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thewordlesspoet'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? No
4.75
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Child abuse and Murder
doll2021'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: Racism and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Police brutality
ashylibrarian's review
- 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? Yes
4.75
Brooks also touches on pretty much everything a young adult mystery should touch on. There was drama. There was Romance. There were shady characters. Characters that made you question your judgment.
I had my assumptions about who the killer was about a third of the way through, but with all of the distractions and character perspectives, I could never be 100% sure. I think that part of this was due to all of the POV changes. I don't often love a book that changes POV so much because it feels like it is easy to become lost, but how Brooks wrote the multiple POVs was smart, intentional, and full of depth. Each main character was so dynamic, and the supporting characters fit into the plot like perfect puzzle pieces.
I am always happy to recommend this title to readers!
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual harassment
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
There were a few plot threads that felt like they weren’t explored as much as they could have been. The ending also felt abrupt.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Gangs, incarcerationknockoffrainbow'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
reaganisreading's review
- 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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
ghostlyprince's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
auteaandtales's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
lybrarie's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, and Murder
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
It follows three teens whose lives are irrevocably changed when their school’s principal is shot to death and they’re all named as suspects in his murder. In order to clear their names, the three boys (Trey, J.B and Ramón) band together to track down the killer before they find themselves wrongfully charged for the crime.
This was such an evocative and incredibly moving story that I found myself thoroughly and emotionally invested in!
J.B, Trey and Ramón were all incredibly well written characters whose lives I became inextricably concerned for and felt the multimedia aspects and interviews with students, teachers and local members of the wider community gave a richer and more realistic portrayal to how investigations like this actually work.
With widespread media coverage and the age old rumour mill acting as judge & jury in the court of opinion, able to spread misleading narratives long before a suspect can even plead their case.
I loved all three boys and really enjoyed getting to see their experiences in life, but seeing how the system was failing them (with soo many people in positions of authority giving up on them before the murder) was incredibly heartbreaking. The details into their home lives and the dreams they have for their futures was truly lovely to see and really brought each boy to life.
J.B is the quiet one that keeps his head down and works hard to earn that promise scholarship for university and make his mum proud. But the suffocating, prison-like conditions of the school make things much more challenging, his only light right now is Keyana—the smartest and prettiest girl in he know (and who he’s had a crush on forever) has finally agreed to date him.
Trey is the charismatic basketball star and a bit of a joker despite having such a tough uncle, who expects nothing but excellence from Trey on an off the court. But someone’s it’s a role that Trey finds too overwhelming to maintain.
And Ramón is a culinary wizard who unlike his beloved cousin Cesar—the leader of the Dioses del Humo gang (who’s been trying to recruit him), Ramón only dreams of starting his own restaurant who helps shoulder some of his grandmother’s financial burdens by selling pupusas at school.
I enjoyed the murder mystery sleuthing aspects and felt the ending was genuinely satisfying, in terms of finding answers —I just wish the investigation aspect was little longer as given how pacey the book was, it flew by soo quickly.
Nick Brooks’ film making skills were also very visible in the seamless transition between tenses and POVs, as well as in the visual descriptions—which were wonderfully,emotionally visceral—and I definitely hope to see this adapted on the big screen at some point in the future.
Overall, a moving and incredibly enjoyable YA thriller that you won’t forget any time soon—I definitely recommend to fans of Angie Thomas and Holly Jackson.
Also, a huge thank you to MacMillan for the physical proof.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Gun violence, and Classism