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conniesbeans's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Police brutality
Moderate: Drug abuse and Murder
astereads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As you probably can see, I'm a huge fan of Tiffany D. Jackson's books, but this is the first time I found myself a little bit disappointed with her work. And I think I know the reason. I put my expectation in a different direction.
This book is the 'lightest' among her other works. Before I read this book, I thought I'd get a plot twist as surprising as the one on Monday's not Coming. And I was wrong.
As always, Tiffany could hook you without as much as an effort to get you on an adventure with our three main characters; Quady, Rell, and Jazz. Although I lack connection with her characters here, her writing is always perfect for me.
You know, if I could concentrate better and put my expectation in the right direction, I'll probably like this more.
This book is perfect for you if you like historical fiction books with hip hop culture.
This book is the 'lightest' among her other works. Before I read this book, I thought I'd get a plot twist as surprising as the one on Monday's not Coming. And I was wrong.
As always, Tiffany could hook you without as much as an effort to get you on an adventure with our three main characters; Quady, Rell, and Jazz. Although I lack connection with her characters here, her writing is always perfect for me.
You know, if I could concentrate better and put my expectation in the right direction, I'll probably like this more.
This book is perfect for you if you like historical fiction books with hip hop culture.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, and Grief
jainnyreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
invaderlinz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, and Murder
heymilly's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Gun violence
lorithereadingfairy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: Drug Use, Gangs, death (off-page), death of a sibling, gun violence, police bruality, grief
Rep: Black Cast, Black MC’s
Headline: Three Kids From Brooklyn Pull Off the Biggest Heist in Hip-Hop History
A few days ago, I decided to go binge listen through Jackson’s books via audiobooks, and y’all every time I do-it’s a masterpiece. The audiobooks for her books are absolutely GORGEOUS, STUNNING AND I ALWAYS GET CHILLS FROM LISTENTING TO THEM. Jackson’s books are so gorgeous and I keep falling in love with him, mostly because the narrator(s) in her books.
Let Me Hear a Rhyme has three/four narrators that narrates Jasmine, Quadir and Jarrell and a little bit of Steph. An I love them. I was expecting one narrator, but multiple making it easier to distinguish the characters, but each narrator brought out each character respectfully.
I love Jackson’s books a lot especially with her characters. And these characters were so loveable. Jasmine is Steph’s brother, who is a brilliant singer, and trying to piece together what happened to her older brother and why he got murdured. Quadir and Jarrel are both Steph’s best friends and are trying to find out what happened to him.
All three of them team up in order to show what Steph was really good in: in making music. They want to highlight what their friend’s life could have been, and y’all, it was so good. Their characters were so strong and they developed so well throughout this novel. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO LOVE THEM.
I LOVE THAT THIS BOOK WAS HIP-HOP INPSIRED. Steph’s music was genius and it always led me breathless every time I could hear it through the audiobook. It’s one huge highlight from listening to the audiobook. Tupac, the hip hop and just teens being teens is literally the best.
I love the way Jackson wrote the love about Brooklyn and how much these three teens cared about their town. And the culture is was brought, and it was so very beautiful. Along with late 90’s nostalgia.
I loved that this book dealt with gangs, police brutality, snitching and drug use-things that are still very real to this day. And the way each topic was handled with care was so good especially because they happened in the 90’s and not just today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug use, Police brutality, and Grief
onarosebeam's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Gun violence
jennastopreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see? Sometimes your words just hypnotize me…
Replace Biggie with Tiffany Jackson’s name in that hook, and you have my feelings about this YA masterpiece. Why aren’t more people reading/talking about this book?! Seriously, this book should easily have 50,000 ratings on Goodreads by now
This book described life in 1990’s Bed-Stuy so vividly. I felt like I was walking the streets with the teens and like I was a part of their friendships and romances. The development of each character kept me completely engrossed as I peeled back the layer of each of their stories and learned the motives behind every action they took throughout the course of the novel.
5 adjectives to describe this book:
conversational – I recommend listening to the audio for at least part of it if you can.
informative – I learned so much about a time period/place I didn’t get to live through as an adult.
raw – the way Jackson accesses and expresses emotions is unbelievably powerful.
gripping – never bored.
suspenseful
conversational – I recommend listening to the audio for at least part of it if you can.
informative – I learned so much about a time period/place I didn’t get to live through as an adult.
raw – the way Jackson accesses and expresses emotions is unbelievably powerful.
gripping – never bored.
suspenseful
5 things about this book (4 I loved, 1 I didn’t):
I loved the characters and their unique personalities. I always knew whose POV I was reading just by the language in it.
I loved the budding romance between two of our MC’s.
I loved that everything was not as it seemed.
I loved the layers – they were executed perfectly and woven together so intricately and flawlessly.
I didn’t love how quickly it wrapped up once the mystery was solved.
I loved the characters and their unique personalities. I always knew whose POV I was reading just by the language in it.
I loved the budding romance between two of our MC’s.
I loved that everything was not as it seemed.
I loved the layers – they were executed perfectly and woven together so intricately and flawlessly.
I didn’t love how quickly it wrapped up once the mystery was solved.
Overall, this book packs a powerful punch while still retaining its very readable YA skeleton. Absolutely recommend. 4.75 stars from me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, and Racial slurs