Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

113 reviews

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

📚Book Review📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yousef Salaam was an empowering and poignant story told in verse.  I first discovered this unique narrative technique with Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I can truly say that after reading a handful of books in this style, it’s one of my favourites. 

The story of Amal, a young Black teen wrongly  incarcerated, navigates a deeply flawed world determined to cage him in. With his artistic talent, the support of his mother, and the bonds of friendship, Amal finds the hope within to survive, to thrive, and to heal. 

The story was deeply moving and the poetry palpable. Despite the biased and broken system, Amal is able to rise up. 

I’ll end this with one of my favourite poems, Dust. 

“They can’t kill you in here 
but they will try, Umi says
from across the round table 

That’s the point
Locking you up isn’t enough 
for them              They will try 
to crush your spirit until 
you’re nothing but— 

             Dust 
             we both say together 

And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks 

                 It rises, I whisper” 
…

I encourage you all to read this one. 🫶

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Content Warnings

Minor: Police brutality, Grief, Violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs

amiraqualls's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

persian_green's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Racism

Moderate: Violence and Murder

jocelyn_fowler's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

karsenryanluis's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Violence

sglance9's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Confinement

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

zombiezami's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Violence, Racism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cursing, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Medical content, and Slavery

deckleeditproof's review

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs

takarakei's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It was very well narrated. I loved the theme of art being therapeutic and a way for people to express and connect. This was my first novel in verse, but I think especially on audiobook it reads very much like a novel and I would’ve liked more poetry to the prose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Bullying

camiereads's review against another edition

inspiring 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism