A review by firxtly
Watch Us Rise by Ellen Hagan, Renée Watson

hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is an uplifting story of two friends, both deeply political and fed up with the racism, sexism, and fatphobia they face in their supposedly “progressive” school. The character of Jasmine is well written, fleshed out, and genuine. Her best friend, Chelsea, is her foil and is honestly a brat. We see their personalities and writing styles throughout the book. Overall, Chelsea is extremely performative and comes across like a “woke” nightmare. The messages are phenomenal, but Chelsea was such a difficult character to follow, compared to Jasmine and the other main characters. Also, it lacks diversity in the surrounding cast of characters !!! 
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