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A review by ojtheviking
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
4.5
Last year I read The Hate U Give, and simply put, I loved it. I was then excited to get into this follow-up novel, not technically a sequel to T.H.U.G., but set in the same fictional community, Garden Heights. I could easily see this becoming almost like a Young Adult anthology series, with all the stories taking place in the Garden.
On the Come Up has - logically enough - some themes similar to T.H.U.G.; we have a young, female main character growing up in the middle of racism, police brutality, gang feuds, while at the same time trying to figure out herself, like teens often do. It just happens that this particular teen girl is also becoming a public figure, and is learning the dos and don'ts by trial and error, as we see how quickly things can be taken out of context and blown up in the time of social media, and how creating a character as an artist is not without risk.
It's a novel that says a lot about the power of words, for better and for worse. How they can inspire and empower, but also how they can be misconstrued, twisted, and influenced in unfortunate ways. There is a certain responsibility behind using powerful words. You can build a reputation that will earn you enemies, and you can also influence the next generation to follow in your footsteps in ways you didn't intend.
With that said, I feel like the tone is slightly lighter in this story than in T.H.U.G. There are definitely still some very real topics being explored, but the narration has a welcomed touch of humor sprinkled throughout. Some descriptions literally had me chuckling.
Thomas' writing is very captivating, seemingly effortless, and flows well in line with the first-person narration. We're inside Bri's head, and these are her own observations, feelings, and reactions to everything going on around her. Like we're an ever-present companion who she's confiding in. Writing the book in present tense also helps create this vibe, and fits well for the general slice-of-life feel of this story. It grounds the narrative in reality, and keeps us in the moment, kinda like we're watching things unfold in real time.
Exposition can be done very cleverly at times too. Early on, an imagined conversation between Bri and a school counselor is a neat tool to establish some of her backstory and family dynamics in a natural way. It's a moment that establishes parts of her character without seeming forced, and these pieces of information allow the author to elaborate more freely later on.
I also like how we're taken through Bri's thought process when she's preparing for her first freestyle battle. Catching small details about her opponent, turning them into keywords, and coming up with rhymes that fit. Like observing an opponent before a boxing match and memorizing when to duck and when to take a shot.
Overall, I feel the concept of being on the come-up has a parallel meaning in this novel. Not only is Bri finding her voice as an artist, but she's also finding her voice as a human, figuring out who she is, and who she does not want to be. All the supporting characters around her represent bits and pieces of both these sides; some are inspirations, and some are bad influences.
Another great read by Thomas.
On the Come Up has - logically enough - some themes similar to T.H.U.G.; we have a young, female main character growing up in the middle of racism, police brutality, gang feuds, while at the same time trying to figure out herself, like teens often do. It just happens that this particular teen girl is also becoming a public figure, and is learning the dos and don'ts by trial and error, as we see how quickly things can be taken out of context and blown up in the time of social media, and how creating a character as an artist is not without risk.
It's a novel that says a lot about the power of words, for better and for worse. How they can inspire and empower, but also how they can be misconstrued, twisted, and influenced in unfortunate ways. There is a certain responsibility behind using powerful words. You can build a reputation that will earn you enemies, and you can also influence the next generation to follow in your footsteps in ways you didn't intend.
With that said, I feel like the tone is slightly lighter in this story than in T.H.U.G. There are definitely still some very real topics being explored, but the narration has a welcomed touch of humor sprinkled throughout. Some descriptions literally had me chuckling.
Thomas' writing is very captivating, seemingly effortless, and flows well in line with the first-person narration. We're inside Bri's head, and these are her own observations, feelings, and reactions to everything going on around her. Like we're an ever-present companion who she's confiding in. Writing the book in present tense also helps create this vibe, and fits well for the general slice-of-life feel of this story. It grounds the narrative in reality, and keeps us in the moment, kinda like we're watching things unfold in real time.
Exposition can be done very cleverly at times too. Early on, an imagined conversation between Bri and a school counselor is a neat tool to establish some of her backstory and family dynamics in a natural way. It's a moment that establishes parts of her character without seeming forced, and these pieces of information allow the author to elaborate more freely later on.
I also like how we're taken through Bri's thought process when she's preparing for her first freestyle battle. Catching small details about her opponent, turning them into keywords, and coming up with rhymes that fit. Like observing an opponent before a boxing match and memorizing when to duck and when to take a shot.
Overall, I feel the concept of being on the come-up has a parallel meaning in this novel. Not only is Bri finding her voice as an artist, but she's also finding her voice as a human, figuring out who she is, and who she does not want to be. All the supporting characters around her represent bits and pieces of both these sides; some are inspirations, and some are bad influences.
Another great read by Thomas.