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froggybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Classism
annahill888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Car accident, Outing, and Classism
zoea08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishevy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards are the only non-white students at the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. At the beginning of their senior year, Chi is on her way to being premed at Yale, while Devon is working hard to get into Julliard. But soon after the school year begins, someone called Aces starts texting their secrets to the student body and things become increasingly dangerous as Chi and Devon realize this is more than just a game and they must stop Aces from revealing anything that could jeopardize their futures.
Thoughts while reading: Chi and Devon did things they would not like to come to light even though Devon's actions were more for survival. Chi has money, which gives her some power. So when these things start happening, she believes certain people will help her. But as a woman of color, her money can only offer her so much protection. Devon is at Niveus on a scholarship. He lives in a rough neighborhood and is used to being bullied in his own community for being gay. He's been beaten down by the system, so he's more skeptical of others and wisely so. He must learn to go with his gut to figure out who's behind this because he's the more self-aware of the two.
It becomes clear that Chi and Devon are merely being tolerated at the academy. There are a few twists that had me on the edge of my seat. Something more sinister is at play, and they can't trust anyone.
This story is an allegory for institutionalized racism. I loved that the setting is an unspecified location in the U.S. because anti-blackness is global. Àbíké-Íyímídé shows that someone being nice doesn't make them good. A racist would smile and greet you warmly as they scoff at your audacity to dream and do everything in their power to keep you back because they don't believe you deserve happiness. I spent the last 50 pages of this read dreading the outcome because the system is so rigged.
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism
leela_bird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Classism
matmatmatty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I think at times the villain was a bit cartoonish but for this genre, it makes sense.
Questions I still have that weren't completely answered:
Who stopped Devon's suicide attempt? Like I don't think they actually said What happened with the original headmaster? Like was he in on it, or was he against it so they got rid of him? Chi should have just gone to the police straight after the accident. Like I get that it would have been implicating her friend and everything but I feel like the smart thing is to tell the police and if it was real, get leniency for age. Kids, if this happens to you, tell the police straight away because hiding a crime is way worse than the actual crime. It was implied that Chi was assaulted but then it feels like it was kind of dropped? Like what happened with that? Not a question but I think it would have been good if the revelation of previous victims had been teased a bit more. Like when Terrell first mentioned that they the only black kids, he could start looking into if they're the first and maybe find some names but they lose the trail and then they can find the yearbooks and know they disappeared. Feel like that would have felt more like a conspiracy that way.
But honestly, really loved it. Not perfect but did what it was doing really well. Snaps all round.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
soniaiscool's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Suicide attempt
beilerlena's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, Car accident, and Classism
katieandkiri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
hollsmb'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
4.5
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism