smadams's review against another edition
5.0
Quiet, nuanced, beautiful, poetic book that keeps pulling you forward.
katreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book and it made Renee Watson a must read author for me. I rooted for Jade the whole time. I loved how she expressed herself through art and grew so she felt seen and heard by those around her. My favorite moment was when she stood up to her teacher - it was very moving.
mangofran's review against another edition
4.0
I should have written a review earlier, but I kept holding it off. This book is fantastic. I love writing that dives into what a lot of authors are scared to cover, even in a world where everyone claims to love social justice.
You can feel the desperation of Jade as she wants to make things better for herself but can't throughout the whole story. Following her as she grows in her relationships with others is awesome. The only thing keeping this book from being 5 stars is
Other than that, great book.
You can feel the desperation of Jade as she wants to make things better for herself but can't throughout the whole story. Following her as she grows in her relationships with others is awesome. The only thing keeping this book from being 5 stars is
Spoiler
the weak, cutesy ending. There wasn't good closure on Jade and Sam's relationship. I wish we could have at least gotten an epilogue where Jade was traveling abroad.Other than that, great book.
everthereader's review against another edition
4.0
Review Posted On: Ever the Reader
Spoiler Free Review:
As always, I am very late to reviewing books but as the cliche saying goes, better late than never? Piecing Me Together
The book isn't written in verse, but the short chapters and poetic verses almost felt like it was a story written in verse. Art in all forms is significant throughout the story which really spoke to me. Jade is an artist and loves to draw and create collages. The art was symbolic of her life and Jade growing into herself. White privilege, racial profiling and police brutality are all topics brought up in this story. You really get to see how scary it is for black teenagers to be living in fear of being oppressed or arrested for no reason.
So one thing I've noticed in some YA books is after an event, the main character kind of just gives up on their education. I was really glad to see Jade still trying to strive for success. Her mother pushing her to try and pursue a great education was very reminiscent to my own parents and I'm sure to many others. I also liked the relationship between Jade and her mentor. Her mentor didn't fix Jade and was not perfect at all. There was some miscommunication in the beginning, but the friendship was genuine and encouraging.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, I especially loved the poem at the end which was on police brutality. The story really did pack a punch especially towards the end and i would highly recommend reading it.
Rating: 3.75/5
Spoiler Free Review:
As always, I am very late to reviewing books but as the cliche saying goes, better late than never? Piecing Me Together
The book isn't written in verse, but the short chapters and poetic verses almost felt like it was a story written in verse. Art in all forms is significant throughout the story which really spoke to me. Jade is an artist and loves to draw and create collages. The art was symbolic of her life and Jade growing into herself. White privilege, racial profiling and police brutality are all topics brought up in this story. You really get to see how scary it is for black teenagers to be living in fear of being oppressed or arrested for no reason.
So one thing I've noticed in some YA books is after an event, the main character kind of just gives up on their education. I was really glad to see Jade still trying to strive for success. Her mother pushing her to try and pursue a great education was very reminiscent to my own parents and I'm sure to many others. I also liked the relationship between Jade and her mentor. Her mentor didn't fix Jade and was not perfect at all. There was some miscommunication in the beginning, but the friendship was genuine and encouraging.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, I especially loved the poem at the end which was on police brutality. The story really did pack a punch especially towards the end and i would highly recommend reading it.
Rating: 3.75/5
clarag's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
libscote's review against another edition
This book is so powerful and just a great look at a kid growing up and wanting to offer something rather than always being given opportunities.
kirstenallen24's review against another edition
4.0
Great story of a Black teenage girl finding her voice, and learning to advocate for herself. I found her relationship with her mentor to be interesting.
internationalkris's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this Newbery Honor Book, but it didn't have a lot of action or drama to it so I would only give it to kids looking for a quiet and reflective read. The main character Jade lives in a rough neighborhood in Portland but she takes the bus everyday to a prep school where she is able to get a great education and lots of opportunities. Jade's life isn't easy but she consistently makes good decisions for herself as she works on her art (photography and collage) and learns to advocate for herself. At one pivotal point in the book Jade is not given a place on the week-long service trip to Central America. She is one of the top kids in Spanish class and when she confronts the teacher about the decision she emphasizes to him that even though she has been given spots in other programs that will offer her support, what she really wants is to be given a chance to offer her skills to others.
ilewis28's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0