Reviews

The Kid by Sapphire

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sweetpea06093's review

slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

I am glad I read "Push," even though it's super-depressing, because it opened my eyes to the horrible situation that a lot of real people are in and it's ultimately inspiring. However, I was really disappointed with this sequel. I felt awful for Abdul, but I really can't say that I liked him or connected with him in any way. Yes, I understand how he became the selfish person that he was. Almost anyone would be the same way if they were in his shoes. I think I didn't like him because I didn't see anything good or kind left in him. He seemed completely bitter and cynical to me, and although I can't blame him it made it difficult for me to like him, unfair as that might be. Also, I didn't feel much hope coming out of this story. Abdul has his dancing and I think that is supposed to be the uplifting part, but it didn't seem like the author ever made it seem like it would really work. Abdul is always so out of control and represses the experiences of his past so much that I didn't ever believe that he was going to get out of his situation. Maybe I just wasn't in an optimistic enough mood when I read this, but it seemed nothing but depressing to me. The only thing that kept me reading was the hope that it would turn out okay in the end, but I didn't feel good about the ending at all.

venomess's review

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

lynecia's review

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2.0

First off, the rating I really want to give this book is 2.5, but since Goodreads doesn't allow that, I'd say it has to be closer to 2 stars.

This novel was hard to read. Because of its stream-of-consciousness-style and because of the rough (at times PERVERTED) content. Abdul, the main character doesn't get any breaks in life. After his mother Precious finally succumbs to AIDS when he is 9 years old, he is put into foster care and every horror that kids in "the system" are known to endure, Abdul contends with. He is abused, broken, unloved and consequently becomes an abuser, and is himself unloving. His only desire in life is to become a dancer and he does so against all odds, but never quite overcomes the demons of the unfair life he didn't choose. In the end, it seems he just loses his mind. I guess the author wanted to make a point. For people like Precious, the protagonist of this novel's prequel - there really aren't any happy endings. Hope is a thin, short-lived sentiment, evaporating into thin air for those who have the cards stacked against them. This is what happens to children who are victims of the AIDS crisis, this is what happens to children in "the system"...it leaves one feeling that there is no fairness in the world. I don't recommend this to you if you can't stomach a dose of despair.

goodem9199's review

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1.0

To be fair, I shouldn't rate this at all, as I couldn't finish it. As in, sincerely could not stomach reading this enough to continue. I can't get past a 9 year old going to his mother's funeral. Couldn't do it. Not being the mother of sons close to that age. Sapphire is not known for light and breezy, and Push (Precious) was one of the most difficult and unrelentingly tragic things I have ever read. These are situations that need a voice, but at this point in my life, I just couldn't do it.