Fifteen years after the publication of Push, one year after the Academy Award-winning film adaptation, Sapphire gives voice to Precious's son... read full description
reviews
Jan 02, 2012
Shannon
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 08, 2011
Leslie
rated it: 
I'm not sure why Sapphire insists on writing her characters at the absolute expense of the reader's patience. I disagree with those who rated this book with one or no stars because it wasn't "hopeful" like Push. How in the WORLD can anyone think Push was hopeful? Because she learned to read and hate herself a little less? That's supposed to be hopeful? Please! It wasn't. I also think it's rather self-indulgent and a bit ridiculous to expect the protagonist of this novel to becom
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6 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Feb 05, 2012
Ashley
rated it:
This IS a DNF book, and the full length explanation of why I chose to set this one aside was originally written up for my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
The Kid by Sapphire is a novel I really should have liked. I read and reviewed Push on the blog last year (click to read my review) and while I can't say that I loved the book, I definitely understood the point and was left with an overall feeling of purpose. The Kid, however, did not leave me feeling any of that. I am n More...
The Kid by Sapphire is a novel I really should have liked. I read and reviewed Push on the blog last year (click to read my review) and while I can't say that I loved the book, I definitely understood the point and was left with an overall feeling of purpose. The Kid, however, did not leave me feeling any of that. I am n More...
2 comments
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Feb 12, 2012
Cyndi
rated it: 
A very thought-provoking and engaging book. But ultimately confusing and some what unsatisfying. This is a sequel to Push, Sapphire's 1996 novel which was made into the 2009 movie Precious. While you can read The Kid without having read Push, I'd do them in order. If you have not read Push, or seen Precious, this review will have spoilers.
Push ends as as the main character leaves her abusive life behind and creates a new life with her toddler son, Abdul. The Kid begins when Abdul More...
Push ends as as the main character leaves her abusive life behind and creates a new life with her toddler son, Abdul. The Kid begins when Abdul More...
Oct 09, 2011
Lori
rated it:
It amazes me that many reviewers of this book are disappointed because this work isn't uplifting, hopeful, redeeming, etc. It further astounds me that readers feel as though The Kid "rapes the memory of Push".
First, these are two separate books. Yes, there is a bond between them of Precious, but she is not a living, breathing character in The Kid. She is alive only as much as she is remembered by Abdul/JJ. This is not her story, it is her son's.
I, persona More...
First, these are two separate books. Yes, there is a bond between them of Precious, but she is not a living, breathing character in The Kid. She is alive only as much as she is remembered by Abdul/JJ. This is not her story, it is her son's.
I, persona More...
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(6 people liked it)
Sep 12, 2011
Bobby
rated it:
The sequel to Sapphire's "Push," which became the acclaimed movie "Precious," tells of what happened to Precious's son, Abdul, after her passing. Orphaned at nine, Abdul is taken from one abusive (to put it mildly) environment to the next, hardening him and distorting much of his sense of reality.
It's not a book that one enjoys, really, and it's a difficult book to review. I'm sure, sadly, there are real-life stories just like Abdul's that should be told and broug More...
It's not a book that one enjoys, really, and it's a difficult book to review. I'm sure, sadly, there are real-life stories just like Abdul's that should be told and broug More...
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Jul 27, 2011
Karyl
rated it: 
What a terrible, awful book. It's not the writing. Sapphire's writing is amazing. But Abdul is such a terrible, unlikeable, awful person. And being in his head is so disturbing and unsettling, and that is why this is such a terrible book.
My friend Kassie wrote a review over on BlogHer that I agree with completely. This is nothing more I can add to what she's put so well. Please visit her review here.
As Kassie put it, "[T]hese lessons don’t make for easy reads. T More...
My friend Kassie wrote a review over on BlogHer that I agree with completely. This is nothing more I can add to what she's put so well. Please visit her review here.
As Kassie put it, "[T]hese lessons don’t make for easy reads. T More...
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(5 people liked it)
Feb 09, 2012
Susan
rated it:
Hard to believe, but this was more violent, more sickening, more bleak than it's predecessor "Push". I was horrified in the beginning and then angry and finally depressed by The Kid's story. In my work as an RN and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) I touched on the nightmare lived by children in "the system"; the abuse and neglect and torture they suffered first from blood-family and then from foster-family. Family history and individual identity become too horrific to liv
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Dec 22, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
The Kid was a book that of course, was highly advertised as an "epic follow up to Push", (the acclaimed story of "Precious" and her struggles).
I received this book as a birthday gift and eagerly tore into the pages expecting a harrowing tale of a boy left orphaned by the death of his HIV+ mother and a journey of growth and struggle escaping the ghetto life he was destined for.
Instead, this book disappointed me, disgusted me and even made me shut the pages and More...
I received this book as a birthday gift and eagerly tore into the pages expecting a harrowing tale of a boy left orphaned by the death of his HIV+ mother and a journey of growth and struggle escaping the ghetto life he was destined for.
Instead, this book disappointed me, disgusted me and even made me shut the pages and More...
Sep 07, 2011
Marquina
rated it:
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 02, 2011
Heather
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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
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Aug 16, 2011
Connie
rated it: 
Once again, Sapphire put me through pure reading hell and once again, it was totally worth it! If you can stand reading page after page of violence and rape and manipulation, you will be rewarded with a new understanding of the cycle of rage and rape. Maybe that doesn't sound appealing, but I promise you The Kid is an enriching read.
The Kid follows Abdul (AKA JJ) from age 9 to about 19. He is at best, an antihero, who is possessed by sexual demons and night terrors as well as a More...
The Kid follows Abdul (AKA JJ) from age 9 to about 19. He is at best, an antihero, who is possessed by sexual demons and night terrors as well as a More...
3 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Jul 07, 2011
Ilene
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Jul 02, 2011
Eris
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5 comments
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Sep 03, 2011
Sheryl
rated it:
The sequel to her book, “Push” this story follows the life of Precious Jones’ son, Abdul. The story starts on the day of her funeral and follow Abdul’s life into early adulthood. As other readers have pointed out this is a disturbing book, Abdul’s story isn’t a pretty one, as it’s full of abuse and violence. Sapphire takes us into the head of this complex, troubled individual and does an excellent job of detailing the cycle of abuse, and in showing how this deeply damages a child. Some rea More...
Aug 12, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I am forever scarred from reading this book. I have read many books in my life, but none have caused me so much pain, anguish, and terror as this one. I loved Push because despite the horror of Precious' life, the ending was uplifting and hopeful. This, book, however provides nothing but agony and damage. Why Sapphire would choose to create a life like this for Precious' son is beyond belief. I know that I cannot be the only reader who questions Sapphire's motives for writing this book; she has
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Jul 28, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
Just... totally unsatisfying. I loved Push and had wanted the best for Precious, but this book just took Precious's struggle and stomped it into nonexistance. Precious wanted to shield Abdul from the life she had endured, but at the end it was all for nothing. I had to slog through this book, force myself to finish because I don't like to give up on books. But this was just a wasted read. I couldn't make sense of Abdul's thoughts, tell fantasy from reality, or even bring myself to like him.
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 02, 2011
Kyla
rated it:
There is absolutely no enjoyment in reading this book. I knew that going in, of course, but I also didn't want to skip it just because I knew it would be tough to get through. It is hard to know exactly what Sapphire was aiming for here. This book is about Abdul Jones, son of the great heroine Precious from Sapphire's first novel "Push". In 'Push', we saw monstrous shit happen to Precious, but it was through no fault of her own - it was simply her unfortunate lot in life. Her father ra
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Jul 21, 2011
Chivon
rated it:
I had so many expectations for this book because it was the sequal to Push, which I loved so much! Sapphire outdid herself with Push and brought Precious Jones into your heart and you were rooting for her and felt so bad for her... This story began with Precious's funeral. It was to be expected, but still sad and Abdul her son was destined to have a hard life by the way he came into the world.
The book was sad, it was raw, it was shocking at times, at times it was confusing. It w More...
The book was sad, it was raw, it was shocking at times, at times it was confusing. It w More...
3 comments
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Dec 29, 2011
Linda
rated it:
I guess since I can't give half stars I'll round up.
I wanted to like this, which is the only reason I made myself finish it. I liked the stream of consciousness style, but page after page after page of it became really tedious. Plus, it was hard to tell what was "in a dream" and what was actually real. No character besides Abdul was ever fleshed out to a point where you actually cared about them. The timeline jumps Sapphire uses to get from one point in his life to anot More...
I wanted to like this, which is the only reason I made myself finish it. I liked the stream of consciousness style, but page after page after page of it became really tedious. Plus, it was hard to tell what was "in a dream" and what was actually real. No character besides Abdul was ever fleshed out to a point where you actually cared about them. The timeline jumps Sapphire uses to get from one point in his life to anot More...
Sep 13, 2011
Linda
rated it:
I'm honestly not certain what my feelings are regarding this book. After 'Push' I had really high hopes for this follow up story to find out what happened to Precious's son. But this extremely confusing, dreams/reality, nightmare of a story within multiple stories has left me numb. It needed to be less graphic and more explanatory. The ending was incredibly ridiculous... I want to know what happened to many of the characters, did Abdul kill his girlfriend and/or her parents? Did he molest/rape A
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Jul 18, 2011
J
rated it:
(FROM JACKET)"The Kid"brings us deep into the interior life of Abdul Jones, son of Sapphire's unforgettable heroine, Precious. A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and the soul, "The Kid" is a story of survival and awakening, and of one young man's remarkable strength.
We meet Abdul at age nine, on the day of his mother's funeral. Left alone to navigate in a world where love and hate sometimes hideously masquerade, forced to confront unspeakable vio More...
We meet Abdul at age nine, on the day of his mother's funeral. Left alone to navigate in a world where love and hate sometimes hideously masquerade, forced to confront unspeakable vio More...
Sep 05, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
This is a hard book to review. The sexual violence in this novel is so raw and disturbing that I'd have a hard time recommending it to anyone. Stylistically, the stream of consciousness narrative - especially when the protagonist is younger, 9 and 13 - reads annoyingly gratuitous for long stretches at a time. On the other hand, the book makes such an important point about the systematic and layered vulnerability to physical and psychological violence confronting kids, especially those of a ra
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 27, 2011
Candy
rated it:
I really really wanted to like this book. I had absolutely been blown away by Push when I read it for my Intro to Feminist Theories class in college. This book is nothing like Push.
First of all, I had a very hard time liking Abdul/J.J/Jamal or whatever name he chose to go by throughout the book. While I understand the names signify a change in his life, they did nothing except add to the confusion of an already convoluted story.
Secondly, some of the rape scenes were completely unne More...
First of all, I had a very hard time liking Abdul/J.J/Jamal or whatever name he chose to go by throughout the book. While I understand the names signify a change in his life, they did nothing except add to the confusion of an already convoluted story.
Secondly, some of the rape scenes were completely unne More...
Nov 26, 2011
Christine
rated it:
We met Abdul Jones on the morning of his mother’s funeral. He is nine years old and finds himself completely alone, facing a long hard road ahead. Unlike Precious, who grew through her experience, Abdul (J.J.) slides ever deeper into the system and into his own anger and despair. He becomes a character I did not like very much. Then the book descended into a book I did not like very much.
Written in the same gritty and coarse manner as Push, I felt that this book used the language More...
Written in the same gritty and coarse manner as Push, I felt that this book used the language More...
Oct 04, 2011
Diana
rated it:
Okay... I have a lot to say about this book but I am going to be brief and to the point.
1. This book is very very heavy on male on male rape and pedophilia. I mean so heavy that it makes you sick to your stomach. So sick that it makes you want to go hug your children and pray they never have to live this kind of life.
2. This book is depressing. I gave it three stars because she achieves her goal in making the reader feel what Abdul is feeling and thinking but... It's to More...
1. This book is very very heavy on male on male rape and pedophilia. I mean so heavy that it makes you sick to your stomach. So sick that it makes you want to go hug your children and pray they never have to live this kind of life.
2. This book is depressing. I gave it three stars because she achieves her goal in making the reader feel what Abdul is feeling and thinking but... It's to More...
Jul 08, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Harlem never was and never will be the place to frame an "against all odds" story. This is a tale told twice, thrice and counting. The famed One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Street hasn't moved. Life is still the same: every waking hour is a struggle for children and adults and the latter can be considered orphaned by an uncaring system.
Exactly how is Abdul different than a child in Haiti? The boy or girl in Haiti has absolutely nothing, Abdul still eats and is clothed. I'm mor More...
Exactly how is Abdul different than a child in Haiti? The boy or girl in Haiti has absolutely nothing, Abdul still eats and is clothed. I'm mor More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Lacy
rated it:
It's hard to describe this book, except to say that it is raw, powerful, disturbing, and yet incredibly important all at once. The story follows the tragic life of Abdul, son of Precious Jones, the protagonist in Sapphire's Push, as he navigates through life alone after his mother's death. Despite knowing that Precious has AIDS (as stated in Push), it's hard to have The Kid open with her funeral--the past 9 years raising him, educating him, and generally working to mold him into a different kind
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Sep 21, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
The book was beyond disturbing for me. I only read the whole thing because I kept waiting for Abdul to redeem himself. While "Push" was a difficult read, there was hope alive within the novel. This book was just shock for shock's value. Abdul had no redeeming qualities and believed that because he was a victim, that gave him the right to victimize others. He had no remorse. And, the end of the book still has me completely confused. I have no idea what happened! Much of the book was con
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