Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

84 reviews

blainereads's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective 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

4.5

I’ve read few books that *actually* live up to their comp titles (in this case, Jason Reynolds and Elizabeth Acevedo), but this was a perfect marriage of the best parts of those authors’ works and also adds an element of (devastating) realism on top. Not only does it incite empathy effortlessly, but it introduces a lot of important concepts to the audience (re: abolitionism) without ever info dumping or overwhelming the reader. This might be YA but it should be required reading for all ages. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Violence

space_bandit's review against another edition

emotional informative 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Racism

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

toadlovesreading's review against another edition

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, and Violence

miniando's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Racism

cwatson1234's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Physical abuse

iheartm4m's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, and Blood

atlas_likes_to_read's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

This was a beautifully written story that I had to give five stars. Initially, I was going to give a 4.75, but the fact this is based partially on true events makes it even more heartbreaking and pushes it up to five stars. Amal is a fantastically mapped out character and Yusef is so strong for everything he's been through and so amazing for all he's achieved. I recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are uneducated on the justice system, and to black youth trying to find their way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Police brutality

black writers, diversity, incarceration, poetry, art, strong main characters, black youth, POC, creative

melmattocks21's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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? Yes

4.0

While this was a quick read, it took awhile due to the heavy content. I enjoyed reading Amal’s story, but couldn’t believe how abrupt the ending was. That disappointed me because I felt there was so much left unsaid. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Confinement

thyroyalreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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 and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence, Cursing, Violence, and Classism

criticalbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, and Violence