mattyb's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
sjanke2's review
challenging
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Dementia, Drug use, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
linesiunderline's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
It’s official, I want to read all of Jacqueline Wilson’s books. This is my first fictional piece of hers, and I went in with high hopes after Brown Girl Dreaming.
Her poetic style is just perfect for Middle Grade readers. It has a clean, straightforward way about it, but still gets straight to the emotional heart of her characters and their experiences. It’s so readable, yet deep. This is a very accessible novel in verse.
Loved the beautiful portrayal of the relationship between ZJ and his parents, and also his friendship circle. You can feel the love and strength in those connections.
I think this novel opens up opportunities for readers to talk about tough things, including how to reconcile one’s past understanding of a person with present differences or challenges. What do you hold onto?
4.5 stars because I think I’d have liked even more contrast between ZJ’s memories of his dad before his illness and the present day.
Her poetic style is just perfect for Middle Grade readers. It has a clean, straightforward way about it, but still gets straight to the emotional heart of her characters and their experiences. It’s so readable, yet deep. This is a very accessible novel in verse.
Loved the beautiful portrayal of the relationship between ZJ and his parents, and also his friendship circle. You can feel the love and strength in those connections.
I think this novel opens up opportunities for readers to talk about tough things, including how to reconcile one’s past understanding of a person with present differences or challenges. What do you hold onto?
4.5 stars because I think I’d have liked even more contrast between ZJ’s memories of his dad before his illness and the present day.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness and Grief
Minor: Violence
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
This novel in verse follows a boy who's dad is a popular football player. We get to see the fun, loving moments his family shares, his friendships, and overall carefree life. Then we get to watch everything in his world change. His father's concussions catch up with him in the form of a cognitive degenerative disease. Not an easy read, but really well crafted and quite important. The end memo addresses the toll sports take on black communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Dementia, Grief, and Mental illness
chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
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