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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
I like how it switches perspectives but still allows you to get attached to the characters.
This book gives lots of really important perspectives. And it's shows what ignorant white people look and sound like when they're trying to be "woke" but aren't quite getting the full picture.
This is a fantastic book with a few shortcomings. First off, the characters are all relatively 2D - the story is told in their intersections, in the way they react to one another, rather than by their individuality. This was off putting to me at first, but I came to love it for providing a different perspective.
Second, the beginning of the book is written down, as though for younger (middle and highschool age) folx but it then dives into some really challenging sexual assault topics in addition to the obvious trauma it is written about (and boy is it's telling of police violence poignant - I literally had nightmares). The whole plot arc of sexual assault confused me - a girl experienced a clear attempted rape, but we never hear of it or the perpetrator again?
Third, I'm skeptical of the portrayal of gang member's lives. I LOVE the leader grappling with how to go about protecting his neighborhood and his people, that plot line is fantastic. But the portrayal of a shockingly drug-free gang (pent)house with a raised stage of couches for the leaders of the gang literally looking down at a dance club... That feels more like a music video than an actual home of a person in a gang? I'd be curious to know how somebody who'd been in a gang or been around gang members would react to this portrayal
Now for my favorite bits! The poetry of the neurodivergent children is amazing - I'm wondering if a neurodivergent person would appreciate this depiction, and myself can't say if it is accurate BUT it is incredible poetry for sure. The contrasts between our characters is incredible (ex between the daughter of the cop feeling safe with cops outside and the daughter of the witness feeling scared), I'm serious when I say the story is in the interactions. Again, I can't empathize this enough, this book gave me literal nightmare with it's incredible, multifaced, beautifully written portrayal of these days following a police shooting. Though, I was interrupted while reading by a drive-by protest of police brutality outside my window.
Second, the beginning of the book is written down, as though for younger (middle and highschool age) folx but it then dives into some really challenging sexual assault topics in addition to the obvious trauma it is written about (and boy is it's telling of police violence poignant - I literally had nightmares). The whole plot arc of sexual assault confused me - a girl experienced a clear attempted rape, but we never hear of it or the perpetrator again?
Third, I'm skeptical of the portrayal of gang member's lives. I LOVE the leader grappling with how to go about protecting his neighborhood and his people, that plot line is fantastic. But the portrayal of a shockingly drug-free gang (pent)house with a raised stage of couches for the leaders of the gang literally looking down at a dance club... That feels more like a music video than an actual home of a person in a gang? I'd be curious to know how somebody who'd been in a gang or been around gang members would react to this portrayal
Now for my favorite bits! The poetry of the neurodivergent children is amazing - I'm wondering if a neurodivergent person would appreciate this depiction, and myself can't say if it is accurate BUT it is incredible poetry for sure. The contrasts between our characters is incredible (ex between the daughter of the cop feeling safe with cops outside and the daughter of the witness feeling scared), I'm serious when I say the story is in the interactions. Again, I can't empathize this enough, this book gave me literal nightmare with it's incredible, multifaced, beautifully written portrayal of these days following a police shooting. Though, I was interrupted while reading by a drive-by protest of police brutality outside my window.
Such a marvelous, sensitive and wide-ranging look at the many communities affected by a pointless police killing and the neighborhood response. Heartbreaking story that encompasses actions and reactions by so many kinds of people. Her first book, "How it Went Down" is the prequel. This book covers much more ground more deeply.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Absolutely heartbreaking. An important read especially with what is going on in the world today.
I have CHILLS. People are SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK.
It really hurts that this is actually how the world works. I tried to explain it to a family member, and they said "well, it isn't based on a true story, so why be upset?" I mean, it might as well be.
Anyways, long story short, read this book.
It really hurts that this is actually how the world works. I tried to explain it to a family member, and they said "well, it isn't based on a true story, so why be upset?" I mean, it might as well be.
Anyways, long story short, read this book.
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Light It Up
Author: Kekla Magoon
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: African American main character and characters.
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed, but this does talk about an officer involved shooting of a young child (13).
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength—as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down.
A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying.
She never makes it home.
In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: a police officer has shot and killed an unarmed thirteen-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter demonstrators.
Review: This book was really good for the most part, but it got to a point where it got really confusing for me. There were a lot of narrators and it didn’t feel like there was any character development. Also, I felt like most of the book was about the romance rather than the murder, which I thought would be the focal point of the book. I made it pretty far, 76%, but I had to DNF it unfortunately. I would recommend this book for people who love books that touch on the reality of our unfair world involving race and racism and I commend the author on writing such a hard book!
Verdict: It wasn’t for me, but might be for you!
Book: Light It Up
Author: Kekla Magoon
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: African American main character and characters.
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed, but this does talk about an officer involved shooting of a young child (13).
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength—as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down.
A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying.
She never makes it home.
In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: a police officer has shot and killed an unarmed thirteen-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter demonstrators.
Review: This book was really good for the most part, but it got to a point where it got really confusing for me. There were a lot of narrators and it didn’t feel like there was any character development. Also, I felt like most of the book was about the romance rather than the murder, which I thought would be the focal point of the book. I made it pretty far, 76%, but I had to DNF it unfortunately. I would recommend this book for people who love books that touch on the reality of our unfair world involving race and racism and I commend the author on writing such a hard book!
Verdict: It wasn’t for me, but might be for you!