I Read, Therefore I Blog

The Blurb On The Back:

It’s just before Christmas and no one is prepared for this whiteout … But sometimes the most magical moments are a total surprise!

As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teenagers band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. Will they be able to make it happen in spite of the storm?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon’s YA romance follow-up to BLACKOUT has another all Black cast and good lesbian and gender-non-conforming representation but one of the chapters veers towards bi-erasure and I just couldn’t take to Stevie or empathise with her (despite her neurodiversity). Ultimately it’s okay, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as BLACKOUT.

WHITEOUT was released in the United Kingdom on 10th November 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Angie Thomas’s much anticipated YA contemporary novel inspired by the Black Lives Matters movement more than lives up to the hype with a note perfect story filled with wit, intelligence, warmth and sharp political and social comment that’s a must read for teens and adults alike. Everything about the book works – Starr’s voice is pitch perfect and I completely believed in her reactions to the murder and the aftermath (notably the grief, anger and frustration). Garden Heights and Williamson high school are equally well depicted and I very much enjoyed the contrasts in her behaviour between her various friends and family members (especially Kenya who calls her on it). Thomas makes some sharp points about white privilege both through Starr’s boyfriend, Chris and her supposed best friend Hailey (who is blind to the effects of her behaviour) and also about the attitude of the police towards young black men (with Starr’s Uncle Carlos, a detective, showing the conflict for black officers). This is not to say that Thomas is uncritical of crime committed by black people as she makes some caustic observations about gangs while also showing why some feel forced to join them. The dialogue crackles with authenticity and there isn’t a bum note in Starr’s narrative voice. If I’ve got one criticism it’s that the end of the story had a bit of a Hollywood feel to it that didn’t quite sit right but that’s a very small concern in what is otherwise an excellent, relevant read and I will be first in line to read Thomas’s next book.

THE HATE U GIVE will be released in the United Kingdom on 6th April 2017. Thanks to Walker Books for the ARC of this book.