e-Audio, 02:14:17
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Published by: Macmillan Audio
Read from: October 28-29, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received an e-ALC from Netgalley & the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Racism, Dementia, Death of a Parent, Violence
For Readers Interested In: Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Historical Fiction, MGOnyx lives with his mother, who is showing signs of early-onset dementia. He doesn’t want to bring attention to his home — if Child Protective Services finds out, they’ll put him into foster care.As he’s trying to keep his life together, the Civil Rights Movement is accelerating. Is there anywhere that’s safe for a young Black boy? Maybe, if only Onyx can fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut and exploring space, where none of these challenges will follow him. In the meantime, Onyx can dream. And try to get his mom the help she needs.Based on her own father’s story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Y’all know how this is going to start…. I don’t usually do novels in verse. They just don’t always work for me. But then again, I WILL try anything as long as its Black. And Amber McBride always makes me so happy I’m not completely closed off.
I don’t always love Amber’s stuff, but I’m never going to stop reading it. I’m going to give it a shot every single time. And I think I finally found the one that resonated the most with me finally. It resonated with me so much because the amount of emotion in it. He was strong because he was taking care of his self at such a young age. He was sad because he kept watching his mom go through this and wasn’t able to help her. And so much more. I really felt bad for him.
I did wish there was more reference to the time period tho since this is set in the Civil Rights Museum. They did mention some things, like his grandma and mama mentioned the assassination of MLK Jr and a march, but I do wish there was something around like how he was on the bus or something, but still.
Usually I have a problem with novels in verse because everything isn’t completely fleshed out in the book. It’s like there’s not enough details. But this one was finally the one that worked with me. I still didn’t like the flying part tho. I didn’t understand what that had to do with anything. I mean I get that he was interested in flying, but I didn’t think he would take it as far as he did? Idk that was weird.
This was a novel in verse that I actually really enjoyed. I had to listen to the first few sections multiple times, but for the most part, I actually enjoyed this. It might sound cliche to say it was different than the others, but it was. I guess I need to read some more like this to have a better understanding of what they’re supposed to do.
Overall, I give this
