davidup_15 's review for:

The Lebs by Michael Mohammed Ahmad

4.0

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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One of the most interesting and arresting books I've ever read; I finished it in an afternoon. It portrays the deeply distorted and hypermasculine worldview of a group of boys in a way that makes the reader not only understand but feel how normal it is to these boys, and though it deals with some very heavy topics, it poses a lot of compelling questions about how racial oppression can lead to pushback in ways that are not always socially acceptable. The final section was also heartbreaking, but the ending had an almost shockingly hopeful note.