Reviews

Whiteout by Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Tiffany D. Jackson

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kendragaylelee's review against another edition

4.0

Whiteout was really sweet.

As a bookseller, I'm so glad I read it--otherwise, I wouldn't have know that it's YA that features romance & love. Not really sex. There's one scene where sex is pointedly mentioned--but it's pretty tame. Kids in their early teens come into Bookish frequently asking for YA romance--and I'd definitely hand this one over with no qualms.

I loved that the authors of Whiteout managed to cover a variety of gender presentations and sexualities with no fanfare. I never felt like I was "learning something." Gender presentations and sexualities were just part of the characters, like any other attribute. Kids will feel seen. And it will allow them to expand their understanding of the ways that both gender & sexuality are on a spectrum.

Whiteout was penned by an all-star cast of Black YA authors. And readers are offered a whole lot of Black love & black joy. It really is a celebration of friendship and love--and Atlanta.

I also think (speaking white person who grew up in a very white suburb in Florida) all teen readers (regardless of race and ethnicity) get to see a wide array of what it might look like to be a Black teenager growing up today. Whiteout's cast of characters features musicians, athletes, nerds, socialites, scientists, Christians, Muslims, Atheists... While it's obvious to me, as a full grown white woman living & owning a business in Atlanta, that there are as many ways to be Black as there are Black people--I didn't have access to that representation as a kid. And I'm grateful to Whiteout for offering it up.

One more quick observation: as a full-grown reading this book, some of the representations of love and relationships seemed really naive and melodramatic. Which is why it is perfect for its intended audience of actual teenagers, who need to see representations of the way that they love and are loved (instead of the more realistic--or maybe jaded--version of love adults are constantly trying to force on them.

Buy Whiteout and support Bookish: https://bookshop.org/a/4334/9780063088146

(I listened to Whiteout on Libro.fm. Highly recommend. The narration is great! https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780063088177-whiteout?bookstore=bookishatl )

shadeyc's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-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

3.5

I listened to the audiobook of this which was really well done. The overall general gist of this entire book is kind of a gentle side hug, rather than a nice squishy you're the best human/s ever kind of hug. I think the stories were let down a little by not having enough room/the characters didn't have the space to really grow. The one story that sticks in my mind is the aquarium one towards the end of the book, that one's super sweet.