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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.
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: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mozimmerm'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
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: Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mr_munch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Stalking
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
j_osiiie'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
spooderman'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder and Pregnancy
shine_books1'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Racism, Vomit, and Alcohol
t_higgsreviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
CAWPILE = 9.07
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Outing
Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
coryannellerbe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The two main characters are so well written, they felt very real. Reading this was almost like reading a diary. The two leads have their strengths, flaws, things they aren't willing to compromise on.
Chi is motivated to succeed at almost any cost. She looks at her high school success as a means to an end, and she views a lot of relationship that way too. She doesn't have many friends because she surrounds herself with people who seem to share that same idea: relationships and friendships in high school are a contract, to gain popularity, win awards and recognition, get good grades, and get accepted into Yale University. She's successful and smart, but she acknowledges her drive unapologetically.
Devon is a bit more of a dreamer, though he comes from a neighborhood where "dreaming is dangerous". He's at school on scholarship and dreaming of getting into Julliard and studying music. He works hard because his mom has sacrificed everything to get him a chance at a rarefied education, and he wants to make all the struggle they've gone through worth it. He's more of a dreamer then Chi, a little more withdrawn and reflective. Plus, while Chi's whole world revolves around their school, Devon almost seems to live in two worlds, one where he clearly doesn't fit in and one where he doesn't feel safe.
This book took elements of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and Get Out and turned them on their heads. It used a lot of similar plot elements to create a world we as readers could recognize while revealing the dark underbelly of the world that we might not have been expecting.
This is not your average "who-dun-it" and it really feels like it should be required reading in the digital age.
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Ableism