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A review by rachelditty
Lucas on the Line by Suyi Davies
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
This is such a great installment to a series that already holds so much weight and care for its story and characters. Suyi Davies did an amazing job giving readers an inside look to one of Hawkins's best nerds, allowing him to explore what it means to forge his own path and reflect on what he really wants out of his high school career. I've watched Stranger Things a few times now, but there were parts in this book from Lucas's perspective that made me tear up as I read them, even though I'd already watched them in the show. Getting to read about how he begins to deal with being one of the few Black students at school, and in the town at large, and his friendship with Jay through the school year, was fantastically done and completely engaging. I couldn't put this down. Very, very well done.
Some quotes I liked:
"Pro tip for high school: all rules are made up, and the only rules that matter are the ones you make for yourself. Just... try not to get in your own way?" (p. 34.)
"I've never thought of my parents as afraid. But I remember exactly how I felt the first time I saw the Demogorgon. I completely lost the ability to make a sound. I guess when there's a monster under your bed all the time, you lost the ability to speak," (p. 186).
"It's like the Upside Down all over again. Except I've been the only one lost in it the whole time, and now I've only just woken up to the real world," (p. 189).
"We shake hands. It's not intimate, but it's not sad either. It's two dudes knowing the world will always ask them to prove themselves, so they're saying to each other, Here's some strength and spirit to help you take that on," (p. 206).
"Don't die, I whisper to myself. Max has always been my guiding light, my North Star. Finding my way back to her was really finding my way back to me," (p. 304).
Some quotes I liked:
"Pro tip for high school: all rules are made up, and the only rules that matter are the ones you make for yourself. Just... try not to get in your own way?" (p. 34.)
"I've never thought of my parents as afraid. But I remember exactly how I felt the first time I saw the Demogorgon. I completely lost the ability to make a sound. I guess when there's a monster under your bed all the time, you lost the ability to speak," (p. 186).
"It's like the Upside Down all over again. Except I've been the only one lost in it the whole time, and now I've only just woken up to the real world," (p. 189).
"We shake hands. It's not intimate, but it's not sad either. It's two dudes knowing the world will always ask them to prove themselves, so they're saying to each other, Here's some strength and spirit to help you take that on," (p. 206).
"Don't die, I whisper to myself. Max has always been my guiding light, my North Star. Finding my way back to her was really finding my way back to me," (p. 304).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Racism