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quiltyscientist's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Definitely smashed my heart to pieces.
ciuli's review against another edition
3.0
I finally got to read this book I've had on my TBR list for a while now and I was really excited because I had read amazing reviews about it. So before writing my thoughts on the book, just let me explain the reason behind me giving just 3/5 stars.
If I were to judge this book basing my review only on the plot, and on the feelings expressed, I would give 10/5 stars, totally worth it and it opened my eyes on so many things that I didn't even pay attention to before. But unfortunately, the author's writing style wasn't really my cup of tea, especially those grocery list kinda paragraphs that were supposed to be dialogues. I'm sorry, but I seriously can't with those. so yeah, that's why I only gave it 3 stars.
Now going to the book per se, it was a unique experience reading this book. it was definitely mind-blowing and mind-opening, and it shed light on issues I don't think I've ever noticed before. I have to be honest here, some of these things felt surreal while reading them because my first reaction was "this can't be true, people can't be so cruel and racist", but then I remembered all the shootings and battles for equal rights that take place in America and that we hear of daily on the news. I think this is also due to basic law differences between America and Italy, my country, such as that in italy you can't carry any gun or weapon , wether you are a simple person or a police officer off duty. If something like what happened in this story, and what happens quite often in America I have to say, were to happen in italy, it wouldn't matter if you were black or white, PO or not, you had a gun on you, outside of a shooting range, you were carryng it for no good reason at all, you shot someone, you're going to jail. End of the story. I know this is not the point of the book and that the focus is on social and racial disparities, but to me the sole thought of this guy carrying a gun and shooting someone from inside his car into another car is terrifying. I don't even know how Americans can go around with their lives peacefully knowing someone can pull a gun out their pants at any moment and no one can say anything about it because it's permitted by the law!
What I really liked about this book was how it showed both sides of the medal. While the main purpose of this book is to have people reflect on how they perceive black people and hopefully open more than a couple eyes on the issue, it also spends some time showing how the reverse is also possible, due to decades and centuries of oppression that led to prejudice and lack of trust.
overall, I liked the story, didn't really like the writing style, but if you're looking for something to open your eyes on racial disparities than you should definitely pick this book up.
If I were to judge this book basing my review only on the plot, and on the feelings expressed, I would give 10/5 stars, totally worth it and it opened my eyes on so many things that I didn't even pay attention to before. But unfortunately, the author's writing style wasn't really my cup of tea, especially those grocery list kinda paragraphs that were supposed to be dialogues. I'm sorry, but I seriously can't with those. so yeah, that's why I only gave it 3 stars.
Now going to the book per se, it was a unique experience reading this book. it was definitely mind-blowing and mind-opening, and it shed light on issues I don't think I've ever noticed before. I have to be honest here, some of these things felt surreal while reading them because my first reaction was "this can't be true, people can't be so cruel and racist", but then I remembered all the shootings and battles for equal rights that take place in America and that we hear of daily on the news. I think this is also due to basic law differences between America and Italy, my country, such as that in italy you can't carry any gun or weapon , wether you are a simple person or a police officer off duty. If something like what happened in this story, and what happens quite often in America I have to say, were to happen in italy, it wouldn't matter if you were black or white, PO or not, you had a gun on you, outside of a shooting range, you were carryng it for no good reason at all, you shot someone, you're going to jail. End of the story. I know this is not the point of the book and that the focus is on social and racial disparities, but to me the sole thought of this guy carrying a gun and shooting someone from inside his car into another car is terrifying. I don't even know how Americans can go around with their lives peacefully knowing someone can pull a gun out their pants at any moment and no one can say anything about it because it's permitted by the law!
What I really liked about this book was how it showed both sides of the medal. While the main purpose of this book is to have people reflect on how they perceive black people and hopefully open more than a couple eyes on the issue, it also spends some time showing how the reverse is also possible, due to decades and centuries of oppression that led to prejudice and lack of trust.
overall, I liked the story, didn't really like the writing style, but if you're looking for something to open your eyes on racial disparities than you should definitely pick this book up.
michaelbcisneros's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.5
Fantastic read for HS students. Reading this in the fall with my 9th and 10th graders!
authorcharlottee's review against another edition
5.0
This book is INCREDIBLE and so important. I also HIGHLY recommend the audiobook for this one!
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book you want lots of other people to read so you can talk about it. There are so many important ideas in this book. It demands to be discussed.
samsbookcase's review against another edition
5.0
Inspiring. Educating. Eye-opening. This book has educated me in a lot of ways. Inspired me to be a better me. Opened my eyes to a lot of things that happen to others. Definitely a book that should be read by everyone. Schools would do well to put this book on the lists of books that are required to be read during the schoolyear. We should speak of this subject more often. We should educate each other and ourselves and be the change in this society. Innocent black people are being arrested. Innocent black people are being murdered. Their lives are being taken away from them. Taken away from them by the people that should be protecting them. It’s outrageous and change has to come.
gracebirdly's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely heart wrenching but an important book to read.
rachel_reads's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
polarbearlvr's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
This was surprising. The quality of the story was way higher than I expected. Importsnt toxic, good read.
applescruff1981's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5