Library book: On the Come up by Angie Thomas
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: 2/5/2019
Pages: 452
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Review: library book
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. 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. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
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. 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. 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.
I first saw this book online a while back and didn't think much of it. Two weeks ago, it was at my book fair, and I sat down and started reading it.
The book starts with, " I might have to kill somebody tonight. It could be somebody I know. It could be a stranger. It would be somebody who's never battled before."
That right there pulled me in; I didn't need to read the blurb! When a book starts in a way that wants you to read more, you must read it. I jumped on Libby and looked for the book right away! I was impressed with the story that Angie tells us. The determination of Brianna and what she deals with on a daily. The life her Aunt Pooh lives she can't turn away from. Everyone in this book struggles, but they try to rise above the life they have been given.
Brianna does not give up her dream of being a battle rapper; her bars are unique! Words are power, and Brianna knows this more than anyone.
It's one of my top ten books for the year!! I can not recommend this book enough.
Favorite quotes: Granddaddy, I "jump to conclusions faster than lice jump between white kids' heads."
I'm more of a "yes, people exist, but that doesn't mean I need to talk to them" person.
Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi as indicated by her accent. She is a former teen rapper whose greatest accomplishment was an article about her in Right-On Magazine with a picture included. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in Hip Hop. She can also still rap if needed. She is an inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Meyers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, was acquired by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in a 13-house auction and will be published in spring 2017. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000 with George Tillman attached to direct and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg set to star.
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