Reviews

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is AMAZING. So powerful, so necessary, and such a unique verse novel. But unfortunately the story told is not unique - a black teenager imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. I love that YA novels are being written about situations like this so our teens will grow (or hopefully continue) to be empathetic people and anti-racists.

marvelqueen's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring sad 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? Yes

5.0

richa700's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

shelbyheartonmysleeve's review against another edition

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5.0

Should be a required read for everyone, esp in America. Absolutely blown away by how beautiful, intricate and poetic this is. 10/10.

chazzychat's review against another edition

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4.0

I’d probably give this book between a 3.75-4 because some things were really beautifully done! The graphics that accompanied the poems were awesome. I wish there were more. They helped bring the book to life. The style was perfect. The only reason I docked a star was because I felt like it abruptly ended. Readers deserved another 100 pages or a sequel because so much time was built reaching a climax that I don’t feel we recurved a proper resolution. However the authors were very imaginative in how they even typed the words in varying patterns. This helped emphasize so many points. Would recommend this book if you enjoy verse.

micaya's review against another edition

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4.0

It was a really excellent book about a teen's experience in jail, and I really liked the style of poetry that it was in.

ana_315's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5*

great book to start my reading year. it’s a short, easy, but extremely powerful read. it’s like a punch in the gut, a reminder of how guilty each of us is of not speaking out, of not really standing up for what is right, for other people.

teachergetslit's review against another edition

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emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

awbarry763's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

kellyconboy's review against another edition

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5.0

To add to the 8th grade social injustice unit