Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
15 reviews
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
seeceeread's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
Amal Shahid threw the first punch. But he didn't deliver the last, the one that put Jeremy Mathis into a coma.The plot unfolds slowly, pulling readers into Amal as a narrator before sharing a full understanding of how his ruminations interlock. Then, captive and caged, we are strapped into his rage-realize-remember-regret-resent loop until a moment of vulnerability reminds him of how to choose expression to keep the rollercoaster on its track. Amal doesn't feel any less; rather, he channels his feelings into processes and pieces that offer others more meaningful containers for what spills over.
The authors capture an adolescent boy so well! I was transported back to conversations with former students: Ronald, who filled pages and pages with poetry and told me stories of disappointing his mother the year before with middle school antics. Delon, who loved Myers' 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 (a literary precursor!) and wanted to learn screenwriting once we finished; a boy who hadn't so much as looked at other assignments. Tevin, a gregarious football player whose neoligisms included iBall in a piece on identity. Amir, who aspired to self-publish a collection of love notes. Amal's perspective is constructed with images of sinking stones and butterflies, recurring thoughts, and sincere grappling with the emotional risks of being authentic (or not).
Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
This is an in-depth, poetic look at juvenile incarceration.iheartm4m'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: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Physical abuse, Gore, and Blood
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
hazel_t23's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racism and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Police brutality, Violence, and Cursing
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
jessnreads's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Blood
charlottesomewhere'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
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Racism, and Racial slurs
rebeckareads'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
5.0
- Rated 9.29 using the CAWPILE rating system
There is so much anguish, grief, beauty and hope packed into this book. Amal is also a very nuanced characters, which I liked. I do feel like a bit of an idiot though, cause I did not realise it was written by one of the Central Park Five... it makes it all the more gut-wrenching! I remember watching When They See Us and choking up within minutes -- this book had the same effect.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, and Racism