Reviews

Bang! by Sharon G. Flake

naomi41's review against another edition

3.0

Sharon G. Flake wrote Bang! to inform her audience about the hardships of growing up in a ghetto neighborhood, and experiencing death at an early age. Mann Adler was only 11 years old when his younger brother Jason was fatally shot by a gang banger for no apparent reason. The effect that the murder had on the whole Adler family has drastically changed their points of views on life, and their identities. Mann's father takes him and his best friend on a journey to becoming a "man" in a society where your life could be taken the very next day. The moral of his reasonings was to save himself from losing another son. But the reality became a nightmare as Mann turned to violence, drugs/ alcohol and stealing to make a man out of himself. The real question became " how can the loss of innocence at a very young age detatch you from your identity and the search for assurance when even your family is not in your corner?"
its a really good book and anyone should read it!

penalew's review

4.0

I am thankful that I only know about a place like this from books.

zdrhyne's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

haleyrose's review

4.0

Well this was heavy. Sped read it after a 6th grade ELA teacher questioned me giving it to her kids and sent one child back to get a new book. But uh yeah, I get it. Risky content (the kids smoke lots of pot, ya'll) aside, this book was so emotionally heavy and made me so sad. It's great, there's a lot going on but wow does Mann ever catch a break? Nope. Quick read, powerful story- prepare yourself (and the youth) before diving in.

sparkletot's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

williamsdebbied's review against another edition

3.0

When Mann's younger brother is shot while playing with his toy soldiers on the front porch, Mann and his family struggle to deal with this senseless, random violence. Mann refuses to even enter the front door, because he continues to see his brother's blood staining the porch long after it has been washed away. Mann's father, determined not to lose another son, sets out to toughen Mann up, as he feels that Mann is too sensitive and weak to survive in their neighborhood. To make men out of Mann and his friend, Kee-lee, he leaves them alone in the woods to make their own way home.

raven18's review against another edition

5.0

I remember always reading this in middle school like twice a month. Yes, it's that good.