You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
justjoel 's review for:
On the Come Up
by Angie Thomas
On the Come Up is a young adult contemporary novel set in the same neighborhood as Angie Thomas' previous work, The Hate U Give.
This book follows the story of Bri Jackson, a black teenager with aspirations of being the Next Big Thing in rap music. Her father was an up-and-coming star when he was murdered, an event which sent her mother into the world of drug addiction and led to Bri and her brother going to live with their grandparents.
Her mother spent years getting clean and working to get her kids back, but things are tough for the Jackson family, and the constant worry about whether they will have food, heat, and shelter play strong roles in Bri wanting to develop her talent and get out of her neighborhood.
Bri gets a break, but becomes involved with her father's former manager. She tries to keep this information from her family, knowing her mother will not approve.
I went into this without a great deal of expectation. I mean, THUG was probably the best book I read last year, and sophomore slumps are as real in the publishing world as they are in the music industry. Was there any way Angie Thomas could outdo herself with this book?
The answer is no. I didn't get the same feeling while reading this that it could have the same impact as THUG (which I think in the future will be known as this generation's To Kill a Mockingbird). But it is still a worthwhile read.
There were minor editing errors in the Kindle version I borrowed from my library. Someone doesn't know the difference between physical twitches and blood-sucking parasites (tics vs. ticks), and that drives me moderately insane. Like, how can you have someone half-ass edit a follow-up book to a number one bestseller?
Storywise, there were a few coincidences that went right up to the border of suspending disbelief and pressed their faces against the glass.
I don't think you have to be a hip-hop fan to enjoy this book, but it probably wouldn't hurt as references are interspersed throughout the novel.
What does make this book great on its own is its unflinching portrayal of the realities of poverty and the drive to make things better even when the system theoretically designed to help you is keeping you down.
The fears, the struggles, the friendships and the family are what makes this book special. The fierce examination of white privilege and the sexism and misogyny within rap culture are also important reasons to read this book.
While it wasn't THUG, and I don't expect it to linger in my head the same way, Thomas' writing style, the way she tackles tough topics, the way she makes you think, and the humanity she brings to her characters have made her a favorite author and one whose works I view as socially relevant.
5 out of 5 stars.
This book follows the story of Bri Jackson, a black teenager with aspirations of being the Next Big Thing in rap music. Her father was an up-and-coming star when he was murdered, an event which sent her mother into the world of drug addiction and led to Bri and her brother going to live with their grandparents.
Her mother spent years getting clean and working to get her kids back, but things are tough for the Jackson family, and the constant worry about whether they will have food, heat, and shelter play strong roles in Bri wanting to develop her talent and get out of her neighborhood.
Bri gets a break, but becomes involved with her father's former manager. She tries to keep this information from her family, knowing her mother will not approve.
I went into this without a great deal of expectation. I mean, THUG was probably the best book I read last year, and sophomore slumps are as real in the publishing world as they are in the music industry. Was there any way Angie Thomas could outdo herself with this book?
The answer is no. I didn't get the same feeling while reading this that it could have the same impact as THUG (which I think in the future will be known as this generation's To Kill a Mockingbird). But it is still a worthwhile read.
There were minor editing errors in the Kindle version I borrowed from my library. Someone doesn't know the difference between physical twitches and blood-sucking parasites (tics vs. ticks), and that drives me moderately insane. Like, how can you have someone half-ass edit a follow-up book to a number one bestseller?
Storywise, there were a few coincidences that went right up to the border of suspending disbelief and pressed their faces against the glass.
I don't think you have to be a hip-hop fan to enjoy this book, but it probably wouldn't hurt as references are interspersed throughout the novel.
What does make this book great on its own is its unflinching portrayal of the realities of poverty and the drive to make things better even when the system theoretically designed to help you is keeping you down.
The fears, the struggles, the friendships and the family are what makes this book special. The fierce examination of white privilege and the sexism and misogyny within rap culture are also important reasons to read this book.
While it wasn't THUG, and I don't expect it to linger in my head the same way, Thomas' writing style, the way she tackles tough topics, the way she makes you think, and the humanity she brings to her characters have made her a favorite author and one whose works I view as socially relevant.
5 out of 5 stars.