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wenyd's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
chelseamayxxx's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Such a heartbreaking read. I really enjoyed learning about the culture and the way that this culture comes together in hard times but run away in bad times. It was such a raw and honest story and the way the author wrote about it was done in such a respectful way xxx
mordecai's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
chloebethx_'s review
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nyashatarlia's review against another edition
2.0
I honestly didn’t like this book.
I didn’t like the language (I know she was trying to making it read like a young boy but it was just tacky).
I didn’t like the story, I just didn’t take to it at all.
I’ve given it 2 stars as it does highlight some important issues in the life of young black boys, but other than the the story is a no for me.
I didn’t like the language (I know she was trying to making it read like a young boy but it was just tacky).
I didn’t like the story, I just didn’t take to it at all.
I’ve given it 2 stars as it does highlight some important issues in the life of young black boys, but other than the the story is a no for me.
veelaughtland's review
3.0
A decent read, telling the experience of a young boy getting involved in local gangs in London. Felt for the most part authentic in the storytelling voice, but I would have liked this more if it had been a fleshed out novel rather than a short story/novella.
mrsruthiewebb's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. This was a novelette with a big story. Having recently read ‘I Am Not Your Baby Mother’ where Candice talks of her worries for her black son and her reasons for moving out of London, this book backed up her words perfectly.
The single person perspective worked perfectly in this instance. It was very important to not have any noise from other voices. We kinda know what the ended is going to be, but not how we get there. Jerome has the undivided attention of the reader and hearing his personal recollections was insightful, heartbreaking and worrying. The experiences of young black men...
It missed out on the illusive fifth star because, for me, I didn’t feel the emotion as deep as I feel I should‘ve at the end. It was so powerful but I wasn’t left as punched in the stomach as I expected for how it ended for the characters. I wanted to see the legacy left behind, the pain that remained and the lessons learned (if any).
That said. It was all from the perspective of Jerome and there’s every chance that this is exactly how a 14 year old boy would have conveyed it. That observation is a purely selfish one that is have liked but may not be how the author wanted me to feel. Alternatively, having heard others had the emotional impact I didn’t, it may have been more about where my own head was at the time of reading.
I’d recommend this one.
The single person perspective worked perfectly in this instance. It was very important to not have any noise from other voices. We kinda know what the ended is going to be, but not how we get there. Jerome has the undivided attention of the reader and hearing his personal recollections was insightful, heartbreaking and worrying. The experiences of young black men...
It missed out on the illusive fifth star because, for me, I didn’t feel the emotion as deep as I feel I should‘ve at the end. It was so powerful but I wasn’t left as punched in the stomach as I expected for how it ended for the characters. I wanted to see the legacy left behind, the pain that remained and the lessons learned (if any).
That said. It was all from the perspective of Jerome and there’s every chance that this is exactly how a 14 year old boy would have conveyed it. That observation is a purely selfish one that is have liked but may not be how the author wanted me to feel. Alternatively, having heard others had the emotional impact I didn’t, it may have been more about where my own head was at the time of reading.
I’d recommend this one.
kathrynkaupa's review against another edition
5.0
The inevitability of this book, the teenage angsty ness of the book, and the mundaneness of this book is where the power lies.
reanimatedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to the audiobook through my local library. Read by Malachi Kirby, always interesting when your own name pops up.
This was a brilliant introduction to this authors work and I will definitely be checking out some of her other novels as a result. Although the storyline was predictably depressing and stereotypical of a youth growing up in impoverished London borough it still had a lot of heart and character development.
This was a brilliant introduction to this authors work and I will definitely be checking out some of her other novels as a result. Although the storyline was predictably depressing and stereotypical of a youth growing up in impoverished London borough it still had a lot of heart and character development.