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nikkilerae's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
By Angie Thomas
5⭐️
Wow! This story is one I think really needs talked about. It was recommended in one of the book groups I am in for Banned Book Week. I’m so glad I picked this to be my Banned Book Read!
This book hooked me immediately. I thought I’d struggle relating with this book and maybe in some ways I did a little. However, I think that struggle is exactly what I needed to really grasp the importance of the book. There were so many OMG scenes that pulled tears from my eyes and put my hand to my heart. Scenes that had me holding my breath. Every single one of those scenes impacted me in a very deep and profound way. This book needs to be read and talked about!
This book is about a black girl living in a ghetto - a real ghetto - one that most of us don’t really see. At least for me, very different than what our town considers the ghetto or slums or the bricks. This girl loses two of her best friends. One from gang violence at the age of 10 and the other from police brutality at the age of 16. 16 year old Starr is who is sharing her story. Not just her experiences but how she finds her voice, her real voice. Through her story we meet her family and friends and get a real taste of her life.
The flow of this book is so good that I often forgot I was reading. So many pages were turned before I’d check a clock. The author does a really amazing job with this book. Banned or not in places - this book should be read. Read it with your teenagers or even just for yourself. You’ll walk away a different person when you’ve finished. In my opinion, books that change you, are the best ones to read!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, and Kidnapping
silent_mortem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
booksnart2023's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
amyherman's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit
ashleyyy27's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Classism
oceanbluetay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
hmwoodward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book shows you a side of police brutality that we don't get to see - how those who are left behind process and respond to it. Star grapples with her responsibility to her murdered friend and the risk of speaking about it to the public. You watch as life goes back to "normal" as you follow Star to school and with her family. Though the death is no longer the only focus, it is a grief that weighs on Star and the community, on top of all the other trauma they experience in the form of poverty or drugs or gang activity, etc. The world stops at the news of a death at the hands of the police AND at the trial AND at the decision, but they're gone when the news cycle ends again.
Through the course of the book, you get to know and love (most of) the characters, despite their many flaws. You get to understand why people in challenging situations pick what appears to be a wrong choice since the odds are stacked and no choice is a good one sometimes. You watch as the people around Star grow and hear the stories of others who grew in their challenging environment.
I listened to this on audiobook and appreciated the narrator because it felt like I was in Star's head. The narrator brought these powerful and emotional moments to life so vividly.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
musicalpopcorn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
turidt's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse
hjb_128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity