Punching the Air in DMPL Book Chat

Jul 31, 2021 Mikaela rated it really liked it

I loved the voice and perspective. I’ve read two books in verse this month and I have to say that I don’t understand the reasoning behind writing it in verse rather than a full blown novel. I say this because the verses are nothing special, they’re not great poetry. Some verses are effective in their form but otherwise I wonder if the purpose is to make it easier to read? Take up more pages with fewer words? I loved the character and learning about his experience. I just don’t know that this was ...more

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Feb 05, 2023 Andy rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya

[2.5 stars] I’m glad this novel is out in the world and that it’s connected with so many others. I wouldn’t discourage people from reading it, but if you’re an adult who would typically explore a topic like this through nonfiction, like “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander or “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson, you will probably find this lacking.

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Nov 29, 2020 Danielle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, books-i-own, social-justice, ya-lit, project-lit-ya, audio-libro, novel-in-verse

"We were
a mob
a gang
ghetto
a pack of wolves
animals
thugs
hoodlums
men

They were
kids
having fun
home
loved
supported
protected
full of potential
boys"

Another Project LIT book that hit it out of the park. Holy smokes.

Punching the Air is a beautiful novel in verse of 16-year-old Amal Shahid who is wrongly convicted of a crime he didn't commit and is sent to prison. Before his conviction, Amal was a bright student interested in art and poetry. He finds prison to be stifling and horrific and doesn't know how to ...more

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