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On the Come Up

Angie Thomas

Start date: May 1, 2019

Finish date: May 31, 2019

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Aug 25, 2020 Elle rated it really liked it

Angie Thomas has a way with creating wonderfully realistic characters and circumstances. Her characters are well-crafted, with a good mixture of talents and flaws. Her settings are well-described both in their visual characteristics, but also in the human impact they make. Ms. Thomas can take a story and weave it with beauty to describe the imbalances of privilege in a blunt and stripped down way that makes things both accessible and impactful. I love the way she makes everything feel real, as i Angie Thomas has a way with creating wonderfully realistic characters and circumstances. Her characters are well-crafted, with a good mixture of talents and flaws. Her settings are well-described both in their visual characteristics, but also in the human impact they make. Ms. Thomas can take a story and weave it with beauty to describe the imbalances of privilege in a blunt and stripped down way that makes things both accessible and impactful. I love the way she makes everything feel real, as if she was telling a memoir or reading a diary rather than creating contemporary fiction.

Like The Hate U Give, Thomas uses On the Come Up to expose her reader to realistic experiences and prejudices that they may not have even been aware of, let alone experienced, and helps to bridge the racial gap that exists in our world. Nothing feels contrived or imbalanced, nothing feels like simply an agenda. Her writing carries power and intent, but in a heartfelt way that serves to open the eyes of those who have turned away from reality.

The construction of Bri's character is perfect for this story. She is smart and capable, but still retains that teenage immaturity that causes her to be occasionally lax in contemplating the repercussions of her actions. She is rash and temperamental, with the ability to reflect on her mistakes but not always avoid them. Bri is also perfect for showing the divide of prejudice, both in terms of racism and sexism. She has the same attitude and outspokenness of many teens, but faces harsher feedback & consequences because she is Black. She is talented and ambitious, but is not taken seriously and is often assumed to have "help" when it comes to her rapping, rather than being given credit for her skills.

This story is one that needs to be told, needs to be read, and definitely has something important to say. It is beautifully written and gives a strong representation of the biases that need to be worked on in our society. The ending wasn't as powerful as I had hoped for and the book itself did not have the impact of The Hate U Give, but this is still a very good and important read. At this point, I will read anything Angie Thomas decides to put to paper. ...more

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Feb 20, 2019 Bunnita (Worth Reading It?) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

n this Bri wants to be a rapper. It's her dream. It's her goal. And she's quite good at it. Bri is implusive, hot-head, and a smart ass. Being all of those things gend to gef her into trouble or has hed granddaddy would've said 'she kept writing checks her ass couldn't cash'.

I love the way the story invovled all the secondary characters. It all just flowed. There are times when she is talking about rap/ hi hop that reminds me that I'm reading abook written for teens. I enjoyed the book and looki ...more

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Mar 17, 2019 Tanya Patrice rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, audiobook-is-better

I didn't know what to expect from this - I loved The Hate U Give, but am not really a fan of contemporary young adult novels in general. Well - Angie Thomas - you are a freaking rock star!! Or ... should I say rap star (pun intended). On the Come Up is the story of a young girl coming into her own, in a family that has nothing except love for each other and the will to do battle with the harshness of life. Bri, her brother, mom, grandparents - every singlt character is written so that you come t ...more

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Jan 19, 2020 Marie (UK) rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020-reading-challenge

I had real problems with this book and I am going to finish my review before i decide on my rating.

No 1 - I am NOT a black American - I am NOT even American - and I am no longer in y TEENs - it is a long time since i was a teenager. I don't know why the author feels i will know the lingo - I was so sick of reading the word"props" and not knowing what it meant. how hard would it have been to let the reader know what the terminology meant

No 2 it started off well but Oh lord it was repetitive

No 3 I ...more

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