Reviews

When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

opticflow's review against another edition

5.0

I had pretty low expectations going into this, because wacky nicknames? Boys knitting in the hood? It sounds like a book an adult foists on a kid to teach a moral lesson. But as this progressed it got better and better. I loved Ali's family, I appreciated that everyone screwed up at some point, I thought the nod to Muhammad Ali was clever, and the ending was a wonderful surprise. An all-too-real premise where teens act older than they are and get in over their heads.

mindfullibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

Crazy, crazy good YA novel. Gritty but sweet, lots of action and lots of lessons. Highly recommend, especially for reluctant HS readers. Couldn't put it down, and didn't want it to end.

danacoledares's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent characterization and narrative voice. The plot had some twists that could have easily headed into cliché or melodrama, but didn't, keeping things interesting and yet still believable. A smooth, fast read.

debi_g's review against another edition

4.0

3.5
Noodles lost me after the haircut scene, and I was so fearful about what might happen at the party that I had to take a long break before I could face it. I’m glad my prediction was wrong, and I’m glad that I grew so fond of John, Ali and Jazz’s father.

gabriella_batel_author's review against another edition

5.0

I am yet again floored by Jason Reynolds' power to spin a fresh, impactful tale and tell it to us through characters that melt my heart, each so deep and unique that I believe they're real.

You can watch the full details of my thoughts in this video! (Start at 13:15 or feel free to watch the whole thing!)

https://youtu.be/188emVCHAVc

sarahannkateri's review against another edition

4.0

4.5

sydneyraereads's review

inspiring

4.0

heathersbike's review against another edition

Jason Reynolds writes so that Black kids can see themselves in stories. More of this, please. Publishers, I'm looking at you. I know the authors are out there waiting to be discovered. So get moving.

collkay10's review against another edition

3.0

Well written as always for a Reynolds novel, but I felt like this was too simple of a plot for me. I loved the family elements at play and the dynamic between friends, but I felt like I just kept waiting for something to happen. There was one large event that kept me on the edge of my seat while reading, but I kept wanting more of that and wondering if that was the climax. Not as powerful as some of Reynolds’ other works, but I did enjoy the Tourette syndrome representation and the very realistic representation of acceptance and bullying in relation to those who suffer from it.

danreads's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0