Ace of Spades | Spoiler Free Book Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ส.ค. 2021
- Spoiler free review of Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
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This book did a brilliant job showing the different ways Black people experience a racist system. It was a lot because these complex dynamics are a lot, but any high schooler should be able to keep up with the plot and character development. We saw a mixed race, 2nd gen, wealthy girl showing symptoms of PTSD all through the book and covering up the symptoms by way over functioning. And in contrast we saw a Black boy on scholarship who didn’t fit in at his wealthy school or in his neighborhood. He was expected to keep up academically while managing the chaos and trauma of poverty at home. Both characters were incredibly lonely and isolated by these dynamics. These two character thought they had nothing in common, but then learned that a racist system saw them as the same and they developed a trauma bond to survive. This story showed dynamics of wealthy white people and poor white people. And the way these dynamics of class and race are so hard to navigate with dating and sexuality. Many elements of the story nod to historical events. And all of this is packed into a gripping narrative. I am in awe of this author.
I thought the storylines were fairly well balanced. The two character hopping was what made it interesting for me. One thing that maybe would’ve benefitted it would be in the joint scenes it lists them as joint scenes. I’m still reading it, very well made, got some really interesting stuff going on can defo see how it’s overwhelming but it’s so engaging as well.
I agree that there wasn’t a good balance between the two POVs. And I found the final stretch of the book to be very over the top-and like you said, it really missed the mark. I think it had a very interesting concept but the execution wasn’t up to par for me.
Spoilers
I enjoyed parts 1 & 2. I loved the mystery and the huge twist in part 2 of the whole school being Aces was something I never guessed. Part 3 is when I feel the story started to decline a bit. Where part 1 and 2 handled the pacing pretty well, part 3 felt pretty rushed, especially at the very end. Devon & Chi going into the school, Chi’s fight with Jamie ending pretty fast, Terrell randomly saying he worked with Aces but then also didn’t? That part was confusing to me because it felt like there was no reason for it. It gave a quick scene where Devon & Chi realize Terrell is still in the school but they find him right away. And then there is the whole crashing of the ball. We don’t even get a full page to take in how Chi & Devon we’re fooled by the reporter before the protesters barge in. And then the chapter ends with Headmaster Ward pulling a gun on Chi only to be taken down with ease. It felt like a lot of shock value but nothing satisfying at the end. And the 16 year time skip. It felt like a big gap to go to. Then there were characters that I wish we got to see get their karma or just k ow what happened to them. Mr. Taylor, Belle, Dre. All their storylines end much earlier in part 3 than I expected and we never see them again. Was hoping to see an interaction with Belle and Chi at the ball, or Mr.Taylor get confronted by Devon. Jack got his karma kinda but even that wasn’t super satisfying cause it felt like nothing amounted from it. I think it’s give the book a 4.3/5 stars cause I did enjoy the characters and 2/3 parts I loved, it was just part 3 that started to feel rushed. I do still recommend this book to people cause it was a great time to read but the ending is just anticlimactic.
Idk why I didn’t like it that much. I just found the characters unlikeable. It’s a good story and the banter and manipulation is good but idk. I just didn’t like it when I really wished I would
Thank you for the review!!!! I just bought it I’m sooooo excited.
Going into it I expected it to be a take on modern racism in predominantly white spaces (the private school) so it lost me when Mr. Taylor started saying that stuff and the throwback to confederacy . I just felt like it missed the mark because it feels like it’s saying modern day racism doesn’t exist unless it’s extreme and violent, which just isn’t true, it can be subtle things too.
Did the book say who aces was in the end?
Yes
No, it did it in the middle and the rest you'll have to read to understand. You won't have to wait 390 pgs to find out who aces is, so don't worry
what do you make it simpler that’s the point
A question what the hell happened to belle
@@nemobebow2we don't know. Same with Dre and Mr Taylor
This is hyped?
it’s been incredibly hyped on booktube and booktok over the last few months :)
@@danemoffat5897 I started reading this book then it was so much high school stuff and uh I don't read all that anymore 😂😂
I'm so glad I found this video because I've been reading the books all wrong not knowing that there's two point of views i didn't read the top of the chapter where it said their names🥲, but lucky an enough I wasn't that far into the book so I was able to go back and read it again