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A review by bookishly_sweety
By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery
4.0
Firstly I would like to say that this book was not at all what I expected it to be. At first, I found it hard to get into the book, because its told only in first person and from Torrey's POV. So I was beginning to get bored thinking it's going to be the voice of a person who is only going to keep grumbling about the situation he is in. But the story evolved and with it, Torrey too.
To say life's been tough for Torrey wouldn't be an exaggeration. The kid is Black and poor and gay in a homophobic society that still treats persons of colour differently.
I liked the cutesy way Gabriel and Torrey become a couple. No beating around the bush, or pushing and pulling each other till the end of the book. And totally loved how Gabe calls Torrey his Principe (Spanish for Prince) *insert heart-eyes*
And when I was beginning to get antsy about the lack of strong females, Candice blesses us with Emery. I loved her so much. Together with the CAKE ( Clarke, Auburn, Kennedy, Emery) or alone with Torrey, she just rocks and I loved her so much. Even Torrey is amazed by her. I loved the below quote from the book because its so beautifully written about a girl, from a guy's point of view. A guy who is not a boyfriend !!
And ooh who wouldn't love the scene where Torrey takes her to the apiary and they harvest honey together!! The imagery in itself was so much pleasing and I loved it. And Torrey leaves you surprised by the random bee facts he throws in and I did not know most of them.
Not only bees, Torrey also lets you know what is really happening in the Black 'hoods. How gentrification is affecting their livelihood and displacing them. I love how through him, the author is trying to bring attention to how silently the society is replacing the Hoods and white-washing them. Also loved how so MUCH importance is given to their community, the women and their ways, the dialect, the habits, standing for each other, being your own support system. From the college professor who makes Torrey learn punctuality to Emery who provides him all the support he can get, I say Torrey is blessed with all these women in his life. <3
I had very few problems with a book - like Torrey digressing a lot from his point and jumping randomly from one thought to another and Torrey's spiral into vandalism. But they teeny tiny minor things that I'm willing to overlook because overall, this is such a powerful book. Having read books by Ibi Zoboi, Elizabeth Acevedo, Angie Thomas, I know where all this anger comes from and I get it - I get how every single oppressed soul feels like, through these wonderful authors. I'm so glad I got this chance to read Candace's second book and I very much recommend it.
To say life's been tough for Torrey wouldn't be an exaggeration. The kid is Black and poor and gay in a homophobic society that still treats persons of colour differently.
I liked the cutesy way Gabriel and Torrey become a couple. No beating around the bush, or pushing and pulling each other till the end of the book. And totally loved how Gabe calls Torrey his Principe (Spanish for Prince) *insert heart-eyes*
Gabriel is all risk and wild decisions. But me? I am hesitation. I am Gabriel's antonym. The Taurus to his Pisces.
And when I was beginning to get antsy about the lack of strong females, Candice blesses us with Emery. I loved her so much. Together with the CAKE ( Clarke, Auburn, Kennedy, Emery) or alone with Torrey, she just rocks and I loved her so much. Even Torrey is amazed by her. I loved the below quote from the book because its so beautifully written about a girl, from a guy's point of view. A guy who is not a boyfriend !!
Girl's a poem in the boxing ring. She's breathless. She's gorgeous. she's moving -- dancing. She's a fire blazing in a rainstorm, a strike of lightning across a cornfield. She's everything.
And ooh who wouldn't love the scene where Torrey takes her to the apiary and they harvest honey together!! The imagery in itself was so much pleasing and I loved it. And Torrey leaves you surprised by the random bee facts he throws in and I did not know most of them.
Most people don't know that there are more than twenty thousand species of bees, only four of which are honey bees. And why should they? I mean, did you know that?
Not only bees, Torrey also lets you know what is really happening in the Black 'hoods. How gentrification is affecting their livelihood and displacing them. I love how through him, the author is trying to bring attention to how silently the society is replacing the Hoods and white-washing them. Also loved how so MUCH importance is given to their community, the women and their ways, the dialect, the habits, standing for each other, being your own support system. From the college professor who makes Torrey learn punctuality to Emery who provides him all the support he can get, I say Torrey is blessed with all these women in his life. <3
I had very few problems with a book - like Torrey digressing a lot from his point and jumping randomly from one thought to another and Torrey's spiral into vandalism. But they teeny tiny minor things that I'm willing to overlook because overall, this is such a powerful book. Having read books by Ibi Zoboi, Elizabeth Acevedo, Angie Thomas, I know where all this anger comes from and I get it - I get how every single oppressed soul feels like, through these wonderful authors. I'm so glad I got this chance to read Candace's second book and I very much recommend it.