A review by therainbowshelf
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

challenging emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

This novel in verse follows the experiences and feelings of Amal Shahid, a black teen facing a prison sentence for a crime he didn't commit. These events are based on the experience of Yusef Salaam, who had a similar conviction and wrote some of the poems while in prison. 
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