| Author | Angie Thomas |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | February 5, 2019 |
| Pages | 464 |
| File Format | |
| Rating | Click to rate this post! [Total: 1 Average: 5] |
On the Come Up is a 2019 young adult novel by Angie Thomas, published by Balzer + Bray on February 5, 2019. It tells the story of Bri, a sixteen-year-old rapper who hopes to fill her father’s shoes and ‘do It’s like a legend of underground hip-hop. Overnight, Bri becomes a sensation on the Internet after posting a rap hit that creates controversy. When Bri overcomes the odds of “achieving it,” he fights the controversy to achieve his dreams. It is set in the same universe (Garden Heights) as the first book by Thomas The Hate U Give.
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On the Come Up Summary
Angie Thomas’s successful debut in 2017, The Hate U Give, was the story of a 16-year-old who witnessed a friend’s police shooting. The follow-up focuses on another 16-year-old girl, Brianna “Bri” Jackson, who is trying to get her family out of poverty with her talent for rapping. His life is a struggle. His rapper father was shot dead 12 years earlier by a rival gang. His mother, Jay, has been clean of crack for eight years, but Bri constantly fears a relapse. His beloved aunt Pooh sells drugs, while his paternal grandmother despises Jay’s ability to care for Brianna and her brother, Trey. Often, the family has to choose between gas, electricity, or food.
Bri has talent. She has the lyrics, knowledge, and passion. When she raps “Tied like backpacks, I pull the triggers. All the clips on my hips change my figure, ”she is challenging the bully stereotype, but the public sees it as a boast. He soon gained notoriety as the dangerous and angry black girl of the projects, a personality that, according to his father’s former manager, could make him earn a lot of money.
On the Come Up Review
The plot traces Bri’s rise along with the gradual realization of the consequences of his fame: violence, lost friendships and the hopes of his local community that wants her, like her father, to show them a way out. However, for me, the strength of the novel lies in the way it explores the loves, fears, and friendships of an African-American community that is doing everything possible to survive under an increasingly hostile administration.
The sheer routine of prejudices, double standards, and racism is a daily feature in everyone’s life.
The universe of the book is the same as in The Hate U Give, and the events of that novel resonate through it. The sheer routine of prejudices, double standards, and racism is a daily feature in everyone’s life. When Trey, a student of talent and academic level, can only get a job in a pizzeria, is it surprising that Jojo, 10, cannot wait to be a member of a gang? The book does not shy away from challenging Bri’s own community: homophobia, meaningless gang fights, and the life of Glock stereotypes.
This makes On the Come Up sound dignified and heavy, but it’s really cheerful and fun. Bri often acts without thinking, with potentially dangerous consequences, but is deeply loyal and has a large repertoire of phrases, complaining that his “braids are so tight that I can feel my thoughts.” His friendship with Sonny and Malik is exquisitely portrayed, echoing their mothers: when they go out to eat, “their butts will be sitting there laughing and talking until the restaurant closes.” It is also a celebration of African-American cultural achievement in music, television, and film, full of references that feel like a gift to readers who generally do not see their lives represented in this way.
About The Author Angie Thomas
Biography: 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 Myers 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. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000, with George Tillman attached to direct, and Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg is set to star.
On the Come Up PDF
