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cassiahf's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hananas's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
nics_books's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
What a rollercoaster. After I read Candice Carty-Williams’ Notting Hill Carnival, I realised I had another short story about gang culture written by a black female author. And wow, this story was brilliant.
It was so well-written, with care and wit, and the believable use of slang really helped to bring the protagonist, JJ, to life. This is a story that feels like it will end in tragedy, but to what extent? Reading those final pages really hit hard as it doesn’t feel like fiction at all. This is a book you feel very involved in and powerless to stop the actions that turns JJ’s life upside down as he makes friends with the wrong people.
Brilliantly written, a real comment on gang culture and growing up as a black teenager, and how the relationships we have with our parents and friends can change our lives for the better or for the worst.
What a rollercoaster. After I read Candice Carty-Williams’ Notting Hill Carnival, I realised I had another short story about gang culture written by a black female author. And wow, this story was brilliant.
It was so well-written, with care and wit, and the believable use of slang really helped to bring the protagonist, JJ, to life. This is a story that feels like it will end in tragedy, but to what extent? Reading those final pages really hit hard as it doesn’t feel like fiction at all. This is a book you feel very involved in and powerless to stop the actions that turns JJ’s life upside down as he makes friends with the wrong people.
Brilliantly written, a real comment on gang culture and growing up as a black teenager, and how the relationships we have with our parents and friends can change our lives for the better or for the worst.
fiekesfiction's review
challenging
emotional
sad
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The heartbreaking story of a 14 year old telling his mother how he ended up dying.
It’s about the impact of racism, about how (especially young) people can make mistakes out of desperation. The main character is very flawed and he does things that aren’t smart, but it’s easy to understand why as he is very young and has a hard life. He is afraid and he just wants to make things better for himself and his family. You get to see the culture and expectations different people put on him.
It’s also nice to see the thee characters through his perspective like his mum. The writing worked really well imo (in my opinion). The language JJ uses and the way he explains them to his mum were realistic and funny at times. He was convincing as a kid.
I did think that the plot itself was original, but it didn’t always work. Because he is explaining the events in a letter to his mum, the many descriptions of moments that he was with his mum felt very much put in so that the reader would get more background on their relationship (which in general is interesting) but it didn’t feel natural or logical to actually put into a letter to her.
I feel like anything I say won’t really explain this story adequately, so if you have time to read this 80-page novella I recommend it.
<b> “I used to lie in my room at night expecting to see dead bodies falling outside my window like in films.” </b>
It’s about the impact of racism, about how (especially young) people can make mistakes out of desperation. The main character is very flawed and he does things that aren’t smart, but it’s easy to understand why as he is very young and has a hard life. He is afraid and he just wants to make things better for himself and his family. You get to see the culture and expectations different people put on him.
It’s also nice to see the thee characters through his perspective like his mum. The writing worked really well imo (in my opinion). The language JJ uses and the way he explains them to his mum were realistic and funny at times. He was convincing as a kid.
I did think that the plot itself was original, but it didn’t always work. Because he is explaining the events in a letter to his mum, the many descriptions of moments that he was with his mum felt very much put in so that the reader would get more background on their relationship (which in general is interesting) but it didn’t feel natural or logical to actually put into a letter to her.
I feel like anything I say won’t really explain this story adequately, so if you have time to read this 80-page novella I recommend it.
<b> “I used to lie in my room at night expecting to see dead bodies falling outside my window like in films.” </b>
artbreakerbookclub's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hannahrose_reads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
izzy01's review
2.0
I like to read. I hate to read when I'm forced to read.
I can't stand this book. It's short, and that's the only reason why it doesn't get a one star rating.
It's so fucking obvious that he's dead. You know the blurb on the back of the book? Yeah, nothing more happens. Nothing more.
The character is so unlikeable it's cartoonish. He thinks Afghanistan is in Africa and compares himself to jews during WWII.
I don't care that it's "important"
There are far better books discussing gang crime, being different, and being poor and a social "outcast" or "underdog" than this one.
This reads like someone read a factual text book about being poor and black in the London slum and then googled "cockney slang" and then sat down and wrote this mess.
The slang is literally written out and explained, and the swear words censored. What even. Ew.
I can't stand this book. It's short, and that's the only reason why it doesn't get a one star rating.
It's so fucking obvious that he's dead. You know the blurb on the back of the book? Yeah, nothing more happens. Nothing more.
The character is so unlikeable it's cartoonish. He thinks Afghanistan is in Africa and compares himself to jews during WWII.
I don't care that it's "important"
There are far better books discussing gang crime, being different, and being poor and a social "outcast" or "underdog" than this one.
This reads like someone read a factual text book about being poor and black in the London slum and then googled "cockney slang" and then sat down and wrote this mess.
The slang is literally written out and explained, and the swear words censored. What even. Ew.