Went Down" when I downloaded it! That book stunned me and this one did too. KM won a lifetime contribution to children's writing award today and it's well deserved.
Really devastating and topical.
I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and switch between prose and verse - especially how Kekla Magoon wrote the kids' perspectives! The kids are such a highlight of this story.
The characters here all feel so distinct and they're all flawed; while this murder takes place in the foreground these people are still navigating romance, family, friendships, university, and life in the background.
Also the way in which this depicts an ignorant white boy virtue-signalling and performing allyship? *CHEF KISS*
I know this is not a story that can be neatly tied up in a bow, and it's also part of a series, but I just wanted a liiiiiiittle more from that ending. That would've bumped this up to 5 stars.
I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and switch between prose and verse - especially how Kekla Magoon wrote the kids' perspectives! The kids are such a highlight of this story.
The characters here all feel so distinct and they're all flawed; while this murder takes place in the foreground these people are still navigating romance, family, friendships, university, and life in the background.
Also the way in which this depicts an ignorant white boy virtue-signalling and performing allyship? *CHEF KISS*
I know this is not a story that can be neatly tied up in a bow, and it's also part of a series, but I just wanted a liiiiiiittle more from that ending. That would've bumped this up to 5 stars.
I didn't realize this book was part of a series (How It Went Down is the first book) until now. That said, failing to read the first book did not effect my ability to follow the plot of this one.
Even so, I imagine you'd gain a deeper understanding of Tyrell's--one of multiple narrators in this book and, I'm guessing, a key character in How It Went Down--psyche by doing so. However, for the purposes of this book, Tyrell isn't much more than a periphery character and the times when his voice is offered, it's clear why he's so against becoming involved in this latest neighborhood tragedy.
Thirteen year old Shae is gunned down by a police officer. She's shot in the back as she attempts to allegedly run from him. By his account he thought she "had a gun" and shot her out of "fear" for his life ...le sigh.
Anyway, I don't have to tell you where this is going: protests are planned, demonstrations are mounted, hashtags are used, and discussions about whose lives matter more/most abound.
These books are everywhere and, honestly, it's become traumatic to read them because there hasn't been a lick of change.
That said, this book is about a community in tatters as, once again, another youth is killed and numerous excuses are made as to why that's okay. In between the excuses are multiple story arcs.
Zeke and Kimberly fall in love while organizing the protest for Shae; they face numerous obstacles--including an enticing job offer for Zeke (by a man from Kimberly's past) and Kimberly's own insecurities about love--but are trying to make the most of the possibility as long as it lasts.
Brick is the older brother of Tina, Shae's best friend, and the leader of the 8-5 Kings--a known gang.
He is enamored of Jennica, Kimberly's best friend and his lieutenant's former flame, but Jennica is still hung up on said old flame--leaving room for Melody (Shae's caretaker) to, potentially make Brick wonder if he may be pining after the wrong woman.
Then there's the trio of DeVante, Robb, and Tyrell. Robb is a privileged white kid with an insatiable need to "fight the power" but Tyrell wants no part of it and DeVante is caught between the two as Robb's ignorance draws them closer to a predictably sad end.
There are other stories--about the cop and his family, the PR machine behind the police department, the witness to the crime--but they all meld together into what is essentially a story about police violence and the many ways the system works to protect and normalize it at the expense of its victims.
It's sad. It's infuriating. It's reality.
This book shies away from none of it and that makes it a tough read for those of us who are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
However, for those still meandering in their own ignorance, it's a good place to start ...if only they'd decide to pick it up.
Even so, I imagine you'd gain a deeper understanding of Tyrell's--one of multiple narrators in this book and, I'm guessing, a key character in How It Went Down--psyche by doing so. However, for the purposes of this book, Tyrell isn't much more than a periphery character and the times when his voice is offered, it's clear why he's so against becoming involved in this latest neighborhood tragedy.
Thirteen year old Shae is gunned down by a police officer. She's shot in the back as she attempts to allegedly run from him. By his account he thought she "had a gun" and shot her out of "fear" for his life ...le sigh.
Anyway, I don't have to tell you where this is going: protests are planned, demonstrations are mounted, hashtags are used, and discussions about whose lives matter more/most abound.
These books are everywhere and, honestly, it's become traumatic to read them because there hasn't been a lick of change.
That said, this book is about a community in tatters as, once again, another youth is killed and numerous excuses are made as to why that's okay. In between the excuses are multiple story arcs.
Zeke and Kimberly fall in love while organizing the protest for Shae; they face numerous obstacles--including an enticing job offer for Zeke (by a man from Kimberly's past) and Kimberly's own insecurities about love--but are trying to make the most of the possibility as long as it lasts.
Brick is the older brother of Tina, Shae's best friend, and the leader of the 8-5 Kings--a known gang.
He is enamored of Jennica, Kimberly's best friend and his lieutenant's former flame, but Jennica is still hung up on said old flame--leaving room for Melody (Shae's caretaker) to, potentially make Brick wonder if he may be pining after the wrong woman.
Then there's the trio of DeVante, Robb, and Tyrell. Robb is a privileged white kid with an insatiable need to "fight the power" but Tyrell wants no part of it and DeVante is caught between the two as Robb's ignorance draws them closer to a predictably sad end.
There are other stories--about the cop and his family, the PR machine behind the police department, the witness to the crime--but they all meld together into what is essentially a story about police violence and the many ways the system works to protect and normalize it at the expense of its victims.
It's sad. It's infuriating. It's reality.
This book shies away from none of it and that makes it a tough read for those of us who are sick and tired of being sick and tired.
However, for those still meandering in their own ignorance, it's a good place to start ...if only they'd decide to pick it up.
My ONLY critique would be that I felt that all of the POV’s got a little hard to follow, especially between the girls and guys that were all with each other. Otherwise, I thought it was beautiful.
How It Went Down was a great book, one that Angie Thomas credits with breathing life into The Hate U Give.
Light It Up is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time. Two years after Tariq is shot and killed in How It Went Down, thirteen-year-old Shae is killed by Officer Henderson in the same neighborhood. This is the story of how that neighborhood comes to terms with yet another senseless killing, told through multiple perspectives, all authentic. Those familiar with the companion novel will appreciate hearing from some of the same characters, but Light It Up easily stands alone and will garner many new fans for Magoon. Masterfully done.
Thanks to NetGalley for the electronic ARC.
Light It Up is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time. Two years after Tariq is shot and killed in How It Went Down, thirteen-year-old Shae is killed by Officer Henderson in the same neighborhood. This is the story of how that neighborhood comes to terms with yet another senseless killing, told through multiple perspectives, all authentic. Those familiar with the companion novel will appreciate hearing from some of the same characters, but Light It Up easily stands alone and will garner many new fans for Magoon. Masterfully done.
Thanks to NetGalley for the electronic ARC.