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destineead's review against another edition
4.0
Locking you up isn’t enough
for them They will try
to crush your spirit until
you’re nothing but—
Dust
we both say together
And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks
It rises, I whisper
This novel follows the story of Amal, a young black boy with artistic/lyrical/poetic talent is wrongfully accused. Absolutely captivating, moving and heart-wrenching. Important topics depicted through art and metaphors. It's not written in a typical way, and allows the audience to focus more on the character rather than the plot. This is a story of resilience, strength, and faith. I enjoyed every moment of it!
for them They will try
to crush your spirit until
you’re nothing but—
Dust
we both say together
And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks
It rises, I whisper
This novel follows the story of Amal, a young black boy with artistic/lyrical/poetic talent is wrongfully accused. Absolutely captivating, moving and heart-wrenching. Important topics depicted through art and metaphors. It's not written in a typical way, and allows the audience to focus more on the character rather than the plot. This is a story of resilience, strength, and faith. I enjoyed every moment of it!
deschatjes's review against another edition
4.0
A stark reminder of the fundamental unfairness of the criminal justice system and the assumptions made is the least of what this novel has to offer. The bias of (white) well meaning educators who can’t see beyond their own culture & views of what constitutes art ... read it.
corey_spence's review against another edition
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
4.25
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
Punching The Air is masterful, devastating, beautiful, and your heart will feel so heavy reading it. You physically feel hopeless and suffocated reading about Amal's situation - which is not an easy thing to achieve with verse!
The way this talks about how gentrification contributes to the School to Prison pipeline and shows gentrification as a form of white violence is just *chef kiss*.
I need everybody to read this.
The way this talks about how gentrification contributes to the School to Prison pipeline and shows gentrification as a form of white violence is just *chef kiss*.
I need everybody to read this.
cripcor's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
oh my God I need to go cry I need to go lay in the dirt for at least 3 centuries.
this book is fucking beautiful. I've never read a novel in verse before, but as someone who loves reading and writing poetry I was very excited to read this.
I don't even know, like. Following Amal through his journey of being found guilty and being incarcerated, as a child, he is sixteen years old,, it hurts it really really hurts. This is a book that hurts and I'm so glad that it does.
Amal faces obstacles that are honestly hell. His white lawyer doesn't even really believe he's innocent. His white art teacher, who he depended on and looked up to as a source of comfort, is chosen as his character witness in court, only for her to describe him as angry. He has every right to be, but nobody ever understands why.
At the same time, he's such happy and hopeful character. Amal means hope in Arabic, and he holds that truth close enough to keep him going. He wants to write poetry, and he makes beautiful drawings from stolen markers and crushed crayons. He is not given hope easily from the inside of a cell, so he finds it, creates it in every space he gets. His art truly is him.
This book is about racism, the criminal justice system, bias. It's also about how art is part of being alive, it's part of communicating, and expressing yourself. It's part of being a child. Amal is a young, Black boy, and art is his freedom, his hope. This book is about art, it is art, and it's a reminder that art and hope are forever connected.
Where there is art, there is hope, and Amal means hope in Arabic.
(anyways i have to go sob more, xoxo)
this book is fucking beautiful. I've never read a novel in verse before, but as someone who loves reading and writing poetry I was very excited to read this.
I don't even know, like. Following Amal through his journey of being found guilty and being incarcerated, as a child, he is sixteen years old,, it hurts it really really hurts. This is a book that hurts and I'm so glad that it does.
Amal faces obstacles that are honestly hell. His white lawyer doesn't even really believe he's innocent. His white art teacher, who he depended on and looked up to as a source of comfort, is chosen as his character witness in court, only for her to describe him as angry. He has every right to be, but nobody ever understands why.
At the same time, he's such happy and hopeful character. Amal means hope in Arabic, and he holds that truth close enough to keep him going. He wants to write poetry, and he makes beautiful drawings from stolen markers and crushed crayons. He is not given hope easily from the inside of a cell, so he finds it, creates it in every space he gets. His art truly is him.
This book is about racism, the criminal justice system, bias. It's also about how art is part of being alive, it's part of communicating, and expressing yourself. It's part of being a child. Amal is a young, Black boy, and art is his freedom, his hope. This book is about art, it is art, and it's a reminder that art and hope are forever connected.
Where there is art, there is hope, and Amal means hope in Arabic.
(anyways i have to go sob more, xoxo)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, and Police brutality
Minor: Cursing, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
alexsbooks_'s review against another edition
3.0
I'm really glad I read this, I just tend to get a bit confused by books in verse
courtld90's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
allison_sirovy's review against another edition
5.0
Ibi Zoboi’s and Yusuf Salaam’s YA novel-in-verse unveils the injustices of our criminal justice system while also revealing the humanity of those who are forced to experience this system. Too many Black and Brown people live through the brutality of a system that is out to harm them, not protect them - initial callous interactions with police, unbelieving court system, inhumane juvenile/criminal lock up.
leasummer's review against another edition
4.0
Please seek out diverse reviews.
This is a powerful story written in verse, which I think makes it so much stronger. The poetic imagery paints a picture you can feel as you move through the story. It also illustrates the importance of art and access to creative practice. Painfully beautiful.
This is a powerful story written in verse, which I think makes it so much stronger. The poetic imagery paints a picture you can feel as you move through the story. It also illustrates the importance of art and access to creative practice. Painfully beautiful.