Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

54 reviews

upgirlcd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is poetry and art.
This book is powerful.
This book speaks truth from a perspective most of us do not ever see.
As a Caucasian, Gen X woman, it is perspective for me to deeply wrap my head & heart around. My privilege.
I've been wrongly accused of shit like- sleeping with someone's man; passing a school bus.
Not even relatable to the color of my skin getting me incarcerated for assault.

The hip hop poetic writing makes this work even more powerful.

Read Punching the Air.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Violence, Police brutality, and Confinement

sglance9's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Confinement

Moderate: Slavery and Violence

zombiezami's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Violence, Racism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cursing, and Classism

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Medical content, and Slavery

takarakei's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• 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

It was very well narrated. I loved the theme of art being therapeutic and a way for people to express and connect. This was my first novel in verse, but I think especially on audiobook it reads very much like a novel and I would’ve liked more poetry to the prose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Bullying

camiereads's review against another edition

inspiring 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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

missrosymaplemoth's review against another edition

4.5

Heartbreaking and beautifully written. The narrator didn’t seem like the best fit for the book, but I still enjoyed and was touched by the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality

shadowandsnow's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? No

5.0

This book was incredibly moving. It made me reflect and question my privilege as a white person. I feel so much empathy and sorrow for young black people who experience this awful cycle of unjust violence. 

The way this story is told through poetry and art is amazing. The audiobook is amazing to listen to and really paints a vivid image of Amal’s struggles in the detention centre. The way this story is told in verse is incredibly beautiful and again, listening to the audiobook made it that more impactful to hear. 

Overall, an incredibly impactful and moving story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Islamophobia and Blood

a_alves00's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism

effect3cause's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence

cranedphoenix's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Not a bad book
Wasn't expecting the book to end when it did so I was a bit disappointed (reading from my ereader) and it felt a little abrupt because of that
Otherwise it was a solid read, not my most favorite book but not a bad one probably in the middle ranking star wise

I do love how they use art throughout the book

Spoiler

especially when his art teacher doesn't believe what he creates is his truth

I will also say

Spoiler

the officer who has a tattoo is so accurate in symbolism and yet picturing that tattoo is nerve wracking

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, and Police brutality

Moderate: Confinement and Classism