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2020 John Newbery Medal Awards
By Kristen · 28 posts · 271 views
By Kristen · 28 posts · 271 views
last updated Mar 28, 2021 06:44AM
Final Round - 2020 Mock Newbery Award
By Kristen · 85 posts · 307 views
By Kristen · 85 posts · 307 views
last updated Feb 05, 2020 12:39PM
What Members Thought
A lot to like here. But as a former child who spent hours upon hours feeling sorry for herself, I found the character of Genesis so emotionally manipulating it triggered unhealthy mindsets. It almost overshadowed the important subject matter.
The titular Genesis is a wonderful, flawed, thoughtful 13-year-old and this story is special because of her. I really liked the discussions about colorism - I've read plenty of middle grade books about racism point blank, but not as many about the intricacies of colorism in black families and communities. Williams writes adult characters that are also very three-dimensional: a father who continues to mess up, a mother who is Genesis's rock, a grandmother who has questionable beliefs, and a lovel
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Powerful and eye-opening, especially to those of us who don't experience the systemic racism that Black Americans do. This book is well-written with believable characters and situations and I highly recommend it to readers 10+. Although, I need to warn you that the internalized racism the characters experience is heart-breaking and bothered me far more than some of the overt racism I've read/learned about in other books. I wanted to cry for Genesis and just pick her up and take her away from all
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Excellent book about internalized racism, self-esteem, friendship and family. Oh my God, I cannot say enough about this book. I stayed up way too late at night reading it and couldn't wait to get right back into it when I had to put it down. *spoiler alert* Let me start with the first chapter. Genesis is a dark-skinned Black girl from Detroit who is ignoring the fact that her "friends" call her all kinds of racist names. They are popular, and she feels lucky to be hanging with them, so she's acc
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This was on the Heavy Medal mock Newbery list for 2020. It ended up getting a Newbery Honor. The author read the audiobook.
Genesis is a 13 year old Black girl who has been evicted from her home many times because her father is an alcoholic. She starts a new school and I love how her relationships evolve. She does not like herself and reminds herself reasons why kids at her old school, and her dad, doesn't like her. She confronts her grandma and discovers that she is actually prejudiced against ...more
Genesis is a 13 year old Black girl who has been evicted from her home many times because her father is an alcoholic. She starts a new school and I love how her relationships evolve. She does not like herself and reminds herself reasons why kids at her old school, and her dad, doesn't like her. She confronts her grandma and discovers that she is actually prejudiced against ...more
This book is phenomenal and is one of the best, if not the best, middle grade reads. The story is deep and powerful, and I found myself wanting to hug 13 year old Genesis many times throughout the story. There are many things Genesis hates about herself, but mostly her dark skin. She has a very complex family life which makes her school/social life also complex. I loved how this story evolved, the true friendships she forms, the teacher who makes a difference and the lessons Genesis learns, espe
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I loved the message of this book! And even though it didn't conclude every problem, it does leave you with hope. I would love a part 2.
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Race, identity, music, addiction. This upper middle-grade novel intertwines these concepts as Genesis and her family get evicted (again) and she starts a new school (again). Genesis is filled with self-loathing. She wonders with every choice she makes if this will be the person she will be able to call "friend" or if this is the moment when her father will be able to see her and love her. She wonders when she will be beautiful enough to love herself.
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Authentic, challenging experiences
Jan 10, 2019
Amanda
marked it as to-read
Feb 08, 2019
Annisha Jeffries
marked it as to-read
Nov 03, 2019
Lou Hunley
added it
Nov 26, 2019
Melissa
added it
Feb 19, 2020
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
Sep 12, 2020
Kirsten Barber
marked it as to-read-soon
