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bookish_teacher_reads's review against another edition
I'm not the target audience for this book.
bluenote's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
baebae135's review against another edition
3.0
It was mid… I get the lesson she was trying to get across I think, and I think that the concept of love (in all forms but especially self love) as a form of revolution is a powerful concept… I just feel as though it could have been more powerful(especially given the premise)The storytelling was very mid in my opinion ( even for young adult)
all in all mid as hell
all in all mid as hell
soapgrace's review against another edition
3.0
I liked a lot of things about this book, but the issue for me was that such a massive part of the plot was just one conversation that needed to happen.
browniesbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Nala as a character and i felt connected to her because people tread her a certain way even tho she didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve had that A LOT.
BUT i really hated that “love Harlem youth group”. Those groups are the worst, so judgy and snooty. Oh you are drinking from a plastic bottle? You don’t know sow and sow? You don’t know that inspirational quote from?
This was such a fun and quick read!
BUT i really hated that “love Harlem youth group”. Those groups are the worst, so judgy and snooty. Oh you are drinking from a plastic bottle? You don’t know sow and sow? You don’t know that inspirational quote from?
This was such a fun and quick read!
deschatjes's review against another edition
4.0
A book brimful of strong characters who know their minds & how to speak them.
I really liked the message of understanding yourself before committing to a relationship with someone else.
I really liked the message of understanding yourself before committing to a relationship with someone else.
elomaraaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
matmatmatty's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This is the story of Nala, who compared to her young-activist cousin, just wants to chill this summer and have fun. When she meets Tye, another young-activist and her cousin's friend, she falls for him and in an attempt to impress him, tells a few...un-truths.
This story is about Nala and Tye and their relationship, but also about Nala and her relationship with herself, and her family.
I thought this was a nice story - I think I would have loved reading this when I was 15ish, so absolutely would recommend this for young teens.
The writing was a little young for me, which meant I didn't love it but I liked the structure of the writing and how you could get a lot of Nala's personality from that. I did like some of the commentary, and the message of the book is something I can get behind.
Overall, this was a little too young for me, but I really liked the messaging and think this would be a good story for a young teen to read.
Finally: kids, don't lie just to impress someone you have a crush on! It never works out!
This story is about Nala and Tye and their relationship, but also about Nala and her relationship with herself, and her family.
I thought this was a nice story - I think I would have loved reading this when I was 15ish, so absolutely would recommend this for young teens.
The writing was a little young for me, which meant I didn't love it but I liked the structure of the writing and how you could get a lot of Nala's personality from that. I did like some of the commentary, and the message of the book is something I can get behind.
Overall, this was a little too young for me, but I really liked the messaging and think this would be a good story for a young teen to read.
Finally: kids, don't lie just to impress someone you have a crush on! It never works out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
frinsreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a fun, YA contemporary about self discovery, self acceptance, and also wanting to chill and watch films all summer
Nala is off school for the summer and all she wants to do is hang out with her friends, sleep late, and work through the list of movies she wants to watch with her cousin, Imani. Everyone around her, including Imani, is more focussed on fighting injustices, environmental issues, and raising funds for their community. When Nala meets dreamy Tye at one of Imani's meetings she's caught between pretending to be someone she's not to entice Tye and being herself
I really enjoyed this book, and I felt Nala's was a unique experience that I haven't read from before. She obviously cares about the social issues that her friends are speaking out about, but she also thinks that should just be one element of their lives, rather than taking all their time and energy. She wants them to have a fun afternoon skating without seeing it as an opportunity to distribute flyers
I also loved the message of self acceptance, and embracing natural Black beauty and hair, in this book. Nala goes on a real journey. She begins the book as a confident Black girl, but she ends it having truly begun to accept and know herself. At first, she alters her appearance for the wrong reasons, comparing herself to others and what she thinks she should be, rather than for herself and her happiness
It did bother me that Nala is quite immature and acts quite young (she's about to become a senior, I'm not sure what age that is), and that she feels the need to lie about pretty fundamental things to get a boy to like her. I get that this contributes to her journey of growth, but I'm always frustrated by miscommunication and outright lies in books
This book reminded me a lot of With the Fire on High and I think if you liked that one you'd really enjoy this one too
~An earc of this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
Nala is off school for the summer and all she wants to do is hang out with her friends, sleep late, and work through the list of movies she wants to watch with her cousin, Imani. Everyone around her, including Imani, is more focussed on fighting injustices, environmental issues, and raising funds for their community. When Nala meets dreamy Tye at one of Imani's meetings she's caught between pretending to be someone she's not to entice Tye and being herself
I really enjoyed this book, and I felt Nala's was a unique experience that I haven't read from before. She obviously cares about the social issues that her friends are speaking out about, but she also thinks that should just be one element of their lives, rather than taking all their time and energy. She wants them to have a fun afternoon skating without seeing it as an opportunity to distribute flyers
I also loved the message of self acceptance, and embracing natural Black beauty and hair, in this book. Nala goes on a real journey. She begins the book as a confident Black girl, but she ends it having truly begun to accept and know herself. At first, she alters her appearance for the wrong reasons, comparing herself to others and what she thinks she should be, rather than for herself and her happiness
It did bother me that Nala is quite immature and acts quite young (she's about to become a senior, I'm not sure what age that is), and that she feels the need to lie about pretty fundamental things to get a boy to like her. I get that this contributes to her journey of growth, but I'm always frustrated by miscommunication and outright lies in books
This book reminded me a lot of With the Fire on High and I think if you liked that one you'd really enjoy this one too
~An earc of this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
wardo2700's review against another edition
3.0
This is a well written book that I'm glad I read it but overall didn't really grab my interest. There is too much emphasis on what a typical teenage girl does with her time; make up, hair, clothes and what food to eat. The intriguing portion of the story is her self awareness that grows as the story moves forward. I am guessing younger readers and most likely those that are female will enjoy this book more than I did. I would still recommend it to readers 12 and older.