takarakei'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Bullying
djimerson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
your_true_shelf'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Bullying
Moderate: Violence
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The co-author is what makes Punching the Air stand out from others. Yusef Salaam, one of the Central Park Five, co-authored this novel to show the corruption in the system and inspire those who would fight for change. In that way, Punching the Air is probably the purest form of this oft-told story - an author speaks from lived experience.
The thing that made this book less enjoyable for me has less to do with the book or its authors. Specifically, I didn’t enjoy the narrator. Without seeing a physical copy, I am left to assume that this book was written in prose and the narrator reads it like poetry. The dialogue is very slowly spoken, and there are significant pauses at the end of every sentence. For a short poem, this type of narration works. For a full length novel, it got exhausting very quickly. Perhaps with a different mirror, I would’ve enjoyed it more. But regardless of whether or not I enjoyed it, I deeply respect it and I am grateful to the authors for sharing the story.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs
This book contains strong themes of systematic racism. The book’s protagonist self-identifies as both Black and Muslim.knifewifestan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
brookey8888'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
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Hate crime
anniereads221's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Slavery, and Hate crime
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Islamophobia
rachelwierick'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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Slavery
erinaskelley's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
fromjuliereads's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't read books written in verse generally, but I really enjoyed this one. And it worked so well as the way to tell their truth. It had so many important moments to it, and I cannot wait to discuss this book as part of the book club I am in that is reading it.
Definitely recommend this book. Especially if you like books written in verse or any kind of artistic expression for a story.
I did read this as an ebook because that is what was available to me at the time. However I have a feeling that print is the way to go with the artwork incorporated. Also it could be a very cool audiobook.
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence