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philipregalado 's review for:
On the Come Up
by Angie Thomas
I am in awe of Angie Thomas's writing in On the Come Up. She has evolved so much since writing The Hate U Give. The book was an incredible story following Bri, who is the daughter of a famous deceased rapper in her area, as she wants to make it big. At her school, however, she is a hoodlum to the guards and teachers, and as she expresses herself into a song, she goes viral for the wrong reasons. I loved Bri as a character because like anybody, she is not perfect. At times she may be rash and burst out, tarnishing her image. But at the same time, she advocates for equality for all colored kids who are victimized by law enforcement. Bri is resilient and will not let anyone silence her for speaking what is on her mind. There are many other figures in the novel that help shape Bri and guide her motivations in the story. Her mother Jay struggles to keep a roof over her children's heads. She is now a sober woman who has left her rough past behind and proves that anyone can change and turn their life around. Jay really cares for her children and did not want to leave them when she was not in a good place. The social situation gave Bri the motivation to go out and find people who will make her big. But she got sucked into the business and let a manager control her like they controlled her father. Bri was perfectly capable to work for herself and she learned not to let others manipulate her and to be true to herself. In addition to her family, she had friends like Malik, Sonny, and Curtis who were there to support her in her struggles. With her friends and family, Bri managed to get through the judgment of people from her church, people at school, and finding herself in all the mess. My favorite character in the novel was Aunt Pooh because she was always there for Bri at her battles, and she helped Bri through her fame. She really wanted to change, and I know that she will change for sure. Pooh is still in the process of finding her full potential and she gives this hope to readers that one day they will find what they were meant to be. Aside from all the major plot elements, I was astonished by the beauty of Angie Thomas's words. She crafted Bri's raps so well and the meaning behind them was exquisite and true to what happens today with many black lives. I also loved that even in the midst of drama and strife, Thomas wove in comedy and relief into the plot beautifully (especially remarks to Black Panther and Star Wars). This book filled me with so many emotions. It carried such a great message that many people today should know. Even with people tearing you down and doing awful things in the world, do what you can to change the world. Speak up and be who you are. Even if people are putting you down, you still have your voice, so use it. Bri was not a quitter and she managed to find hope in all that was lost. Overall, On the Come Up is a literary masterpiece that everyone should come by in their lifetime.