Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by laurel00
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"I wanted you to know that when I call your name, Chiamaka, I'm saying My daughter is beautiful and smart, and she brings me so much joy."
I've been hyping myself up for this book for about a year now, and with all the amazing reviews I've heard for it, a part of me was worried that my expectations had become too high and that I would ultimately be disappointed or underwhelmed. Thankfully, that was in no way the case. This book absolutely deserves all the praise it has received, and I completely understand why everyone has recommended this novel.
I simply could not put this book down. I started it last night, stayed up until 3am to keep reading, and spent my entire afternoon finishing it. It was captivating, it put me on edge, there were quite a few scenes and passages that actually made my heart stop for a second. It was great.
Of course, the message here is devastating and the story itself is traumatic, but I appreciate how raw and honest Àbíké-Íyímídé was when writing this novel. I'm glad that she didn't hold back, that she showcased how deep racism runs in white communities: the excuses people gave for "not having a choice", how easy it is to convince lower class white people that participating in white supremacy will ultimately benefit them, and the fact that being queer in no way absolves you of your racist biases and your participation as the oppressor. It was extremely angering and frustrating, but also very real, and while the story itself might be slightly fictionalized, the characters themselves were without a doubt true representations of racist individuals and institutions.
The whole story is heartbreaking, and it's so difficult to see the main characters having to suffer so much, especially because you come to love them so dearly. Sure they make mistakes, you could question some of their choices or morals (e.g.: Chiamaka exhibits a lot of classism towards Devon, and never really notices it, or tries to show any nuance or understanding). But at the end of the day, they're essentially kids who have been left to their own devices and who want nothing more but to be allowed to succeed and find happiness. So when you start to notice the way everything and everyone has been turned against them, your heart can't help but shatter for them.
I know I'm late to the trend, but I absolutely recommend this book, 100%.
I've been hyping myself up for this book for about a year now, and with all the amazing reviews I've heard for it, a part of me was worried that my expectations had become too high and that I would ultimately be disappointed or underwhelmed. Thankfully, that was in no way the case. This book absolutely deserves all the praise it has received, and I completely understand why everyone has recommended this novel.
I simply could not put this book down. I started it last night, stayed up until 3am to keep reading, and spent my entire afternoon finishing it. It was captivating, it put me on edge, there were quite a few scenes and passages that actually made my heart stop for a second. It was great.
Of course, the message here is devastating and the story itself is traumatic, but I appreciate how raw and honest Àbíké-Íyímídé was when writing this novel. I'm glad that she didn't hold back, that she showcased how deep racism runs in white communities: the excuses people gave for "not having a choice", how easy it is to convince lower class white people that participating in white supremacy will ultimately benefit them, and the fact that being queer in no way absolves you of your racist biases and your participation as the oppressor. It was extremely angering and frustrating, but also very real, and while the story itself might be slightly fictionalized, the characters themselves were without a doubt true representations of racist individuals and institutions.
The whole story is heartbreaking, and it's so difficult to see the main characters having to suffer so much, especially because you come to love them so dearly. Sure they make mistakes, you could question some of their choices or morals (e.g.: Chiamaka exhibits a lot of classism towards Devon, and never really notices it, or tries to show any nuance or understanding). But at the end of the day, they're essentially kids who have been left to their own devices and who want nothing more but to be allowed to succeed and find happiness. So when you start to notice the way everything and everyone has been turned against them, your heart can't help but shatter for them.
I know I'm late to the trend, but I absolutely recommend this book, 100%.