A review by amandalorianxo
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Powerful, emotional and raw. This is my first five star read of 2022 and I’m hoping this won’t be the last. Amal is wrongly accused of committing a crime he didn’t do and turns to poetry & art to help him get through his first few months in jail. I annotated and tabbed a lot as I read & it breaks my heart that this is still a reality for black boys across the U.S. This book is also written in verse which I think made the storytelling that much more impactful. If you haven’t read this, I’m imploring you to do so. 
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