Details

Length: 447
Story Build: quickly paced 
Character development: solid with personality 
Age Recommendation: 7th and 8th grade (with parent knowledge), high school 
Reasoning: language, sexual content, some violence and allusions to drugs 

Summary and Review

I was so thrilled to read another Angie Thomas book after reading, in one day, The Hate U Give. Similarly to Julie Murphy, author of Dumplin, Puddin’, and Ramona Blue, Thomas has a way with her characters and world. She brings her readers right in, up close and personal, to her creations and does so with such talent. Through their dialogue and interactions, these characters come alive, and the world that Thomas created in The Hate U Give is the same one she brings you back to in On the Come Up. 

In her sophomore novel, Thomas centers her story around a black teenager named Bri who has a burning desire to become a rapper, just like her father, who was murdered years before. She is always vying for a spot in the local rap ring in the hopes of making a career and being able to support her mother and brother (back from college). She’s also a high school student who must battle the racial stereotypes that surround her and her best friends, Malik and Sonny, at their school. Bri is constantly being brought to the office for incidents and coming home to an empty fridge. Plus, she’s always had her eyes on a particular pair of Timbs that she can never afford. Bri has a great deal to be frustrated about so she pours it into raps. 

However, after a particular incident at school occurs, Bri finds her raps becoming more powerful than she intends them to be, but yet she can’t help but entertain what might happen if she explores her new voice that people are actually listening to. It catches the attention of a local talent manager, someone who Bri is constantly warned about; however, again, she becomes curious about the types of doors this might lead to for a better life. 

Bri must also juggle her feelings for her mother who once abandoned her and her brother, which resulted in her grandparents taking care of her. Now there are trust issues from all parties involved, and readers will be engaged in Bri’s journey to forgiveness for her mother. Furthermore, Bri struggles to stay close to her aunt (a possible drug dealer and gang member) and her friends, who are trying to help steer Bri in the right directions. However, Bri must discover for herself what her true voice is and what kind of words she wants coming from her creations. 

On the Come Up is a story that contains multiple levels–it’s a novel about friendships, individuality, social issues, family, and confidence in one’s self. It’s also about finding love in unusual places and forgiveness where you need it the most. If you thoroughly devoured The Hate U Give, you will fall instantly in love with this second book from Angie Thomas. Oh, and if her writing wasn’t good enough, she includes Bri’s raps in her chapters, which are a pure delight. 

Celebrations

Thomas’s inclusion of Bri’s raps must be celebrated. I loved them. They helped to showcase Bri’s character, and they were witty and smartly written. The raps also helped to move the story along and provide insight into Bri’s mind. I also enjoyed the ending of the novel; I think it’s a fitting conclusion and again pushes the theme of forgiveness, which is so helpful. I also appreciated Bri’s struggle to form her own identity and figure out who she was amongst a bunch of people who were trying to decide for her. This is a relatable conflict for many teens and can be appreciated by the reader. 

Hesitations

My only hesitation was Bri’s use of social media. I just wanted to yell at her: Don’t do that, girl! I cringed at times knowing that she was making a poor decision. However, that is the reality in which we live. Our teens have access to a realm that gives them a voice that can reach millions. It’s a tool that can be very dangerous in the hands of teens who are not (no offense, teens!) making the smartest decisions (can you blame them really? Their brains aren’t fully developed yet.). This could also be marked as a celebration for Thomas as she includes this facet of the teenage world into her book and definitely showcases the downside of it and how it can hurt relationships and reputations.