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-Very overall solid book
-Felt very authentic
-Very important topics covered well
This book is heavy.Not because it's badly written or slow, but because it constantly reminds you that this isn't just a story. For so many people, this is their reality.I had to read it slowly. There were chapters where I would just put the book down and stare at the wall for a while. It made me angry, sad, frustrated, and sometimes just... speechless.I think what hit me the hardest was realizing how lucky I am. I was born in a country where I look like everyone else around me. I've never had to think about whether the color of my skin would change the way people see me. This book made me realize that's a privilege I never really noticed before.One quote completely stopped me:"DeVante. Khalil. Neither one of them thought they had much of a choice. If I were them, I'm not sure I'd make a much better one. Guess that makes me a thug too."That was the moment I realized how easy it is to judge someone from the outside. We all like to believe we'd make the "right" choice, but would we really if we had lived their lives? I honestly don't know. And that's exactly why this quote stayed with me.What broke my heart wasn't just what happened to Khalil. It was watching Starr constantly switch between versions of herself just to fit in and stay safe. That kind of pressure sounds exhausting, and no one should have to live like that.I also caught myself thinking, "Surely things can't still be this bad." But then I remembered that progress doesn't erase prejudice overnight. That was probably the hardest thing for me to accept while reading.This isn't a book I can say I "enjoyed." It doesn't feel right to use that word. But I'm really glad I read it. It made me think. It made me uncomfortable. And I think books that can do that are important.I took my time with this one, and I don't regret it. Some books are meant to be finished quickly. This one is meant to be felt.And I felt it.It broke my heart, only to slowly rebuild it with a little more empathy, a little more understanding, and a reminder that every person has a story I'll never fully know.
