sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ace of Spades is the story of Chiamaka and Devon, the only two Black students at an almost all white prestigious high school in America. Someone named Aces stars revealing the two student's secrets and more to the whole school. Aces is out to get Devon and Chiamaka, but who are they? and why?
My only complaint was that the "WHO DID IT?" was spoiled for me thanks to the marketing team and book listing on Amazon! I went to buy this book from Amazon (as it was on sale) and the synopsis on their website spoiled the big reveal for me.
Spoiler
I sometimes hate when the synopsis says, "this novel is X show and Y book/movie put together!", because there's either hardly a comparison or it's spot on and then the story is no longer a surprise. In this case, the examples were the film "Get Out" and the show "Gossip Girl". The comparisons were spot on and because of that, there were few surprises left to figure out on my own.Overall, I really liked this novel, I'm giving this 4.5 stars out of 5, I'm knocking off .5 stars because I guessed some of the ending on my own. I'm also knocking a star off because Chiamaka was a jerk and unpleasant, and half the book was from her point of view so I couldn't avoid her annoying personality.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to this for free on libbyapp.com
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
cassielaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Car accident, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Racial slurs
This book contains highly disturbing depictions of institutionalized racism and racially motivated harassment and bullyingmoniipeters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Classism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Self harm
cjreadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Police brutality
paulabekkerus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Classism, Homophobia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Bullying, Gun violence, Outing, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Violence, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Stalking
m0rdred_the_fallen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Mi niño, tú no estás en esta escuela porque tu padre y yo tengamos dinero, sino porqué te tallas el lomo todos los días. El día que dejes de hacerlo, todo esto se va
Es una cruda verdad que los problemas que enfrentan los protagonistas sigan tan presentes y que, parafraseando a Chiamaka, les molesta más que les digas que son racistas al racismo en sí mismo; y se puede decir lo mismo de la homophobia, del clasismo, de los juegos de poder enfermos de estos grupos de odio. Aún cuando se nota que muy en el fondo saben que lo que hacen está mal, es un pobre consuelo para cuando usan su poder y sus recursos para atacar a inocentes. Tristemente, cuando el virus del fanatismo llega a la cabeza no hay nada que pueda hacerse por esa persona sino huir, pues el fanatismo y la estupidez nunca afectan a los que lo tienen, sino a aquellos que les rodean. Y lo peor del caso es lo compenetrado que está el sistema de ello, este sistema que no sólo promueve y protege actos de odio irracional; los demanda para seguir funcionando. El mundo moderno está construido sobre la sangre de generación tras generación de inocentes para el beneficio de unos pocos que se creen con derecho a todo.
En esta lectura sólo hubo una cosa que me dejó con ganas de más:
Spoiler
El arrepentimiento Belle se me hizo que llevaría a un arco de autorreflexión y luego de redención en el cual los Chiamaka y Devon le dicen, tal cual, que no pueden perdonarla y ya no después de 4 años planeando destruirlos, y Belle aceptándolo.Que haya sido un grupo de manifestantes quienes los salven al último tiene mayor peso porque es una comunidad que los acoge y protege, en lugar un individuo de una clase opresora que tuvo una crisis de conciencia. Eso, estuvo genial.
Lo que a mí gustaría haber visto es Belle recolectando información de Ases, delatando a la periodista y exponiendo a todos los integrantes en Niveus, y quizá algunos de otras escuelas como es que haya conocido por cualquier cosa. Pero que aún así Chiamaka le diga que no, no es suficiente por todo lo que le ha hecho. Incluso cuestionarla sobre su cambio de corazón, ¿Y si no se enamoraba de Chiamaka? ¿Se le opone a Ases porqué es lo correcto o porqué están agrediendo a alguien que quiere como pareja?
Lo recomendaria 10/10
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic friendship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
aklovekorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Cursing, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Sexual harassment
leahkarge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Outing, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Misogyny, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Infidelity, Blood, Car accident, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Biphobia, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Drug use
gabyleyendo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Classism, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Homophobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt, Outing, Police brutality, and Self harm
shell_s's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Gaslighting, Stalking, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment