orionoconnell's review against another edition
4.0
Bri already knows she's brilliant, so I don't know what more I can say here save for another book another wow-factor delivered by Angie Thomas. Real, powerful and raw, it'll leave you with plenty of emotions to digest, and want to find out more about these characters. I love that Thomas incorporated this story into the same time and universe as 'The Hate U Give', and sprinkled easter eggs through the whole thing, too. These two books should be on everyone's shelves.
sparrow48's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
saibhandari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
kurucow's review against another edition
5.0
My Notes from reading,
To be disregarded:
Blackathon Team Hatshepsut. Prompt 2: A Black Girl Protagonist who is not afraid to be loud, confrontational, or take up space.
Her father was shot and killed by a gang. (A weak ass rapper made fun of her for this in their rap battle in chapter 3).
Sonny (Malik and Bri's friend) is gay (gets with the Miles the rapper who dissed Bri's father's death at the beginning — Bri gets with Curtis from church <3) and her aunt is lesbian.
Her aunt is a drug dealer. Her mother was formally a drug addict, left her and her brother, then lost them, then recovered and got them back. Now she's lost her job at the church. They don't have gas in the house and won't have enough money for food (they also lose the lights near the end and end up moving in with the grandparents when they can’t make rent). They can't get food stamps because they're (either mom) in college and don't have a job -was let go.
Her brother went to college (for psychology) and is stuck working at a pizza place. He says she has oppositional defiance disorder — she was arrested at school for refusing to let them search her bag… then got in trouble for selling contraband (candy).
… references love Simon book in ch10 (two guys fall in love with a bother over email).
"I jump to conclusions faster than lice jump from white kid's heads (ch11)."
To be disregarded:
Blackathon Team Hatshepsut. Prompt 2: A Black Girl Protagonist who is not afraid to be loud, confrontational, or take up space.
Her father was shot and killed by a gang. (A weak ass rapper made fun of her for this in their rap battle in chapter 3).
Sonny (Malik and Bri's friend) is gay (gets with the Miles the rapper who dissed Bri's father's death at the beginning — Bri gets with Curtis from church <3) and her aunt is lesbian.
Her aunt is a drug dealer. Her mother was formally a drug addict, left her and her brother, then lost them, then recovered and got them back. Now she's lost her job at the church. They don't have gas in the house and won't have enough money for food (they also lose the lights near the end and end up moving in with the grandparents when they can’t make rent). They can't get food stamps because they're (either mom) in college and don't have a job -was let go.
Her brother went to college (for psychology) and is stuck working at a pizza place. He says she has oppositional defiance disorder — she was arrested at school for refusing to let them search her bag… then got in trouble for selling contraband (candy).
… references love Simon book in ch10 (two guys fall in love with a bother over email).
"I jump to conclusions faster than lice jump from white kid's heads (ch11)."
chandraleereads's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars. Important and current themes, likable characters, and a whole lot of delightful pop culture references.
ksiegner's review against another edition
5.0
Bri is a teenage girl with the hopes to make it big with a rap career. You follow the story of her come up with her first song that may not have portrayed her in the best light despite that not being the meaning of her song.
Going through family, friendship, and school drama, not knowing if the electricity or heat would be on, or if there was going to be enough food on the table, Bri thinks that making it big is going to be the only way to help out at home. While doing this, she starts to lose herself by getting too wrapped up in playing an image for her new manager Supreme.
In the end, she finds herself again.
Overall, I think this was an amazing book and I do hope that it is made into a movie. It would be an eye opener for many people and I hope that it would create a conversation about what is happening to our youth.
Going through family, friendship, and school drama, not knowing if the electricity or heat would be on, or if there was going to be enough food on the table, Bri thinks that making it big is going to be the only way to help out at home. While doing this, she starts to lose herself by getting too wrapped up in playing an image for her new manager Supreme.
In the end, she finds herself again.
Overall, I think this was an amazing book and I do hope that it is made into a movie. It would be an eye opener for many people and I hope that it would create a conversation about what is happening to our youth.
beccersboo's review against another edition
5.0
Bahni Turpin’s narration makes this a 10 star book! I hope we hear more out of Garden Heights! Current and relevant and real. But with laugh out loud family life moments. Lots of feels...
ali_jenna's review against another edition
4.0
I actually liked this book better than THUG. I liked THUG a lot, I just enjoyed reading this book more. To be fair, when I read THUG, I was not as into realistic fiction as I am now. Then I was pretty much only reading fantasy, so that may be a factor. It also may be that THUG was a debut. I think Angie Thomas has likely become a better writer since then. What I really liked about On the Come Up was that the plot was consistently stimulating. Unlike THUG, which had incredibly powerful moments at the beginning and end, which made the middle seem bland in contrast. I also liked the rap that was sprinkled throughout the book. I kept wondering if Thomas actually wrote that and if she did, that's pretty cool. I don't listen to rap music, but I appreciate when words rhyme nicely, so that was fun. Before I started reading this book, I was worried that it could just be the same book just a little different. I have definitely known authors to do that when a book/book series is successful *cough* Danielle Paige *cough* (sorry). But this was definitely not the same book, which was really nice. I'm very glad I read this book.
camilacadibe's review against another edition
5.0
Angie Thomas did it again.
The rapping? Wow.
Brianna and her family made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I absolutely loved this.
The rapping? Wow.
Brianna and her family made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I absolutely loved this.
emanck15's review against another edition
5.0
We need diverse books. We need books with strong black female characters. We need books that make young people talk, discuss, and learn from. This book, is one of those books.