“Unarmed and dangerous, but America, you made us, only time we famous is when we die and you blame us.”īri’s lyrics – I love lyrics. Once again, Thomas creates something astounding, calling out those abusing their power and giving a voice to those who need it the most. Secondly, being set in Garden Heights, OTCU featured a lot of similar themes of racism and black representation as THUG. I feel like this is a subject not often tackled, and it was done well. Firstly, the poverty rep – I’m not going to pretend to know what life is like for families like Bri’s, but as an outsider, it was a very eye-opening look into people living on the line of poverty in first world countries such as the US and UK. Themes and representation – As to be expected with a follow up of THUG, the representation within this novel is brilliant. I don’t know if it rhymes with anything because it’s a word I never thought could be used when it comes to me.” However, if this book was written for you, if you are a underprivileged black teen living in America and would like a copy of this book, I am willing to send you my ARC copy. With that in mind, I’m going to keep this review quite short. The only possible thing I can take from this is how lucky and privileged I am and to make sure I check that privilege. While THUG very much focuses on police brutality and the fallout of a shooting, OTCU looks more into the every day life of another family also living in Garden Heights, the same area where THUG was set.Īs a reminder, I am a privileged white woman from the UK, this book was not written for me, or with me in mind. Her follow up, On the Come Up, is just as brilliant, diverse, and gives a voice to those who need it most. By this point, I hope we all know who Angie Thomas is and what she is bringing to the world, and let me tell you that The Hate U Give was not a one off. I received an uncorrected proof copy for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.Īny quotes used in this review are subject to change upon release. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families. On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it-she has to make it. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes.

As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. Or at least make it out of her neighbourhood one day. Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time.

On the come up angie thomas