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A review by rubyraereads
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen R. Lee
4.0
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Big thanks to Crown Readers at Random House Childrens and Turn The Pages Tours for the eARC via Netgalley!
Yet another moment of silence for that title and COVER OMGGGG IM IN LOVE!!!!!!
Did I just devour this entire book in the just under half a day? Mayhaps so.
I also read this at a very coincidental and kind of perfect time as I’m just about to start a new semester. Not a freshman but still.
I was reading on a bit of a tight schedule so I both read along and listened to this book via audiobook, which I definitely recommend. I thought the narrator did a brilliant job and I could follow along very clearly, and I was going on 2x speeds oops,,,
Let’s start up with how important this story is and how I don’t think such a topic has been discussed in this genre before, which I really appreciated. Racism on campuses is an issue not talked about enough and I think the way Kristen R. Lee approached the topic was impactful and simultaneously very easily accessible!!!
Savannah was a main character full of spunk and I don’t think there was a better character for this novel to follow. Lee told this story through the eyes of a freshman (first year where I’m from) and it made for us as readers to get to experience this college through fresh eyes, which I loved.
This book also had me fuming, and it truly baffles me that a person would say half of the stuff being said to Savannah. On like her first day? Maybe it doesn’t baffle me.
However, my issue lies with the writing and character development. I found this book so easily readable and I flew through it, but I also can’t help but feel that the dialogue was slightly off and it didn’t always feel like they were humans, which made me struggle to connect with them. I also don’t think the author explored her characters enough. I loved Savannah’s mom and Tasha, but I would have liked to see more of them. It felt like there wasn’t enough space between the severity of the activism and for us to get to know the characters, and also see more campus life.
That being said, I absolutely loved the ending and it tied everything together really well. I’m super looking forward to what Kristen R. Lee writes next!!!
Overall, I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something short but still packs a punch, that Lee has filled to the brim with discussions that we need to have. Read for an empowering debut from an author who definitely has more in store <3<3<3
Big thanks to Crown Readers at Random House Childrens and Turn The Pages Tours for the eARC via Netgalley!
Yet another moment of silence for that title and COVER OMGGGG IM IN LOVE!!!!!!
Did I just devour this entire book in the just under half a day? Mayhaps so.
I also read this at a very coincidental and kind of perfect time as I’m just about to start a new semester. Not a freshman but still.
I was reading on a bit of a tight schedule so I both read along and listened to this book via audiobook, which I definitely recommend. I thought the narrator did a brilliant job and I could follow along very clearly, and I was going on 2x speeds oops,,,
Let’s start up with how important this story is and how I don’t think such a topic has been discussed in this genre before, which I really appreciated. Racism on campuses is an issue not talked about enough and I think the way Kristen R. Lee approached the topic was impactful and simultaneously very easily accessible!!!
Savannah was a main character full of spunk and I don’t think there was a better character for this novel to follow. Lee told this story through the eyes of a freshman (first year where I’m from) and it made for us as readers to get to experience this college through fresh eyes, which I loved.
This book also had me fuming, and it truly baffles me that a person would say half of the stuff being said to Savannah. On like her first day? Maybe it doesn’t baffle me.
However, my issue lies with the writing and character development. I found this book so easily readable and I flew through it, but I also can’t help but feel that the dialogue was slightly off and it didn’t always feel like they were humans, which made me struggle to connect with them. I also don’t think the author explored her characters enough. I loved Savannah’s mom and Tasha, but I would have liked to see more of them. It felt like there wasn’t enough space between the severity of the activism and for us to get to know the characters, and also see more campus life.
That being said, I absolutely loved the ending and it tied everything together really well. I’m super looking forward to what Kristen R. Lee writes next!!!
Overall, I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something short but still packs a punch, that Lee has filled to the brim with discussions that we need to have. Read for an empowering debut from an author who definitely has more in store <3<3<3