A review by quirkybibliophile
Light It Up by Kekla Magoon

5.0

This story is told through a series of vignettes after a cop shoots and kills an unarmed thirteen-year-old girl. Shae Tatum was on her way home with headphones in, a winter coat on, and in a rush but she never made it home. The community comes together in protest against the senseless taking of black lives by law enforcement and the injustice of the system that was created to protect.

This book was so moving and addressed such important and real issues. It addressed the ever-pressing issue of police brutality, and the ongoing problems black people face with Law enforcement just for existing. It does this in a manner that speaks about the issues through multiple different eyes and from all perspectives.

At first, I was worried I wouldn't be able to follow with so many characters and so many storylines but that added a lot to the story. I loved hearing from each character and watching how events change them. I loved watching Robb come to the realization he reaches after a very pivotal moment in the story. I also found it sad, moving and a lot to take in to watch so many of the children become adults overnight. I thought it was important that the police officer's daughter had her viewpoint shown and to see how conflicted she was about the actions of her parents.

Something else I enjoyed was watching the story play out on both sides. I liked hearing not just from the main cop and his family but also another cop, people who thought they escaped their old town, and people in the middle of it. It really showed the importance of community during those tumultuous times. I liked watching as all of their stories came together to create the bigger picture and watch the roles that they played in each other's lives.