skavansieur's review against another edition
4.0
4 STAR
A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
t/w: dead animal, death, blood, physical violence, profanity, abuse, sexual assault, racism
This is a memoir written in the form of a graphic novel about a light-skinned black man from a poor family, raised with violence all around him.
Nothing about this book is light. If you're looking for a light, fun and easy read, this is not a book you should pick up now, but I do recommend that you save it to read in the future.
This book sheds light on how trauma affects everyone and how children, especially, absorb the behaviour of their surroundings. It is definitely a wake up call, especially when violence, bullying and abuse cases are going up everywhere in the world.
In this book, the author uses a kindling fire above the characters as a visual representation of anger, of course, but I also understood it as events that eventually add together to cause someone to burst.
From a stylistic point of view, it does a great job in censorship, especially the scenes of sexual assault since it is a graphic novel. It is handled carefully, with a pitch-black scene and speech bubbles.
Although this book is a memoir, some characters were not exactly real but a combination of different people in the author's life. Though the ending was heartbreaking for me, since I really, really appreciated the character. But it also emphasised on the importance of checking up on our friends, especially those who were always the calm, levelheaded ones in most situations.
It isn't a preachy book, but it does make you reflect, especially when you see children bullying one another and picking up abusive and harmful behaviours from their parents. It's definitely our duty to heal from our traumas so we won't pass it on to anyone else.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
t/w: dead animal, death, blood, physical violence, profanity, abuse, sexual assault, racism
This is a memoir written in the form of a graphic novel about a light-skinned black man from a poor family, raised with violence all around him.
Nothing about this book is light. If you're looking for a light, fun and easy read, this is not a book you should pick up now, but I do recommend that you save it to read in the future.
This book sheds light on how trauma affects everyone and how children, especially, absorb the behaviour of their surroundings. It is definitely a wake up call, especially when violence, bullying and abuse cases are going up everywhere in the world.
In this book, the author uses a kindling fire above the characters as a visual representation of anger, of course, but I also understood it as events that eventually add together to cause someone to burst.
From a stylistic point of view, it does a great job in censorship, especially the scenes of sexual assault since it is a graphic novel. It is handled carefully, with a pitch-black scene and speech bubbles.
Although this book is a memoir, some characters were not exactly real but a combination of different people in the author's life. Though the ending was heartbreaking for me, since I really, really appreciated the character. But it also emphasised on the importance of checking up on our friends, especially those who were always the calm, levelheaded ones in most situations.
It isn't a preachy book, but it does make you reflect, especially when you see children bullying one another and picking up abusive and harmful behaviours from their parents. It's definitely our duty to heal from our traumas so we won't pass it on to anyone else.
jenmillie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
5.0
As I read it, I thought how incredibly important it is for young adults to be reading this. And as an adult reading it, what an incredibly true and heartfelt journey it is. Finding out the author is (was?) a professor of graphic art at Mass Art in Boston MA was a treat. "Professor Joel Christian Gill is a cartoonist who writes and draws comics and graphic novels about black history."
librarylapin's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking story told with bravery and vulnerability.
laleha's review against another edition
5.0
"If you are older and read this book, I hope that when you see children acting out in ways that I acted out, this will help you understand that they might be in situations similar--or even worse--than what I experienced. This insight, I hope, will encourage you to try and learn their story."
2000s's review against another edition
4.25
Great graphic memoir - very heavy in many parts but hilarious in others. Joel really did the work of showing how different life events and relationships and feelings are all connected. As always I wish there was more but there was still amazing detail and depth to this one.
briface's review against another edition
5.0
This should be required reading for adults that work with kids. Remember if there's kid that's always angry and fighting there's probably a reason (or 10) behind that that you know nothing about.