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A review by debz57a52
Playground by 50 Cent, Lizzi Akana
3.0
I'm torn between giving this 3 stars and 4 stars. Let me explain why.
I teach remedial reading to urban high school students who have never gotten through a whole chapter book ever. I'm constantly searching for books that will grab them, via the author or front cover or subject matter, and get them all the way through. When I found this book, I thought it might be one of those books, and I was right. It's a quick read, with fairly short chapters and bigger-than-average type. It starts in the first few chapters with some serious fights and major attitude in the narration, which helps. It has a very happy ending, with a promise of more happiness coming for the main character. I already know the students in my classroom are impatient to read this one while I've been reading it, and I can't wait to hand it over on Monday. I would rate it a 4 for them.
However, it's a 3 for most adults, I think, especially those who don't pay much attention to 50 Cent or the rap music scene. I was angered by some of the serious issues the main character's going through, and especially the naive way he sees the people in his life. The book has a predictable plot line with an overly happy ending - too easy in some areas and too vacant in others. While the main character goes through some real emotional growth in the book, I feel like he accepted some things too readily without really facing the consequences very well. And one of two of the supporting characters kept giving the main character chances, more than any real person would have given him. So, it's not a glowing review for me as an adult reader, but I liked it well enough.
I teach remedial reading to urban high school students who have never gotten through a whole chapter book ever. I'm constantly searching for books that will grab them, via the author or front cover or subject matter, and get them all the way through. When I found this book, I thought it might be one of those books, and I was right. It's a quick read, with fairly short chapters and bigger-than-average type. It starts in the first few chapters with some serious fights and major attitude in the narration, which helps. It has a very happy ending, with a promise of more happiness coming for the main character. I already know the students in my classroom are impatient to read this one while I've been reading it, and I can't wait to hand it over on Monday. I would rate it a 4 for them.
However, it's a 3 for most adults, I think, especially those who don't pay much attention to 50 Cent or the rap music scene. I was angered by some of the serious issues the main character's going through, and especially the naive way he sees the people in his life. The book has a predictable plot line with an overly happy ending - too easy in some areas and too vacant in others. While the main character goes through some real emotional growth in the book, I feel like he accepted some things too readily without really facing the consequences very well. And one of two of the supporting characters kept giving the main character chances, more than any real person would have given him. So, it's not a glowing review for me as an adult reader, but I liked it well enough.