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bookcaptivated's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Blood, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, Homophobia, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Confinement, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Dementia, Outing, Alcoholism, Bullying, Alcohol, Car accident, Classism, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Torture
melaniereadsbooks's review
challenging
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? Yes
4.75
I am so glad I decided to read this book this soon after release. It was so meaningful to me and I absolutely loved it.
This story is told through multiple points of view as well as multiple timelines. All timelines are explained in relation to the day Kezi was arrested while at a protest against police brutality. I was equally enthralled by every POV and timeline that was put into this story. I think it was a great call to tell this story that way, and it really kept me guessing as to what had happened and how everything would be resolved.
Happi's character development was absolutely everything. The amount of learning and growth that she went through between the day Kezi was arrested and the end of the book was incredible. I feel like everyone could relate to this character!
I also was very interested with the history that this story told and interwove throughout its pages. The discussion of the road safety book, sundown towns, and prominent historic figures was very informative and interesting, and worked well with the rest of the narrative.
This book (as seen by the title) is themed around respectability politics, and the idea that Black people are only accepted if they subscribe to specific white standards and can be deemed "respectable." That they only deserve to live if they are "one of the good ones." I thought this book did a wonderful job of delving into that theme and exploring how damaging it is.
I also loved the exploration of queerness within the church! I always like to read about this and consider how different churches accept (or don't) queerness.
This story is told through multiple points of view as well as multiple timelines. All timelines are explained in relation to the day Kezi was arrested while at a protest against police brutality. I was equally enthralled by every POV and timeline that was put into this story. I think it was a great call to tell this story that way, and it really kept me guessing as to what had happened and how everything would be resolved.
Happi's character development was absolutely everything. The amount of learning and growth that she went through between the day Kezi was arrested and the end of the book was incredible. I feel like everyone could relate to this character!
I also was very interested with the history that this story told and interwove throughout its pages. The discussion of the road safety book, sundown towns, and prominent historic figures was very informative and interesting, and worked well with the rest of the narrative.
This book (as seen by the title) is themed around respectability politics, and the idea that Black people are only accepted if they subscribe to specific white standards and can be deemed "respectable." That they only deserve to live if they are "one of the good ones." I thought this book did a wonderful job of delving into that theme and exploring how damaging it is.
I also loved the exploration of queerness within the church! I always like to read about this and consider how different churches accept (or don't) queerness.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism and Vomit
drugging
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