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ashkitty93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A fast read. Excellent tension buildup through multiple POVs, although the ending felt abrupt. Nicely read by a full cast.
eawfritz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jennneely82's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A young adult, dark academia, murder mystery that includes topics like suicide, race, class, and friendship. This was a quick read that was suggested by a coworker. Even though it is an emotional rollercoaster, I'm glad she suggested it. I can definitely see why it is on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Master List for High School.
aclopez6's review
5.0
At times, this book was tough to read. I taught in charter schools for a few years, and the charter school I started at had disgusting similarities to Urban Promise Prep (the school J.B., Ramon, Trey, and Omar attend). This review is more of a rant than a commentary on the writing or plot.
We had silent lunches at times. As teachers, we followed a system that dictated how students left the classroom. We used an imaginary point system called deductions. We had students walk in a line, inside of a painted line on the floor, silent. In the moment, working in that system, it was tough to push back, but our students deserved different, and many did not thrive in the least. While the school I worked at was not as militant as others, we did not have systems that allowed us to treat students with dignity consistently.
"But everybody (including my mom) thinks Promise is better and so perfect because of the college acceptance rate. Little do people know, Promise finds any reason to expel a kid once they realize the student has zero chance of getting into college. Kids are kicked out and thrown back into their neighborhood school their junior or senior year, with nobody to help them. And if they didn't have a chance at college before, they definitely don't have one once an expulsion goes on their record."
Thank you for sharing this truth, Nick Brooks. I will definitely be reading your future works.
We had silent lunches at times. As teachers, we followed a system that dictated how students left the classroom. We used an imaginary point system called deductions. We had students walk in a line, inside of a painted line on the floor, silent. In the moment, working in that system, it was tough to push back, but our students deserved different, and many did not thrive in the least. While the school I worked at was not as militant as others, we did not have systems that allowed us to treat students with dignity consistently.
"But everybody (including my mom) thinks Promise is better and so perfect because of the college acceptance rate. Little do people know, Promise finds any reason to expel a kid once they realize the student has zero chance of getting into college. Kids are kicked out and thrown back into their neighborhood school their junior or senior year, with nobody to help them. And if they didn't have a chance at college before, they definitely don't have one once an expulsion goes on their record."
Thank you for sharing this truth, Nick Brooks. I will definitely be reading your future works.
carlys987's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
yallll what was in this book I ATE IT UPPPPP
r_aeeee14's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
trapwomanistcyborgwitch's review
5.0
Title: Promise Boys
Author: Nick Brooks
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: January 31, 2023
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks's Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.
The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. Extreme discipline, they’ve been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.
But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case's prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?
FIVE STAR MYSTERY!!!! I normally do not read mysteries so this books different.This book is special to me because my mother was a teacher and she was really passionate about her craft and making sure her students learned and was cared for for. I really enjoyed this story. This was a strong mixed-media mystery that tacked the issues of the prison to pipeline system, charter schools, xenophobia, ableism, gun violence, white favoritism, school corruption, immigration, gang violence, poverty, police brutality and school discipline. Mostly, it gave three dimensional inside look at masculinity in POC, both healthy and toxic, which it what makes the story stand out. It is fast paced, but has many tender and great character building moments.I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you,
Nick Brooks (@officialnickbrooks), Fierce Reads (@fiercereads), and Colored Pages Tours (@coloredpagesblogtours) for this gifted copy and letting me be on the tour!
#PromiseBoystour
#Bookstagrammer #blackgirlsread #blackgirlsreadtoo #bookwormsofinstagram #bookstagrammersunite #wellreadblackgirl #blackauthorsofinstagram #blackauthorsmatter #blackgirlsreading #amplifyblackvoices #blackbookstagrammer #blackbookstagram #blackgirlsreading #bibliophile #diversespines #bookstagram #bookish #blackbookstagram #blackbibliophile #blackandbookish #booklover #thisgirlreads #thisblackgirlreads #blackbooks
Author: Nick Brooks
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: January 31, 2023
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks's Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.
The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. Extreme discipline, they’ve been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.
But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case's prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?
FIVE STAR MYSTERY!!!! I normally do not read mysteries so this books different.This book is special to me because my mother was a teacher and she was really passionate about her craft and making sure her students learned and was cared for for. I really enjoyed this story. This was a strong mixed-media mystery that tacked the issues of the prison to pipeline system, charter schools, xenophobia, ableism, gun violence, white favoritism, school corruption, immigration, gang violence, poverty, police brutality and school discipline. Mostly, it gave three dimensional inside look at masculinity in POC, both healthy and toxic, which it what makes the story stand out. It is fast paced, but has many tender and great character building moments.I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you,
Nick Brooks (@officialnickbrooks), Fierce Reads (@fiercereads), and Colored Pages Tours (@coloredpagesblogtours) for this gifted copy and letting me be on the tour!
#PromiseBoystour
#Bookstagrammer #blackgirlsread #blackgirlsreadtoo #bookwormsofinstagram #bookstagrammersunite #wellreadblackgirl #blackauthorsofinstagram #blackauthorsmatter #blackgirlsreading #amplifyblackvoices #blackbookstagrammer #blackbookstagram #blackgirlsreading #bibliophile #diversespines #bookstagram #bookish #blackbookstagram #blackbibliophile #blackandbookish #booklover #thisgirlreads #thisblackgirlreads #blackbooks
murtagh's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shinespike's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
I thought this book was fun. I actually liked the characters in it. Them being in this terrible situation due to the adults not having their backs was crazy to see. I wanted them to win and get out of that situation seriously. I liked it 👍🏾