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ajaubrey1's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
quirkybibliophile's review
4.0
Thoughts and Themes: This isn’t the type of book that I would normally pick up just based on the cover of it. I’m really glad that I got sent this book and decided to listen to it on audio because I really did enjoy this book. This book was heavy in everything that it covered but it was also really a great story.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book as the beginning of it set up the background for the story and then suddenly there is a shift and the story changes not just in theme but also in the mood. I think this is a great book for middle school students and its great to start many different and difficult conversations.
Something else that I really enjoyed in this book was the villain because there is more than one villain in this book. There is obviously the villain that we all know in Joey but then there is the villain that Hector becomes to himself. In his ploy for revenge, Hector becomes a villain to himself and gets trapped lost in his feelings of anger and his need for revenge.
Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is the way that it shows how hard it is for BIPOC to get away from violence regardless of the life they lead. I thought it was great that we see how everyone constantly points out how Hector is a good student and a good son. I thought them constantly pointing this out but having others ignore it and even Hector forget this about himself added to the story and the pain that you feel for this family. This book shows how sometimes we have false perceptions of youth who end up incarcerated or in reform schools.
Characters: In this book you get introduced to several characters through their interactions with Hector. You get to meet some of Hector’s friends and family briefly, and then you get to meet Joey, and some of the people at Furmon Academy.
I really liked the different interactions that Hector has at Furmon Academy with all the different people that he gets to meet. I liked that we got to see a different side to hector through his time there and how different people change the course of actions that he takes. I thought it was great to see how the older generation had an impact on him and also the impact that this place was having on Joey.
Writing Style: This story is told in third person with the focus being on Hector. I liked that the narrator was telling us what was happening instead of hearing everything first hand from Hector. I think having the narrator see and tell all was a good way for this book to be told because we get to feel for each of the characters and not just Hector. I also think that this method allows the reader to take a step back though which sometimes isn’t always a good thing. I think its important that while this book is fictional, we remember that this is the life of many BIPOC youth.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this book as the beginning of it set up the background for the story and then suddenly there is a shift and the story changes not just in theme but also in the mood. I think this is a great book for middle school students and its great to start many different and difficult conversations.
Something else that I really enjoyed in this book was the villain because there is more than one villain in this book. There is obviously the villain that we all know in Joey but then there is the villain that Hector becomes to himself. In his ploy for revenge, Hector becomes a villain to himself and gets trapped lost in his feelings of anger and his need for revenge.
Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is the way that it shows how hard it is for BIPOC to get away from violence regardless of the life they lead. I thought it was great that we see how everyone constantly points out how Hector is a good student and a good son. I thought them constantly pointing this out but having others ignore it and even Hector forget this about himself added to the story and the pain that you feel for this family. This book shows how sometimes we have false perceptions of youth who end up incarcerated or in reform schools.
Characters: In this book you get introduced to several characters through their interactions with Hector. You get to meet some of Hector’s friends and family briefly, and then you get to meet Joey, and some of the people at Furmon Academy.
I really liked the different interactions that Hector has at Furmon Academy with all the different people that he gets to meet. I liked that we got to see a different side to hector through his time there and how different people change the course of actions that he takes. I thought it was great to see how the older generation had an impact on him and also the impact that this place was having on Joey.
Writing Style: This story is told in third person with the focus being on Hector. I liked that the narrator was telling us what was happening instead of hearing everything first hand from Hector. I think having the narrator see and tell all was a good way for this book to be told because we get to feel for each of the characters and not just Hector. I also think that this method allows the reader to take a step back though which sometimes isn’t always a good thing. I think its important that while this book is fictional, we remember that this is the life of many BIPOC youth.
olivercrieger's review
4.0
It was a little slow to start for me, but I couldn’t put it down for the second half. This is a deeply emotional book.
vardaman's review
The writing style is juvenile, and does not match the subject matter in the book, to an alarming degree. The book is plagued by simple sentences, without any dependent clauses or complex syntax. And while I would not inherently consider this a bad thing, there is a painful juxtaposition between a character receiving a death threat in comically mixed Spanglish and a lack of sentences with more than 10 words.
busybookbee's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
shiregreen's review
3.0
thoughts bc i can't produce actual sentences rn:
-people like the main antagonist irl are not to be messed with
-nonfiction situations in a fiction setting
-people are who you should be afraid of
-REVENGE/GRUDGES/HATE are very present in this book
-people like the main antagonist irl are not to be messed with
-nonfiction situations in a fiction setting
-people are who you should be afraid of
-REVENGE/GRUDGES/HATE are very present in this book
betweentheshelves's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Friends, I feel like I've been striking out on books lately. I appreciate the messages behind this book and the ultimate goal of what the author was trying to achieve, I just couldn't get into the voice. Hector's voice felt robotic for me for most of the novel, and I just wanted a little more emotion behind it. He was angry for a lot of the book, I just didn't really feel it.
This is very much a character driven story, and usually I like those, but I couldn't get into this one. It's a quick read and an important read, just not one of my favorites.
This is very much a character driven story, and usually I like those, but I couldn't get into this one. It's a quick read and an important read, just not one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Addiction
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
lonevixen_ka's review
3.0
'That's what courage is, finding a way to live with our cowardice. / It is a lot easier to hate than it is to mourn.'
Set in El Paso, Texas, On The Hook follows the life of Hector, champion of the chess team and a grounded, hard-working boy. But unlike him, his brother Fili is not one to take bullshit from anyone. Trouble knocks at their door when Fili starts dating the notorious Chavo's ex-flame and refuses to bow down to Chavo. Chavo's brother Joey thus, starts sending death threats to Hector. This leads to a very ugly event between both the pairs which takes Joey and Hector to reform-school (a mild version of prison?) where they spend their time finding different ways to blow off their grudges' steam towards each other.
I liked the way the author approaches the subject of 'hate and fear being the real prison' in the book. Hector lives in fear from the start but by telling the truth in court his character goes through a commendable development. I also found his conversation with the prisoner Cortini, very thought-provoking. Up until then, the book runs well. The whole El Paso aesthetic is quite picturesque too.
But afterwards, Hector's grudge towards Joey starts becoming a drag, especially when he saves Joey's life and learns about his abusive childhood. The fact that he keeps on pestering for a boxing grudge match against Joey does not align with his character development to escape the real prison of hate, according to me. Which is why, the ending could've been more satisfying and complete, even though things turn out to be okay with Hector. I also would've liked to see more of Fili and Joey.
To conclude, I loved the aesthetic and the author's conquest towards hate and fear. But the ending of the book and the protagonist's growth could've been way, way better.
Thank you so much @coloredpagesblogtours for my ecopy.
Set in El Paso, Texas, On The Hook follows the life of Hector, champion of the chess team and a grounded, hard-working boy. But unlike him, his brother Fili is not one to take bullshit from anyone. Trouble knocks at their door when Fili starts dating the notorious Chavo's ex-flame and refuses to bow down to Chavo. Chavo's brother Joey thus, starts sending death threats to Hector. This leads to a very ugly event between both the pairs which takes Joey and Hector to reform-school (a mild version of prison?) where they spend their time finding different ways to blow off their grudges' steam towards each other.
I liked the way the author approaches the subject of 'hate and fear being the real prison' in the book. Hector lives in fear from the start but by telling the truth in court his character goes through a commendable development. I also found his conversation with the prisoner Cortini, very thought-provoking. Up until then, the book runs well. The whole El Paso aesthetic is quite picturesque too.
But afterwards, Hector's grudge towards Joey starts becoming a drag, especially when he saves Joey's life and learns about his abusive childhood. The fact that he keeps on pestering for a boxing grudge match against Joey does not align with his character development to escape the real prison of hate, according to me. Which is why, the ending could've been more satisfying and complete, even though things turn out to be okay with Hector. I also would've liked to see more of Fili and Joey.
To conclude, I loved the aesthetic and the author's conquest towards hate and fear. But the ending of the book and the protagonist's growth could've been way, way better.
Thank you so much @coloredpagesblogtours for my ecopy.
kepurdy619's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.25