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hmwoodward's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I've heard so much about this book and seen it as required reading in my high school's classrooms, so I decided to read what some of my students are studying these days. I am so glad I read this book, even though it was often challenging.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I hate that a book like this has to exist but if it must, this book is perfect.
Content Warnings
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
bobinsbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
sad
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
4.5
If I were to sum up this book in one word it would be ‘POWERFUL’.
The characters felt very well rounded and enjoyed how the POV of Star as she develops through the PTSD of losing her friend and becoming an activist.
The plot itself kept me intrigued as it felt very layered with prominent and important themes of racism and gang violence. All which intwined very thoughtfully and created a great narrative.
The narrator of the audio book in particular did a really good job capturing the emotions of the book which made it feel very impactful.
A great read and will keep my eyes out for a physical copy to reread in future.
The characters felt very well rounded and enjoyed how the POV of Star as she develops through the PTSD of losing her friend and becoming an activist.
The plot itself kept me intrigued as it felt very layered with prominent and important themes of racism and gang violence. All which intwined very thoughtfully and created a great narrative.
The narrator of the audio book in particular did a really good job capturing the emotions of the book which made it feel very impactful.
A great read and will keep my eyes out for a physical copy to reread in future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
turidt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
incorrigible's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
Angie Thomas is a damn good writer. Loved her character and story building. I wish we white people didn’t cause systemic oppression that fucks everybody and then needed Angie Thomas to write this whole damn book to convince us a person is a person. That part bums me out, but Angie did it the best way it could be done. Also fuck the police.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality
hjb_128's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
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
phantomgecko's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Well written, well structured, great voice, interesting characters, realistic situations. A really good book.
Infuriating tho. Just the reality of racism in our country and how it hasn't changed. Like...this book was before Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, real life events that put a huge spotlight on this exact behavior. The book's just so spot on with how people are.
The insecurities and issues Star has are shown well. The gaping holes in our system are shown well. The problems in black communities are shown well.
Infuriating tho. Just the reality of racism in our country and how it hasn't changed. Like...this book was before Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, real life events that put a huge spotlight on this exact behavior. The book's just so spot on with how people are.
The insecurities and issues Star has are shown well. The gaping holes in our system are shown well. The problems in black communities are shown well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
blackferrum's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
"Kadang-kadang kita melakukan semuanya dengan benar, tapi tetap saja ada masalah. Kuncinya adalah jangan pernah berhenti berbuat benar."
Selama ini nggak terlalu mencari tahu soal kasus-kasus perbedaan ras apalagi sampai terjadi kekerasan. Kalaupun kebetulan lewat beranda, pasti misuh-misuh juga karena alasannya nggak ada yang beres bahkan terkesan remeh. Perbedaan ras memang nggak mudah diterima, apalagi soal warna kulit. Belum lagi standar kecantikan (atau malah kesempurnaan?) kalau kulit putih itu yang perfect dan pasti cantik. Yang beda berarti ya nggak cantik. Sick? Banget. Muak banget malah, bikin makin kepikiran. Makanya, makin ke sini toleransi makin menipis.
Buku ini punya kasus serupa, bedanya Khalil ditembak karena dia dianggap mengancam, menurut si polisi Satu-LIma Belas. Padahal, menurut Starr, Khalil hanya bertanya apakah dia baik-baik saja mengingat mereka semobil. Mobil Khalil tiba-tiba diberhentikan dimintai SIM dan STNK. Khalil bahkan sampai diminta keluar mobil. Lalu, apakah si polisi diadili karena sudah menembak warga sipil yang tidak bersenjata dan tidak mengancam? Tentu tidak.
Sewaktu Starr ditanyai, para penyelidik malah fokus ke identitas Khalil yang diduga sebagai pengedar narkoba. Seolah sedang mencari pembenaran atas perilaku rekan kerja mereka. Nggak ada yang repot mengusut apakah Khalil terbukti membawa narkoba? Atau apakah Khalil benar-benar mengancam waktu itu. Semuanya fokus pada identitas Khalil dan kemungkinan dia adalah warga kulit berwarna. Pembunuhannya nggak make sense dan si polisi bahkan tetap menodongkan pistol ke Starr selagi menunggu polisi lain datang (setelah menembak Khalil). Pertanyaannya, buat apa? Apa yang begitu mengancam dari seorang remaja yang baru pulang dari pesta?
Sampai menulis reviu ini, masih aja emosi ingat semua proses peradilan bagi pembunuhan Khalil. Like, sampai memakan waktu 18 minggu, lho, padahal jelas banget yang salah siapa. LOL. Busuk juga sistem hukumnya yang timpang padahal baik Khalil di buku ini atau para Khalil di luaran sana sama-sama warga negaranya sendiri.
Alasan kenapa buku ini berlabel YA, selain karena karakter utamanya remaja, pemikiran atau sikap yang Starr hadapi selama proses mencari keadilan bagi Khalil yang bikin karakterisasinya makin menonjol. Starr dipaksa berbicara, tapi bicara pun nggak ada yang benar-benar menanggapi. Rasanya sakit banget melihat hasil usaha mengkhianati hasil. Kejam bagiku karena remaja yang pikirannya cuma main dan bersenang-senang serta mencoba mencari jati diri malah jadi sedih karena sahabatnya tertembak di depan mata.
Kondisi lingkungan rumah Starr juga jadi sorotan di sini. Gimana rusuh dan bisingnya keadaan di sana, lalu keadaan di sekolahnya yang berbeda jauh dengan kondisi rumah. Starr harus membelah diri jadi 2 kepribadian yang berbeda demi menghadapi lingkungan yang berbeda pula. Di sekolah, Starr bahkan berusaha nggak mengumpat atau memakai slang. Kayak, dia lagi berdiri di atas kulit telur dan takut bakal jadi sasaran kalau ada yang salah sama dirinya. Yah, tau sendirilah, satu kesalahan bisa menggenalisir satu komunitas.
Baca ini beneran buka pemahamanku soal perbedaan. Beberapa istilah sensitif dan sikap (atau perkataan) yang menyerempet ke rasis. Kisah Starr dan keluarga dan para sahabat dan pacarnya bikin aku sekali lagi mengerti jika perbedaan itu nggak harus dianggap sebagai hal yang perlu ditegaskan. Sebaliknya, perbedaan bisa jadi pelengkap. Tanpa adanya deskriminasi, maka tidak akan ada pula korban-korban semacam Khalil di belahan bumi mana pun.
Senang akhirnya memutuskan buat baca buku ini sampai tamat. Jumlah halamannya memang banyak, tapi isinya seru dan page turner. Nggak sekali pun bikin bosan karena kejutannya terselip di setiap plot. Bonus dikasih love line tipis tapi bikin gemes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Murder
misterbugman's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
anamustacho's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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
5.0
I love Star's parents.
There is so much I love about this book. The ddiversity. The humor. The sad parts tha make you reflect. How it made mee feel heard and understood as someone from.an immigrant family and interracial parents.
The injustice. The justic and power of people, community.
Tbh I find this book very fitting for catholics. Naastenliefde. Forgiveness.
There is so much I love about this book. The ddiversity. The humor. The sad parts tha make you reflect. How it made mee feel heard and understood as someone from.an immigrant family and interracial parents.
The injustice. The justic and power of people, community.
Tbh I find this book very fitting for catholics. Naastenliefde. Forgiveness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and War