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A review by aprilyvonne
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
📚Book Review📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yousef Salaam was an empowering and poignant story told in verse. I first discovered this unique narrative technique with Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I can truly say that after reading a handful of books in this style, it’s one of my favourites.
The story of Amal, a young Black teen wrongly incarcerated, navigates a deeply flawed world determined to cage him in. With his artistic talent, the support of his mother, and the bonds of friendship, Amal finds the hope within to survive, to thrive, and to heal.
The story was deeply moving and the poetry palpable. Despite the biased and broken system, Amal is able to rise up.
I’ll end this with one of my favourite poems, Dust.
“They can’t kill you in here
but they will try, Umi says
from across the round table
That’s the point
Locking you up isn’t enough
for them They will try
to crush your spirit until
you’re nothing but—
Dust
we both say together
And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks
It rises, I whisper”
…
I encourage you all to read this one. 🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yousef Salaam was an empowering and poignant story told in verse. I first discovered this unique narrative technique with Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. I can truly say that after reading a handful of books in this style, it’s one of my favourites.
The story of Amal, a young Black teen wrongly incarcerated, navigates a deeply flawed world determined to cage him in. With his artistic talent, the support of his mother, and the bonds of friendship, Amal finds the hope within to survive, to thrive, and to heal.
The story was deeply moving and the poetry palpable. Despite the biased and broken system, Amal is able to rise up.
I’ll end this with one of my favourite poems, Dust.
“They can’t kill you in here
but they will try, Umi says
from across the round table
That’s the point
Locking you up isn’t enough
for them They will try
to crush your spirit until
you’re nothing but—
Dust
we both say together
And what does dust do, Amal?
What did Maya Angelou say about dust?
Umi asks
It rises, I whisper”
…
I encourage you all to read this one. 🫶
Content Warnings
Minor: Police brutality, Grief, Violence, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Racial slurs