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evamadera1's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
A refresher on the original text would have helped significantly, especially since I do not know if I have ever read the original. I really enjoy Rhodes' writing and this book definitely demonstrated her skill. However, certain things kept me from full suspension of disbelief. This book has near fantastical elements but also incredible realism of hard-hitting contemporary issues. The constant struggle to make these pieces fit together kept me from becoming immersed and ultimately left me dissatisfied.
atuckerdye's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amypt46's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars. This story had so much potential. The story of slaves in NYC is one that is not taught and that I hadn’t heard. It would have been a more fun adventure if the villains were less terrible. The pirates were very literal and unnecessary when there was other actual trauma already in the story.
I didn’t realize until the afterword that this book was a retelling of treasure island. And maybe the rewriting of a classic was what made this book so uncomfortable for me. I almost DNFed at 79% when the “villains” did some unspeakable things to ancient burial grounds so I mostly skimmed to the end just to be done. Alas, hopefully this book will find its audience that can enjoy the history and the extremely despicable pirates
I didn’t realize until the afterword that this book was a retelling of treasure island. And maybe the rewriting of a classic was what made this book so uncomfortable for me. I almost DNFed at 79% when the “villains” did some unspeakable things to ancient burial grounds so I mostly skimmed to the end just to be done. Alas, hopefully this book will find its audience that can enjoy the history and the extremely despicable pirates
roky_don's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
klra's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Slavery, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Bullying, and Child abuse
smarquardt9's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
aylea's review
2.0
In New York City, Zane, his friends, and his dog uncover the city's hidden history while looking for treasure in this Treasure Island retelling.
So... this book wasn't for me. But I do think it is definitely for other people.
First of all, I wonder if I would have liked this book better in an audiobook than I did reading it. The sentences tend to be very short and abrupt. I never could get comfortable reading because it felt like I was in the front passenger seat of a teen driver spending more time hitting the brakes than pushing on the gas. It felt jerky and kept shaking me out of reading.
Here's a small excerpt of what I mean about the writing style:
Hands on his hips, he bellows, “You’ve had a hard welcome to the city. Not as hard as slaves, mind you.” He chuckles low. “Let me be a friend. Help you.” He thrusts out his hand. I almost shake it. His ring of silver twisting snakes stops me. (I’m confused.)
His expression is kind, sympathetic. Curious. (But Hip-Hop doesn’t like him.)
“I’ve got to meet my friends at Trinity Church.”
“Ah, that, too, was built by slaves.” “Really?” “Yes, too bad, isn’t it? A great treasure built by Black people, mind you. Look around now . . . everybody here mainly white, all wealthy."
"Mind you, back in time, on Stone Street’s cobblestones the whip lashed Black skin. Blood running red, being treated like gold.” Click-click: puzzle pieces fit inside my head. The clue: Gold is black; black is gold. Red is always red. Port City landing. A wooden wall becomes a market. (I’ve got to tell Jack and Kiko.)
“Got to go.”
“No, not yet,” John exclaims, blocking my way. I swerve around him.
“Come on, Hip-Hop.”
“I could teach you. History, Zane. I could teach you.”
I suspect that listening to it would make it feel more like hip hop and would be interesting to listen to, making the writing style an asset instead of a distraction I couldn't ever overcome when reading the text. The dialogue also annoyed me because I've never talked to anyone who talks like this.
The other big thing that made this book not for me is that Treasure Island is one of my favorite books. I read it when I was about 7 and slept with it under my pillow for several years as a teenager because I was always pulling it out to read pieces of it. I have a hard time with a lot of retelling, and this is another one that just didn't work for what I wanted. I need more pirates and less skateboarding in my Treasure Island stories, I guess. I thought some of the parallels were stretched a little too far or weren't clearly explained.
I also felt the book was somewhat repetitive and dull at parts.
There were things about this book I found interesting that make me think this book would be for other people. For one thing, the focus on New York City history with a particular look at the history of Black people is fascinating and much needed. The skateboard crews, although I wasn't at all interested in them, are an interesting take on transportation and rivalry in this kind of story.
I think some readers will really enjoy this. I wish I had been one of them.
So... this book wasn't for me. But I do think it is definitely for other people.
First of all, I wonder if I would have liked this book better in an audiobook than I did reading it. The sentences tend to be very short and abrupt. I never could get comfortable reading because it felt like I was in the front passenger seat of a teen driver spending more time hitting the brakes than pushing on the gas. It felt jerky and kept shaking me out of reading.
Here's a small excerpt of what I mean about the writing style:
Hands on his hips, he bellows, “You’ve had a hard welcome to the city. Not as hard as slaves, mind you.” He chuckles low. “Let me be a friend. Help you.” He thrusts out his hand. I almost shake it. His ring of silver twisting snakes stops me. (I’m confused.)
His expression is kind, sympathetic. Curious. (But Hip-Hop doesn’t like him.)
“I’ve got to meet my friends at Trinity Church.”
“Ah, that, too, was built by slaves.” “Really?” “Yes, too bad, isn’t it? A great treasure built by Black people, mind you. Look around now . . . everybody here mainly white, all wealthy."
"Mind you, back in time, on Stone Street’s cobblestones the whip lashed Black skin. Blood running red, being treated like gold.” Click-click: puzzle pieces fit inside my head. The clue: Gold is black; black is gold. Red is always red. Port City landing. A wooden wall becomes a market. (I’ve got to tell Jack and Kiko.)
“Got to go.”
“No, not yet,” John exclaims, blocking my way. I swerve around him.
“Come on, Hip-Hop.”
“I could teach you. History, Zane. I could teach you.”
I suspect that listening to it would make it feel more like hip hop and would be interesting to listen to, making the writing style an asset instead of a distraction I couldn't ever overcome when reading the text. The dialogue also annoyed me because I've never talked to anyone who talks like this.
The other big thing that made this book not for me is that Treasure Island is one of my favorite books. I read it when I was about 7 and slept with it under my pillow for several years as a teenager because I was always pulling it out to read pieces of it. I have a hard time with a lot of retelling, and this is another one that just didn't work for what I wanted. I need more pirates and less skateboarding in my Treasure Island stories, I guess. I thought some of the parallels were stretched a little too far or weren't clearly explained.
I also felt the book was somewhat repetitive and dull at parts.
There were things about this book I found interesting that make me think this book would be for other people. For one thing, the focus on New York City history with a particular look at the history of Black people is fascinating and much needed. The skateboard crews, although I wasn't at all interested in them, are an interesting take on transportation and rivalry in this kind of story.
I think some readers will really enjoy this. I wish I had been one of them.