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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
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:
No
I have two kinds of old friends. The first kind of old friend is the one that I can go months, or even years without seeing, but when I do finally see them again, it’s so easy to pick up where we left off. The other kind of old friend is the one that when I see them, I suddenly don’t know how to be around them. I get this feeling like I need to act like who I used to be in order for the friendship dynamic to work, but the problem is that I’ve grown so much that I don’t remember how to be that old version of myself, and I wouldn’t want to even if I could. And I hate it because it’s not that there was a falling out or anything, but it’s just that no matter how hard I try, the pieces just don’t fit anymore. Sometimes when you and your friends grow, you grow apart, and it’s nobody’s fault.
In Chlorine Sky, Mahogany Browne tells the story of a friendship falling apart. The main character, Sky, is used to living in the shadows of her outgoing best friend Lay Li. They start to drift apart when Lay Li puts her new boyfriend above her best friend by dismissing and laughing off the awful things he says about Sky. This is only the beginning though. Throughout the story Sky defines herself through other people who don’t treat her well, and she struggles to find her inherent worth in herself. Slowly, she learns to stand up for herself, to find value in herself, and to cut off toxic relationships when they are doing nothing for you but making you small.
One thing I loved about this book was that there were definitely aspects of Sky that I could really relate to, like making myself small for others and hiding in the shadows of friends with bigger personalities. However, her identity as a black girl makes her experience completely different from mine, as she had to deal with issues I haven’t and will never have to deal with, like racist comments and dealing with the angry black woman stereotype. I also love love love Browne’s writing style. Sky’s voice felt so true and so authentic and the basketball metaphors she uses are just so good.
In Chlorine Sky, Mahogany Browne tells the story of a friendship falling apart. The main character, Sky, is used to living in the shadows of her outgoing best friend Lay Li. They start to drift apart when Lay Li puts her new boyfriend above her best friend by dismissing and laughing off the awful things he says about Sky. This is only the beginning though. Throughout the story Sky defines herself through other people who don’t treat her well, and she struggles to find her inherent worth in herself. Slowly, she learns to stand up for herself, to find value in herself, and to cut off toxic relationships when they are doing nothing for you but making you small.
One thing I loved about this book was that there were definitely aspects of Sky that I could really relate to, like making myself small for others and hiding in the shadows of friends with bigger personalities. However, her identity as a black girl makes her experience completely different from mine, as she had to deal with issues I haven’t and will never have to deal with, like racist comments and dealing with the angry black woman stereotype. I also love love love Browne’s writing style. Sky’s voice felt so true and so authentic and the basketball metaphors she uses are just so good.
Fave Line: “You don’t have to wait for others to claim you / You pick yourself, I mean / Really choose yourself everyday”
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction / Novel in Verse
Rating:
4/5 ⭐️s
If you love Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing, you will adore this book. Browne does a great job exploring the experience many teens, especially girls, go through. I will definitely be ordering a copy for my class library.
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction / Novel in Verse
Rating:
4/5 ⭐️s
If you love Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing, you will adore this book. Browne does a great job exploring the experience many teens, especially girls, go through. I will definitely be ordering a copy for my class library.
me reading a book in verse is a glorious occasion
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so, this book follows a girl that suffers a friend breakup. i don't know if this review would even adequately voice how i felt when reading. friendships are such an intimate experience and can be more heartbreaking than romantic relationships and losing Lay Li hurt. losing a friend that you have so many memories with and just learn how to find your worth is just a crucial part of growing up. She finds love but she is trying to figure out who she is. I had a best friend when i was younger that i felt like i was in her shadow and it sucks because i felt like i was never really fully myself when i was around her and when she moved away, i was kind of allowed to figure that out. the parts with her playing basketball reminded me of when i played. when she befriends kiyana, it is so good for her just because she realizes how her sister is mean and just how she deserves better.
the moment where lay tells her that clifton tried to kiss her knowing that she was seeing him was just... she was never a friend and was just an awful person. like who allows their friend to be embarrassed like that. i guess this book was short and was amazing.
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so, this book follows a girl that suffers a friend breakup. i don't know if this review would even adequately voice how i felt when reading. friendships are such an intimate experience and can be more heartbreaking than romantic relationships and losing Lay Li hurt. losing a friend that you have so many memories with and just learn how to find your worth is just a crucial part of growing up. She finds love but she is trying to figure out who she is. I had a best friend when i was younger that i felt like i was in her shadow and it sucks because i felt like i was never really fully myself when i was around her and when she moved away, i was kind of allowed to figure that out. the parts with her playing basketball reminded me of when i played. when she befriends kiyana, it is so good for her just because she realizes how her sister is mean and just how she deserves better.
the moment where lay tells her that clifton tried to kiss her knowing that she was seeing him was just... she was never a friend and was just an awful person. like who allows their friend to be embarrassed like that. i guess this book was short and was amazing.
emotional
reflective
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
A reflective perspective on relationships of all kinds in a teenager. I loved the journey to a state of acceptance of self and increased self worth.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse
I like novels in verse, and I am intrigued by the number making their way onto YA bookshelves. I was interested by the premise of Chlorine Sky, and I got a copy from my local library.
Skyy is an unconventional young woman who spends the novel trying to make her way through the world, while trying to figure out how her best friendship unraveled. We don't always talk about platonic friendships ending, and I think that's an important part about young adulthood. Skyy's voice matures throughout the novel as she works her way through relationships, jealousy, and self-discovery.
As far as novels-in-verse go, this was unique, although not my favorite. I've read several, and this didn't stand out for me personally. But I should quickly add that I am not a teen, so perhaps not being in the key demographic was a factor. I give this a solid 3.5 stars.
Skyy is an unconventional young woman who spends the novel trying to make her way through the world, while trying to figure out how her best friendship unraveled. We don't always talk about platonic friendships ending, and I think that's an important part about young adulthood. Skyy's voice matures throughout the novel as she works her way through relationships, jealousy, and self-discovery.
As far as novels-in-verse go, this was unique, although not my favorite. I've read several, and this didn't stand out for me personally. But I should quickly add that I am not a teen, so perhaps not being in the key demographic was a factor. I give this a solid 3.5 stars.
I was very unsure about this one at first. I started this when I halfway into reading Mahogany's other book, Vinyl Moon, and perhaps that's why the big difference in writing quality caught me off guard. The writing in Vinyl Moon is much better, although I wouldn't say the writing in this book is bad. It just isn't as good. However, I genuinely enjoyed the overall story of this one, which had many intriguing aspects. Though I felt that certain parts, especially towards the end, were somewhat rushed, considering they tackled serious topics. I feel they definitely deserved more attention and care then they got.
There's a few pages where it mentions Angel, who's the main character from Vinyl Moon, so that was really cool to see!
There's a few pages where it mentions Angel, who's the main character from Vinyl Moon, so that was really cool to see!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes