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Who Put This Song On
In the vein of powerful reads like The Hate U Give and Girl in Pieces, comes poet Morgan Parker's pitch-perfect novel about a black teenage girl searching for her identity when the world around her views her depression as a lack of faith and blackness as something to be politely ignored.
Trapped in sunny, stifling, small-town suburbia, seventeen-year-old Morgan knows why she's in therapy. She can't count the number of times she's been the only non-white person at the sleepover, been teased for her "weird" outfits, and been told she's not "really" black. Also, she's spent most of her summer crying in bed. So there's that, too.
Lately, it feels like the whole world is listening to the same terrible track on repeat--and it's telling them how to feel, who to vote for, what to believe. Morgan wonders, when can she turn this song off and begin living for herself?
Life may be a never-ending hamster wheel of agony, but Morgan finds her crew of fellow outcasts, blasts music like there's no tomorrow, discovers what being black means to her, and finally puts her mental health first. She decides that, no matter what, she will always be intense, ridiculous, passionate, and sometimes hilarious. After all, darkness doesn't have to be a bad thing. Darkness is just real.
Loosely based on her own teenage life and diaries, this incredible debut by award-winning poet Morgan Parker will make readers stand up and cheer for a girl brave enough to live life on her own terms--and for themselves.
Trapped in sunny, stifling, small-town suburbia, seventeen-year-old Morgan knows why she's in therapy. She can't count the number of times she's been the only non-white person at the sleepover, been teased for her "weird" outfits, and been told she's not "really" black. Also, she's spent most of her summer crying in bed. So there's that, too.
Lately, it feels like the whole world is listening to the same terrible track on repeat--and it's telling them how to feel, who to vote for, what to believe. Morgan wonders, when can she turn this song off and begin living for herself?
Life may be a never-ending hamster wheel of agony, but Morgan finds her crew of fellow outcasts, blasts music like there's no tomorrow, discovers what being black means to her, and finally puts her mental health first. She decides that, no matter what, she will always be intense, ridiculous, passionate, and sometimes hilarious. After all, darkness doesn't have to be a bad thing. Darkness is just real.
Loosely based on her own teenage life and diaries, this incredible debut by award-winning poet Morgan Parker will make readers stand up and cheer for a girl brave enough to live life on her own terms--and for themselves.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
103 people are currently reading
6703 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Parker
15 books659 followersMorgan Parker is the author of There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé, a Goodreads Choice Award semi-finalist, and Other People's Comfort Keeps Me Up at Night, selected by Eileen Myles for the 2013 Gatewood Prize. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Tin House, The Paris Review, The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop, Best American Poetry 2016, The New York Times, and The Nation. She is the recipient of a 2017 National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, winner of a 2016 Pushcart Prize, and a Cave Canem graduate fellow. She is a Sagittarius.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
September 27, 2019
Out Today: I came into this YA novel as a huge fan of Parker's poetry, so I'm not surprised that the language shines or that the imagery is fantastic. But more: the plot is gripping and relatable - a girl, an outsider, stuck in suburbia, wanting to break free, trapped in many ways. Beyond the excellent romantic imbroglios and school issues, the novel takes on mental health issues and race in wonderful, important ways - it is also very funny, and a pitch-perfect recapturing of a time and place (the 00's) that feels so near that it's touchable, so far away that it's unrecognizable. Great music too!
September 28, 2019
Morgan Parker uses her own experiences as a teenager to write this novel about a 15 year old, Morgan Parker, who struggles to find balance after being diagnosed with depression. Not only that, she is one of the only students of color in her private Christian school (and in her neighborhood, suburbia) where she is discouraged from having her own opinions. I like how her identity is also part emo, with all the appropriate musical references, and also a slight tribute to The Golden Notebook maybe?
I had a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley. I am already a fan of Parker's poetry and although this YA novel is for a different audience, I think her selfhood and strength shine through here as well. This came out September 24, 2019.
I had a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley. I am already a fan of Parker's poetry and although this YA novel is for a different audience, I think her selfhood and strength shine through here as well. This came out September 24, 2019.
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November 20, 2019One of the best depictions of depression and anxiety I've read, and it's especially noteworthy that Morgan, the main character who is based on Morgan the author, is black, as her mental illnesses intersect directly with her experiences being black.
By turns funny and heartbreaking, this book is a slice of life into Morgan's ups and downs in her conservative Christian school and very white suburban southern California youth. She doesn't apologize for her experiences, nor feel the need to make excuses for them. She struggles, and it's honest.
I loved, too, how Morgan's faith plays a big role in the story. She wants to believe in Christianity, but wrestles with what some of the teachings say and how they go against her own beliefs. It's neatly juxtaposed with how she lays into being an emo kid, despite the fact she is the antithesis of what people believe an "emo" kid to be -- white, sad, and covered in eyeliner. She instead loves herself some vintage fashion, is black, and just enjoys (as much as she can!) feeling her feelings to intense music.
One of the criticisms I've seen of this book is the thing that makes this such a REAL depiction of depression: Morgan isn't likable all the time, and she's not sympathetic all the time. Depression does this. It makes you a monster, even though deep down, you're hoping to be anything but; we see this tension tugging at Morgan page after page.
The climax of the book is a moment where Morgan puts on a public art performance/activist project and it's one that really seals the way her mental illness intersects with her blackness, as well as the history of black activism in the United States.
This is one of those books you've got to also read through the author's note and resources. Those are as vital to the story -- to Morgan -- as every other chapter in the book.
By turns funny and heartbreaking, this book is a slice of life into Morgan's ups and downs in her conservative Christian school and very white suburban southern California youth. She doesn't apologize for her experiences, nor feel the need to make excuses for them. She struggles, and it's honest.
I loved, too, how Morgan's faith plays a big role in the story. She wants to believe in Christianity, but wrestles with what some of the teachings say and how they go against her own beliefs. It's neatly juxtaposed with how she lays into being an emo kid, despite the fact she is the antithesis of what people believe an "emo" kid to be -- white, sad, and covered in eyeliner. She instead loves herself some vintage fashion, is black, and just enjoys (as much as she can!) feeling her feelings to intense music.
One of the criticisms I've seen of this book is the thing that makes this such a REAL depiction of depression: Morgan isn't likable all the time, and she's not sympathetic all the time. Depression does this. It makes you a monster, even though deep down, you're hoping to be anything but; we see this tension tugging at Morgan page after page.
The climax of the book is a moment where Morgan puts on a public art performance/activist project and it's one that really seals the way her mental illness intersects with her blackness, as well as the history of black activism in the United States.
This is one of those books you've got to also read through the author's note and resources. Those are as vital to the story -- to Morgan -- as every other chapter in the book.
September 22, 2019
TRIGGERS: Panic attacks, use of alcohol and drugs, homophobia, racism, talk about suicidal thoughts and suicide, pregnancy scare, attempted sexual abuse (cut short but still..)
REPS: LGBTQIA+, anxiety, depression, African American, Christianity
REVIEW
Once I got more into the story - more on the start of it later -, I liked Morgan more and more. She started feeling multidimensional and layered to me. Even though it took a while to get to that point, I really did like the character she became over time. I ended up seeing a character struggling with life and people, who was still able to function and have conversations as well. It showed that anxiety isn't one thing or another but completely depends on all kinds of small things. The most normal thing to someone else might be the trigger to a panic attack for someone with anxiety.
I don't think I ever saw anxiety represented that well in a book. Or maybe I've just been reading the wrong books? Any recommendations are more than welcome!
The entire story is set in 2008, when Obama was running for president. I actually loved seeing that woven through the story because - being Belgian - I'm really not close to all that. Seeing the impact it had on a small individual was.. meaningful? I honestly can't think of a better word to describe it.
Since the story is loosely based on the author's own life, I felt like I was able to look into the mind of someone actually living through the changes that were happening in America at that time.
If you read the triggers I mentioned at the start of this review, you'll know there is a lot - a lot - happening in this book. Though to some it might seem like too much, I didn't feel that way at all. It's a dark story, yes, but sometimes you need a darker book in order to see some light in your own life. At least that's what this book did for me. Among other things.
But.. The start of the story? Wasn't my cup of tea. I struggled because it's mentioned too often how Morgan has depression. It made her seem like a flat character at first. Like I said, that changed after a while but I struggled reading at first because of it. To be clear: I don't mean to sound bitchy in saying her depression was mentioned too often. It's just that I want to feel her depression more than read about her having one - if you know what I mean?
Another small - and maybe to some stupid - thing I got annoyed by is how Morgan constantly says to be emo, says one of her friends is a wanna-be emo / a poser and.. I just cannot. Friends of mine were part of that scene once and there are so many different layers to being emo. It felt wrong how Morgan wanted to define what it had to mean to others.
3.5 / 5
Who Put This Song On? is a dark book. It's hard to read at times and might not be for everyone. But I honestly do believe it's worth reading if you're interested in an African American girl's view on how things were when Obama was running for president, while she struggled with depression and anxiety. All the layers woven into this story make for a worthy read for sure.
REPS: LGBTQIA+, anxiety, depression, African American, Christianity
REVIEW
Once I got more into the story - more on the start of it later -, I liked Morgan more and more. She started feeling multidimensional and layered to me. Even though it took a while to get to that point, I really did like the character she became over time. I ended up seeing a character struggling with life and people, who was still able to function and have conversations as well. It showed that anxiety isn't one thing or another but completely depends on all kinds of small things. The most normal thing to someone else might be the trigger to a panic attack for someone with anxiety.
I don't think I ever saw anxiety represented that well in a book. Or maybe I've just been reading the wrong books? Any recommendations are more than welcome!
I decided to keep being alive, so I have to decide how to do it.
The entire story is set in 2008, when Obama was running for president. I actually loved seeing that woven through the story because - being Belgian - I'm really not close to all that. Seeing the impact it had on a small individual was.. meaningful? I honestly can't think of a better word to describe it.
Since the story is loosely based on the author's own life, I felt like I was able to look into the mind of someone actually living through the changes that were happening in America at that time.
If you read the triggers I mentioned at the start of this review, you'll know there is a lot - a lot - happening in this book. Though to some it might seem like too much, I didn't feel that way at all. It's a dark story, yes, but sometimes you need a darker book in order to see some light in your own life. At least that's what this book did for me. Among other things.
Part of why I'm so ashamed of my depression is that it feels bratty, uncalled-for, a privilege I haven't earned.
But.. The start of the story? Wasn't my cup of tea. I struggled because it's mentioned too often how Morgan has depression. It made her seem like a flat character at first. Like I said, that changed after a while but I struggled reading at first because of it. To be clear: I don't mean to sound bitchy in saying her depression was mentioned too often. It's just that I want to feel her depression more than read about her having one - if you know what I mean?
Another small - and maybe to some stupid - thing I got annoyed by is how Morgan constantly says to be emo, says one of her friends is a wanna-be emo / a poser and.. I just cannot. Friends of mine were part of that scene once and there are so many different layers to being emo. It felt wrong how Morgan wanted to define what it had to mean to others.
3.5 / 5
Who Put This Song On? is a dark book. It's hard to read at times and might not be for everyone. But I honestly do believe it's worth reading if you're interested in an African American girl's view on how things were when Obama was running for president, while she struggled with depression and anxiety. All the layers woven into this story make for a worthy read for sure.
September 29, 2019
Rtc
Rating: 🌟🌟 (2/5 stars).
Eh I truly didn't like this. I hate to say that about a book that's the fictionalized version of her life but this wasn't good. I wasn't particularly attached to anyone or anything. And everything felt just so random and disjointed. Also what was the point of this novel? I honestly don't know. Besides I wasn't a fan of the anxiety and depression representation. I totally acknowledge that everybody's experiences are different but this didn't sit well to me. This book unfortunately just put a bad taste in my mouth. And I really don't like saying this, but I am all about honesty so here it comes: I thought the main character Morgan was super unlikable, basically a bratty whiney sort of a bitch. I do truly appreciate how she called so many people out on their white ass bullshit and their racist comments. I was like you go girl. In those instances I could feel some sympathy and admiration for her but most of the times I couldn't stand Morgan. This is kinda awkward because the main character is basically the author itself?? I found that just a bit weird and so many elements weren't that well written or developed. I sincerely hope this is only because I read an arc copy and that the finished one reads more like a whole story unlike some random bits and pieces mushed together. However, big my dislike may be I do have to say that this book is a quick read and reads crazily fast. I did fly through it and in all honesty skim read the last 80 pages because I just didn't care.
Rating: 🌟🌟 (2/5 stars).
Eh I truly didn't like this. I hate to say that about a book that's the fictionalized version of her life but this wasn't good. I wasn't particularly attached to anyone or anything. And everything felt just so random and disjointed. Also what was the point of this novel? I honestly don't know. Besides I wasn't a fan of the anxiety and depression representation. I totally acknowledge that everybody's experiences are different but this didn't sit well to me. This book unfortunately just put a bad taste in my mouth. And I really don't like saying this, but I am all about honesty so here it comes: I thought the main character Morgan was super unlikable, basically a bratty whiney sort of a bitch. I do truly appreciate how she called so many people out on their white ass bullshit and their racist comments. I was like you go girl. In those instances I could feel some sympathy and admiration for her but most of the times I couldn't stand Morgan. This is kinda awkward because the main character is basically the author itself?? I found that just a bit weird and so many elements weren't that well written or developed. I sincerely hope this is only because I read an arc copy and that the finished one reads more like a whole story unlike some random bits and pieces mushed together. However, big my dislike may be I do have to say that this book is a quick read and reads crazily fast. I did fly through it and in all honesty skim read the last 80 pages because I just didn't care.
September 23, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Morgan’s story tackles issues of racism, the stress of being the token POC in the room, and feeling like you can never just exist – forever stuck between being ‘not black’ and yet at the same time unable to forget her identity. Her story is humorous and genuine, while not minimizing the struggles of finding the right medication and her family’s reactions to her mental health.
Who Put This Song On? brought me back to riding in cars at night, making CD mixtapes, and passing notes. It brings up the shades of racism – from the subtle remarks all the way to police brutality. The struggles Morgan feels while feeling like the black historical figures can either be celebrated for their sainthood or suffering. How telling it is when you’re asked what you would do if you went back in time and your answer is that you would be a slave – or not allowed through Ellis Island (in my case). (Which reminded me of Kindred by Octavia Butler a total must read!)
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Morgan’s story tackles issues of racism, the stress of being the token POC in the room, and feeling like you can never just exist – forever stuck between being ‘not black’ and yet at the same time unable to forget her identity. Her story is humorous and genuine, while not minimizing the struggles of finding the right medication and her family’s reactions to her mental health.
Who Put This Song On? brought me back to riding in cars at night, making CD mixtapes, and passing notes. It brings up the shades of racism – from the subtle remarks all the way to police brutality. The struggles Morgan feels while feeling like the black historical figures can either be celebrated for their sainthood or suffering. How telling it is when you’re asked what you would do if you went back in time and your answer is that you would be a slave – or not allowed through Ellis Island (in my case). (Which reminded me of Kindred by Octavia Butler a total must read!)
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
January 19, 2020
Important. Funny. Self-aware. This YA novel spans a timeframe of a young girl's discovery, coming of age, if you will. Where she finds who she is, or at least attempts to do so, in a world determined to box her.
Topics discussed: Mental Health (e.g. Clinical Depression, racism, sexism, societal cliches).
This book creates a smart space for all the black girls, like me, determined to create their own path when society thinks they know better of you. Why fit in when the squeeze is too tight?
4/5
Topics discussed: Mental Health (e.g. Clinical Depression, racism, sexism, societal cliches).
This book creates a smart space for all the black girls, like me, determined to create their own path when society thinks they know better of you. Why fit in when the squeeze is too tight?
4/5
October 31, 2019
Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker
This book was so hard to rate. I had to take a few days & think, but then realized that I was at one time in life Morgan. Depression and all the things that come with isn’t talked about much in the Black community. I know what it’s like to fight through depression and this novel will help so many young kids. I am highly recommending this to everyone.
This book was so hard to rate. I had to take a few days & think, but then realized that I was at one time in life Morgan. Depression and all the things that come with isn’t talked about much in the Black community. I know what it’s like to fight through depression and this novel will help so many young kids. I am highly recommending this to everyone.
June 26, 2019
I wanted so badly to like this book. Morgan Parker was a featured author at a dinner I attended and when talking about this semi-autographical story she was hilariously honest about the struggles she endured during her teen years that led to the writing of this book. I put it at the top of my very tall TBR pile and couldn’t wait to dive in.
Unfortunately, the book isn’t as funny and engaging as the author is. I understand that it’s about mental illness but I found it very difficult to read. The main character, also named Morgan Parker, wasn’t very likable. I tried to sympathize with her but she was so unpleasant I couldn’t.
The music referred to in the book was unknown to me which is not unexpected considering I’m not her target audience, but I’m a high school librarian with 2 teenagers of my own so I’m not completely clueless either. Therefore, there was a layer of the story that I wasn’t able to relate to at all.
The writing style was not my cup of tea. (Her use of parenthetical sentences — at least one on every spread— was a huge distraction to me.) There were a couple of glaring grammatical errors that made me roll my eyes: a Smith’s t-shirt, Dr. Marten’s shoes (it’s The Smiths and Dr. Martens, although they have forever been called Docs or Doc Martens, so the use of Dr. Martens seemed forced).
One character, although portrayed as prim and proper, speaks in an oddly formal way. “But he felt embarrassed that I told you guys that his penis was too big and that doing it was difficult.” I don’t know any teen that would speak that way to her best friends. I was a teenager once and I am surrounded by them 24/7. I think it would be more like, “omg you guys, he’s soooo mad I told you he has a big d***”.
I see many 4- and 5-star reviews stating that it’s an honest and realistic depiction of teen mental illness. That may be the case, but for me the book was a major disappointment.
Unfortunately, the book isn’t as funny and engaging as the author is. I understand that it’s about mental illness but I found it very difficult to read. The main character, also named Morgan Parker, wasn’t very likable. I tried to sympathize with her but she was so unpleasant I couldn’t.
The music referred to in the book was unknown to me which is not unexpected considering I’m not her target audience, but I’m a high school librarian with 2 teenagers of my own so I’m not completely clueless either. Therefore, there was a layer of the story that I wasn’t able to relate to at all.
The writing style was not my cup of tea. (Her use of parenthetical sentences — at least one on every spread— was a huge distraction to me.) There were a couple of glaring grammatical errors that made me roll my eyes: a Smith’s t-shirt, Dr. Marten’s shoes (it’s The Smiths and Dr. Martens, although they have forever been called Docs or Doc Martens, so the use of Dr. Martens seemed forced).
One character, although portrayed as prim and proper, speaks in an oddly formal way. “But he felt embarrassed that I told you guys that his penis was too big and that doing it was difficult.” I don’t know any teen that would speak that way to her best friends. I was a teenager once and I am surrounded by them 24/7. I think it would be more like, “omg you guys, he’s soooo mad I told you he has a big d***”.
I see many 4- and 5-star reviews stating that it’s an honest and realistic depiction of teen mental illness. That may be the case, but for me the book was a major disappointment.
January 5, 2020
Absolutely beautiful coming of age story about the author. Everyone should read this. The honesty is palpable. She does a fantastic job elaborating on the fact she is a very bright person of color and this was often not an easy cross to carry. She was pigeoned holed and judged throughout her life because people were always trying to figure out and label her base on their own misguided perceptions and experiences. Even her mom had hopes and expectations which Morgan struggled with because she is a totally different individual with different goals, likes and dislikes.
Morgan's story just raw, authentic, and inspirational. I am looking forward to more books from Morgan Parker because she has that special gift that transcends age. sex. race. etcetera. There is something in there that everyone can identify with on some level - and pause for some thought/reflection.
What a gift she has extended to her readers in the sharing of her story and speaking her truth from the heart. Her authenticity and rawness is what we need more of. After all. . . we truly are only as sick as our secrets. . . .
Morgan's story just raw, authentic, and inspirational. I am looking forward to more books from Morgan Parker because she has that special gift that transcends age. sex. race. etcetera. There is something in there that everyone can identify with on some level - and pause for some thought/reflection.
What a gift she has extended to her readers in the sharing of her story and speaking her truth from the heart. Her authenticity and rawness is what we need more of. After all. . . we truly are only as sick as our secrets. . . .
July 25, 2019
This was SO GOOD. It's 2008 and Morgan is a black girl amidst a mostly all-white suburb struggles with racism, depression, liking boys who only like white girls, and finding her place. Really amazing stuff. Finished reading in 2 days! What a fantastic debut novel by Morgan Parker. Can't wait to see what she does next.
October 3, 2019
Sometimes it’s worth staying up until 2 in the morning to finish a book. This is one of those. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so completely able to just be okay with Who I Am. Loved this book. Everyone should read it.
Read
February 26, 2020My song doesn't sound like anyone elses.
In a very conservative and religious suburb, Morgan feels like an outsider as a young black teen. The more she struggles with expectations, faith, racism, and everything in between, the worse her anxiety and depression get. It seems the world is content to keep on being the way it is, but Morgan certainly isn't. Music offers her solace, but can she learn to dance to her own tune?
A story of learning to blast your song proudly in a world that wants you to turn it down low. A tale of learning to embrace every part of who you are.
Trigger warnings for talk of suicide, racism, racial slurs, microagressions, sexual assault, a pregnancy scare, use of the word cr*zy, mention of a thyroid problem, depression, anxiety, homophobia, colorism, theft, underage smoking, drinking, drug use, and mentions of police brutality.
Passionate and honest, Morgan was not content to stay in the box society tried to put her in. A self-proclaimed emo, she often felt alone in battles against her depression and anxiety. Her exhaustion with the world was so papable as she tried to navigate her day to day life. From calling out people's blatant racism to pulling through mental health struggles, her courageous heart shown brightly. Unfiltered honesty, a great music taste, and a sincere look at life were just a few of the things that made me love Morgan.
From her loving but strained family, to her friends who cared about her, but turned a blind eye to some very important things, to society and its expectations, Morgan had to run a gauntlet through all of her relationships. Compassion and tension seeped through the bonds between Morgan and her family as they bent under the weight of not really talking about what was going on. Even when things became extremely isolating, Meg and James had her back most of the time. Each holding their own burdens, they didn't always realize the gravity of their actions. The various romantic relationships Morgan had were certainly different than those I've seen in a YA before, but I'm so glad they're depicted. However, use caution as one of them is absolutely not okay. Society was determined to trap Morgan in
their conformities, but she did everything she could to tell them no, which made me love her all the more.
Infused with some great music, Morgan's journey of writing her own soundtrack came alive. A story of being yourself in a world that wants you to sing along to their song, Who Put This Song On? was raw and real. Set in 2008 around the time of President Obama's election, Morgan's struggles to figure out her own identity and what being black meant to her were vividly depicted. Humor and truth helped deliver one girl's experiences of trying to fit in, and stand out as the wonderful human being she was. Featuring gut-wrenchingly honest portrayals of anxiety and depression, this book made me feel so understood in regards to mental health. While it did not shy away from the ugly ways those disorders infiltrate everyday life and relationships, it was also about marching on in spite of the bleakness. The prose was a bit all over the place, but it was authentic while being in the character's headspace. Unflinchingly, Morgan Parker discussed the trials of racism, sex, a wavering relationship with faith, and going against the grain in a way like I've never seen it before. Nothing wraps itself neatly in a bow and that's beautiful. Relatable to so many people for so many reasons, I adored this book.
Who Put This Song On? needs to be heard by everyone.
In a very conservative and religious suburb, Morgan feels like an outsider as a young black teen. The more she struggles with expectations, faith, racism, and everything in between, the worse her anxiety and depression get. It seems the world is content to keep on being the way it is, but Morgan certainly isn't. Music offers her solace, but can she learn to dance to her own tune?
A story of learning to blast your song proudly in a world that wants you to turn it down low. A tale of learning to embrace every part of who you are.
Trigger warnings for talk of suicide, racism, racial slurs, microagressions, sexual assault, a pregnancy scare, use of the word cr*zy, mention of a thyroid problem, depression, anxiety, homophobia, colorism, theft, underage smoking, drinking, drug use, and mentions of police brutality.
Passionate and honest, Morgan was not content to stay in the box society tried to put her in. A self-proclaimed emo, she often felt alone in battles against her depression and anxiety. Her exhaustion with the world was so papable as she tried to navigate her day to day life. From calling out people's blatant racism to pulling through mental health struggles, her courageous heart shown brightly. Unfiltered honesty, a great music taste, and a sincere look at life were just a few of the things that made me love Morgan.
From her loving but strained family, to her friends who cared about her, but turned a blind eye to some very important things, to society and its expectations, Morgan had to run a gauntlet through all of her relationships. Compassion and tension seeped through the bonds between Morgan and her family as they bent under the weight of not really talking about what was going on. Even when things became extremely isolating, Meg and James had her back most of the time. Each holding their own burdens, they didn't always realize the gravity of their actions. The various romantic relationships Morgan had were certainly different than those I've seen in a YA before, but I'm so glad they're depicted. However, use caution as one of them is absolutely not okay. Society was determined to trap Morgan in
their conformities, but she did everything she could to tell them no, which made me love her all the more.
Infused with some great music, Morgan's journey of writing her own soundtrack came alive. A story of being yourself in a world that wants you to sing along to their song, Who Put This Song On? was raw and real. Set in 2008 around the time of President Obama's election, Morgan's struggles to figure out her own identity and what being black meant to her were vividly depicted. Humor and truth helped deliver one girl's experiences of trying to fit in, and stand out as the wonderful human being she was. Featuring gut-wrenchingly honest portrayals of anxiety and depression, this book made me feel so understood in regards to mental health. While it did not shy away from the ugly ways those disorders infiltrate everyday life and relationships, it was also about marching on in spite of the bleakness. The prose was a bit all over the place, but it was authentic while being in the character's headspace. Unflinchingly, Morgan Parker discussed the trials of racism, sex, a wavering relationship with faith, and going against the grain in a way like I've never seen it before. Nothing wraps itself neatly in a bow and that's beautiful. Relatable to so many people for so many reasons, I adored this book.
Who Put This Song On? needs to be heard by everyone.
February 25, 2022
One of my 2022 reading resolutions is to pick up more books that sound interesting to me and that I’ve never heard of since I so often only reach for very hyped new releases. I don’t even remember how I stumbled upon it but when I read the synopsis of Who Put This Son On?, I knew it’d be up my alley so I was really excited when I saw that the audiobook was available at my library.
What I expected and was right about:
- a realistic portrayal of a teen struggling with depression
- a coming-of-age story that made me think a lot but that also had a lot of humor and an overall hopeful tone
What really caught me off guard:
- this book is set in 2008 - it doesn’t seem like that long ago but I thought I was picking up a book set in 2019 and the slurs and sometimes unchallenged bigotry really threw me off at first (I also think that - considering the target audience for this book is young adults and teens and they were toddlers or babies in 2008 - some of the offensive lines could’ve been challenged bit more)
- the way the book deals a **lot** with religion (especially in the first half): Morgan lives in a very Christian community and goes to a Catholic school → there’s a lot of mental health stigma, racism and homophobia rooted in religious bigotry and I did not expect that
What pleasantly surprised me:
- I really liked how Morgan’s journey of trying to find something to be passionate about leads to her researching Black history in the US; the discussions of how Black history is often not talked about at school and also told from a very specific (white) lens were so important
- Morgan’s friendships really brought the story to life and I loved their banter, their more serious talks and their relatable teenage struggles
- it’s obvious that Morgan Parker is a poet from her writing style and it translated so well to the audiobook: the narrator did an incredible job and I liked that some of the emails and extra material was narrated by an additional cast
- I quite enjoyed Morgan’s development and how she learned to be kinder to herself and that her depression is a part of her that she doesn't need to hide but that it’s also not the only aspect of her identity
What I didn't love:
- some of the scenes felt a bit random and disjointed and I kind of wish that some of the elements of the story (including the characters) had been developed a bit more
Overall, I quite enjoyed Who Put This Song On? and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I definitely recommend checking it out but encourage you to read the quite extensive list of trigger warnings. Despite it being set in 2008, this almost-memoir raises many issues and themes that are still relevant today. I think that if you go into it knowing what you can expect, Who Put This Song On? is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story about mental health, religion, racism and activism that will make some readers feel seen and force others to confront their privilege but that will definitely be a memorable read for everyone.
tw (this is everything that I could think of but I might’ve forgotten something): racism, homophobia, racist and homophobic slurs, depression, suicide attempt (in the past), suicidal thoughts, religious bigotry, encounter with a cop, underage drinking, smoking, pill abuse, brief sexual content
What I expected and was right about:
- a realistic portrayal of a teen struggling with depression
- a coming-of-age story that made me think a lot but that also had a lot of humor and an overall hopeful tone
What really caught me off guard:
- this book is set in 2008 - it doesn’t seem like that long ago but I thought I was picking up a book set in 2019 and the slurs and sometimes unchallenged bigotry really threw me off at first (I also think that - considering the target audience for this book is young adults and teens and they were toddlers or babies in 2008 - some of the offensive lines could’ve been challenged bit more)
- the way the book deals a **lot** with religion (especially in the first half): Morgan lives in a very Christian community and goes to a Catholic school → there’s a lot of mental health stigma, racism and homophobia rooted in religious bigotry and I did not expect that
What pleasantly surprised me:
- I really liked how Morgan’s journey of trying to find something to be passionate about leads to her researching Black history in the US; the discussions of how Black history is often not talked about at school and also told from a very specific (white) lens were so important
- Morgan’s friendships really brought the story to life and I loved their banter, their more serious talks and their relatable teenage struggles
- it’s obvious that Morgan Parker is a poet from her writing style and it translated so well to the audiobook: the narrator did an incredible job and I liked that some of the emails and extra material was narrated by an additional cast
- I quite enjoyed Morgan’s development and how she learned to be kinder to herself and that her depression is a part of her that she doesn't need to hide but that it’s also not the only aspect of her identity
What I didn't love:
- some of the scenes felt a bit random and disjointed and I kind of wish that some of the elements of the story (including the characters) had been developed a bit more
Overall, I quite enjoyed Who Put This Song On? and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I definitely recommend checking it out but encourage you to read the quite extensive list of trigger warnings. Despite it being set in 2008, this almost-memoir raises many issues and themes that are still relevant today. I think that if you go into it knowing what you can expect, Who Put This Song On? is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story about mental health, religion, racism and activism that will make some readers feel seen and force others to confront their privilege but that will definitely be a memorable read for everyone.
tw (this is everything that I could think of but I might’ve forgotten something): racism, homophobia, racist and homophobic slurs, depression, suicide attempt (in the past), suicidal thoughts, religious bigotry, encounter with a cop, underage drinking, smoking, pill abuse, brief sexual content
May 19, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Who Put This Song On? is a memoir of the author's life, with many fictionalized aspects, according to the author's note in the back. This authenticity really shines through in the novel, as it deals with a lot of heavy topics in a very real way. Morgan felt like a very realistic and relatable main character.
The book is set around the time Obama was first elected as president, which is exactly the time I went to high school too, so this was a really fun read for me, with a lot of recognizable elements in terms of music, fashion and other pop culture references.
The way Morgan deals with her depression and anxiety were very relatable as well. However, I did think this could have been portrayed more elaborately. The book had so much to focus on that it sometimes seemed to lose track, and it felt a little all over the place at times.
It's also a book that's very much focused on topics such as racism, from daily microaggressions to police brutality, and especially on the way this impacts the daily life of one teenage girl. Morgan was a very well-rounded character, but this also meant that the other characters were pretty flat, which was a shame to me. I would have loved to see more of a development of the relationship between Morgan and her parents and brother, for instance.
All in all, this was a very good read, but one that I would have probably enjoyed more if it had been a little more structured.
Rep: black MC, black side characters, gay side character, Afro-Latinx side characters
CWs: racism, police brutality, homophobia, depression, anxiety, mentions of suicide (ideation), alcohol consumption, drug use
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Who Put This Song On? is a memoir of the author's life, with many fictionalized aspects, according to the author's note in the back. This authenticity really shines through in the novel, as it deals with a lot of heavy topics in a very real way. Morgan felt like a very realistic and relatable main character.
The book is set around the time Obama was first elected as president, which is exactly the time I went to high school too, so this was a really fun read for me, with a lot of recognizable elements in terms of music, fashion and other pop culture references.
The way Morgan deals with her depression and anxiety were very relatable as well. However, I did think this could have been portrayed more elaborately. The book had so much to focus on that it sometimes seemed to lose track, and it felt a little all over the place at times.
It's also a book that's very much focused on topics such as racism, from daily microaggressions to police brutality, and especially on the way this impacts the daily life of one teenage girl. Morgan was a very well-rounded character, but this also meant that the other characters were pretty flat, which was a shame to me. I would have loved to see more of a development of the relationship between Morgan and her parents and brother, for instance.
All in all, this was a very good read, but one that I would have probably enjoyed more if it had been a little more structured.
Rep: black MC, black side characters, gay side character, Afro-Latinx side characters
CWs: racism, police brutality, homophobia, depression, anxiety, mentions of suicide (ideation), alcohol consumption, drug use
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April 28, 2020It’s hard for me to describe this book
Morgan is a great main character. Her struggles and experiences were crafted perfectly and she felt so very real. The writing was beautiful and poetic. The portrayal of depression was amazingly well done. Ive left it at a 4 bc thinking back, there was a time when a character asked of the mc was a lesbian and it was just kinda weird how the author dealt with that. Not in a offensive way, in my opinion, just like in a straight way if u catch my drift. Im just kinda rethinking this book and might remove my rating but keep the review
Morgan is a great main character. Her struggles and experiences were crafted perfectly and she felt so very real. The writing was beautiful and poetic. The portrayal of depression was amazingly well done. Ive left it at a 4 bc thinking back, there was a time when a character asked of the mc was a lesbian and it was just kinda weird how the author dealt with that. Not in a offensive way, in my opinion, just like in a straight way if u catch my drift. Im just kinda rethinking this book and might remove my rating but keep the review
August 13, 2020
My Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up
Who Put This Song On? is about Morgan Parker, a clinically depressed and anxious Black teen in extremely Christian suburbia at the time of the 2008 presidential election, where Barack Obama was about to be elected. Morgan begins to question things around her, and how the whole world seems to be following some terrible track on repeat, and wonders who put this song on and when she can put on her own song to listen to.
My Breakdown:
- I'm not usually the biggest fan of contemporary, but I liked this book for a number of reasons. Between the preppy/emo 2000s clash, a character that is actually clinically depressed and isn't one of those stereotypical "boo hoo I'm depressed, I'm not a real person and I just cry all the time" characters and quite an accurate representation of what it's like to grow up around super Christian-y Christians. (I know that last one didn't make much sense, but we will get there in this review.)
- If you know anything about me, I'm a sucker for Y2K. It's before everything went wrong, when the world was just bumping to the Black Eyed Peas and Destiny's Child. (I know there were still a lot of issues in the 2000s but from my memories, I was too young and too busy enjoying myself to care. Me growing up was such a bad decision on my part.) With Morgan being emo and going through all of her different styles and music, it was a refreshing blast to the past. I felt like I was in the 2000s again, truly. This book wasn't necessarily world-building, but whatever Parker did for this book to be like it was, atmospheric-wise, she did it correctly.
- It was also nice to see a character with mental health issues written by someone who has previously had mental health issues. A solid majority of the characters that I have read in the past have been shells of characters, their only real purpose was to be mentally ill. Those characters were also side characters, irrelevant and only for the progression of the main character. (Just a disclaimer, I am not mentally ill and I don't know what it's like to be mentally ill, however, I do know that mentally ill people are still people with feelings and emotions and complexities.) Morgan having clinical depression and anxiety and going through therapists and medications and healing was a beautiful story progression, and it can be a message of hope to readers with mental illnesses that they can get better, too. There are too few books with characters with mental illnesses, and even less with MCs with mental illnesses, and this one hit both along with the character being written nicely.
- Also, the thing about Susan the therapist. There are way too many sucky therapists out there. Trust me. I'm going to add Linda to the list of bad therapists, just because I can. (Linda, if you're reading this, I want to let you know that you suck. And you didn't do your job properly. And you can kiss Pino's ass for all I care. I just won't be coming back to you, ttyn xoxo, Livia.)
- Don't get me started about growing up in an extremely Christian environment! In my city, we have two school boards: the public board and the Catholic board. Being Italian-Canadian, I went into the Catholic board. Ever since kindergarten, I've been taught almost the exact same things that Morgan has been taught and I've experienced teachers like Mr. K and reading about this experience made me very upset and uncomfy because I know exactly how it feels. I'm not Black, so I don't know how it would feel to be only taught a smidge of my history, but Morgan was able to convey her emotions very well and I wish I was there so I could help her. Trust me, Catholic teachers are not fun to have, especially the ones who are very uptight about sins and following the rules and "no questions, just accept what I say." These attitudes breed very negative ways of thinking (homophobia, for instance) and I'm glad that my close circle didn't become sheep and actually think for themselves instead of openly eating everything that they're being spoon-fed. Catholic school also breeds a lot of little rebels.
- I feel bad for making fun of this book yesterday because the author and the MC have the same name, but then in the end it was pointed out that this was loosely based on the author's own life. Long story short, I felt like a fool, and I learned that I should never judge a book by the main character's name. (Unless the main character is named something silly like Aelin "Calaena" Ashryver Whitethorn Galanthynius. I mean, that's very silly. And a mouthful.)
- I had a bit of trouble reading this book at first because Morgan felt a bit flat but as the story progressed, Morgan became more rounded off and more of a real person.
- This was a dark story at times, yes, but sometimes you need a dark story to be able to see the light at the end. There's always light at the end of the tunnel, so if you're going through something, just don't forget to ask for help if you need it and that people love you. And yes, it is worth it.
---
Rep: Black MC and family, gay side character
TW for book: alcohol, anxiety, depression, drug use, homophobia, police brutality, racism, suicide ideation (mentioned), attempted sexual abuse, panic attacks, pregnancy scare
Who Put This Song On? is about Morgan Parker, a clinically depressed and anxious Black teen in extremely Christian suburbia at the time of the 2008 presidential election, where Barack Obama was about to be elected. Morgan begins to question things around her, and how the whole world seems to be following some terrible track on repeat, and wonders who put this song on and when she can put on her own song to listen to.
My Breakdown:
- I'm not usually the biggest fan of contemporary, but I liked this book for a number of reasons. Between the preppy/emo 2000s clash, a character that is actually clinically depressed and isn't one of those stereotypical "boo hoo I'm depressed, I'm not a real person and I just cry all the time" characters and quite an accurate representation of what it's like to grow up around super Christian-y Christians. (I know that last one didn't make much sense, but we will get there in this review.)
- If you know anything about me, I'm a sucker for Y2K. It's before everything went wrong, when the world was just bumping to the Black Eyed Peas and Destiny's Child. (I know there were still a lot of issues in the 2000s but from my memories, I was too young and too busy enjoying myself to care. Me growing up was such a bad decision on my part.) With Morgan being emo and going through all of her different styles and music, it was a refreshing blast to the past. I felt like I was in the 2000s again, truly. This book wasn't necessarily world-building, but whatever Parker did for this book to be like it was, atmospheric-wise, she did it correctly.
- It was also nice to see a character with mental health issues written by someone who has previously had mental health issues. A solid majority of the characters that I have read in the past have been shells of characters, their only real purpose was to be mentally ill. Those characters were also side characters, irrelevant and only for the progression of the main character. (Just a disclaimer, I am not mentally ill and I don't know what it's like to be mentally ill, however, I do know that mentally ill people are still people with feelings and emotions and complexities.) Morgan having clinical depression and anxiety and going through therapists and medications and healing was a beautiful story progression, and it can be a message of hope to readers with mental illnesses that they can get better, too. There are too few books with characters with mental illnesses, and even less with MCs with mental illnesses, and this one hit both along with the character being written nicely.
- Also, the thing about Susan the therapist. There are way too many sucky therapists out there. Trust me. I'm going to add Linda to the list of bad therapists, just because I can. (Linda, if you're reading this, I want to let you know that you suck. And you didn't do your job properly. And you can kiss Pino's ass for all I care. I just won't be coming back to you, ttyn xoxo, Livia.)
- Don't get me started about growing up in an extremely Christian environment! In my city, we have two school boards: the public board and the Catholic board. Being Italian-Canadian, I went into the Catholic board. Ever since kindergarten, I've been taught almost the exact same things that Morgan has been taught and I've experienced teachers like Mr. K and reading about this experience made me very upset and uncomfy because I know exactly how it feels. I'm not Black, so I don't know how it would feel to be only taught a smidge of my history, but Morgan was able to convey her emotions very well and I wish I was there so I could help her. Trust me, Catholic teachers are not fun to have, especially the ones who are very uptight about sins and following the rules and "no questions, just accept what I say." These attitudes breed very negative ways of thinking (homophobia, for instance) and I'm glad that my close circle didn't become sheep and actually think for themselves instead of openly eating everything that they're being spoon-fed. Catholic school also breeds a lot of little rebels.
- I feel bad for making fun of this book yesterday because the author and the MC have the same name, but then in the end it was pointed out that this was loosely based on the author's own life. Long story short, I felt like a fool, and I learned that I should never judge a book by the main character's name. (Unless the main character is named something silly like Aelin "Calaena" Ashryver Whitethorn Galanthynius. I mean, that's very silly. And a mouthful.)
- I had a bit of trouble reading this book at first because Morgan felt a bit flat but as the story progressed, Morgan became more rounded off and more of a real person.
- This was a dark story at times, yes, but sometimes you need a dark story to be able to see the light at the end. There's always light at the end of the tunnel, so if you're going through something, just don't forget to ask for help if you need it and that people love you. And yes, it is worth it.
---
Rep: Black MC and family, gay side character
TW for book: alcohol, anxiety, depression, drug use, homophobia, police brutality, racism, suicide ideation (mentioned), attempted sexual abuse, panic attacks, pregnancy scare
July 19, 2019
Surprising, lyrical and authentic
July 3, 2020
Very weird to read a book written in 2019 that takes place during my first year of college. Is this considered Historical Fiction? Am I old?
October 29, 2020
i wish i had this book at 16. a perfect book-- especially for the depressed future poet who likes to fight their history teachers. the end chapters made me cry. thank you morgan parker.
November 28, 2019
This book is so unlike the books that I usually love, but Morgan Parker's unflinching honesty made her own story shine. The author takes us through her life at 15, focusing not only on what it's like to be a black teenage girl in California but one who has depression and anxiety and who attends a faith-based school and who is trying to navigate friendships.
It's not clear how much of the book is autobiographical, but it kind of doesn't matter. All the characters are complex and engaging, especially Morgan herself. She strikes the perfect balance between serious and contemplative as she struggles to find purpose in life between her mental health and her constant erasure at the hands of white folks.
Personally, I learned a lot about the damage that was probably done to black students at my own Christian school. I was also attending a Christian school in 2008, and it take me until 2015 when one of my black classmates wrote an essay about his black identity to even consider race in the classroom. I can only imagine the number of microaggressions.
All of this to say, this is a very important book because of the perspective it brings. It shows a real display of how to struggle and live through mental illness and still find yourself. It taught me a lot.
It's not clear how much of the book is autobiographical, but it kind of doesn't matter. All the characters are complex and engaging, especially Morgan herself. She strikes the perfect balance between serious and contemplative as she struggles to find purpose in life between her mental health and her constant erasure at the hands of white folks.
Personally, I learned a lot about the damage that was probably done to black students at my own Christian school. I was also attending a Christian school in 2008, and it take me until 2015 when one of my black classmates wrote an essay about his black identity to even consider race in the classroom. I can only imagine the number of microaggressions.
All of this to say, this is a very important book because of the perspective it brings. It shows a real display of how to struggle and live through mental illness and still find yourself. It taught me a lot.
December 28, 2019
I enjoy Morgan Parker’s poetry and found similar enjoyment in these pages of her first YA novel; she knows of depression and anxiety and depicts it well. This should be on more best books lists of the year!
October 4, 2019
I've seen mostly positive reviews for WHO PUT THIS SONG ON?, but I'm frustrated by a couple of consistent criticisms that I'm seeing from (mostly) white, middle-aged reviewers. First, some readers are questioning the likability and relatability of the protagonist, which feels a lot like perpetuating negative stereotypes about mental health. Having depression is HARD, and loving those with depression is HARD, but it's damaging to suggest that we should not center characters with mental health because they are hard to love. And it's equally problematic to imply that those with mental health issues should be concerned with how their depression makes others feel. Yes, we should all show kindness and compassion and all that, but we should also center our mental health needs and tend to self-care without judgment. Beyond that, it's important to note that not every story is for every reader. If you can't relate to a teenage black character, and you can't empathize with a character who doesn't resemble you, perhaps use that as an invitation to investigate your internalized biases. Second, numerous reviewers are upset that they do not recognize the bands, or other elements of emo culture. Please, do your homework. The book very clearly that the protagonist is depressed and leans into the emo music scene. Suggesting that this is a flaw in the novel implies that authors should center mainstream experiences, which ignores the entire point behind the #ownvoices movement. We have enough books centering middle-class white narratives. It's okay for books to speak to something outside that experience. Third, and perhaps most important, I'm seeing criticism that the novel has nothing at stake, or that the stakes aren't high enough to carry the book. This is a remarkably privileged stance, given that the protagonist is 1) struggling heavily with depression, and 2) experiencing what amounts to an identity crisis because she is Othered by nearly everyone around her. Mental health is high stakes. Identity politics are high stakes. Feeling seen and valued as one is, rather than as a tokenized caricature of what others expect, is high stakes. The stakes couldn't be higher for Morgan (the character), and sharing in her story will have profound impact on young people who feel invisible and/or undervalued. WHO PUT THIS SONG ON? is an excellent addition to YA literature, and I know it's already proven a catalyst for several important conversations with my oldest daughter. Beyond the obvious themes of mental health and racial identity, this novel sparks dialogue on rape culture, fetishizing the Other, white-washing history, cognitive dissonance, etc. It's a remarkable novel, and a fantastic choice for both educators and parents.
July 2, 2019
Morgan is a California girl but she’s far from typical. Fresh from a suicide attempt and on the shaky ground of recovery, she’s figuring out how to deal with parents who don’t understand her moods (though, she doesn’t really understand them herself), and how to continue to survive as one of only a handful of Black kids at a private Christian school. She doesn’t look like the other girls, dress like the other girls and she prefers Emo to Hip-Hop. Firmly outside of what passes for normal at her school she’s not really doing so well and without a roadmap she’s got to learn what “okay” means for her and how get there safely.
I enjoyed the book. Reading about the experiences of a Black girl dealing with depression and anxiety is absolutely needed and anyone whose wondering what anxiety feels like will appreciate the first person view from inside Morgan’s head. We see her thoughts spiral, and journey with her as she makes decisions based on insecurity or whim. We feel the world close in on her in social situations root for her when she makes gains. Morgan does get a happy ending, but like life it isn’t like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a sunset you watch from your favorite spot on a hill on really nice Summer day, perfect in its way.
I enjoyed the book. Reading about the experiences of a Black girl dealing with depression and anxiety is absolutely needed and anyone whose wondering what anxiety feels like will appreciate the first person view from inside Morgan’s head. We see her thoughts spiral, and journey with her as she makes decisions based on insecurity or whim. We feel the world close in on her in social situations root for her when she makes gains. Morgan does get a happy ending, but like life it isn’t like that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it’s more like a sunset you watch from your favorite spot on a hill on really nice Summer day, perfect in its way.
October 2, 2019
Achingly honest, brilliantly funny and crushingly pertinent in its discussion of mental health, race, relationships and growing up feeling 'other'.
This was by no means an easy read and Morgan Parker doesn't shy away from exploring 'tough' topics head on without frills (so if you are sensitive to any of the topics I've listed in the trigger warnings I would be cautious going into it) but they way these topics are discussed are done so with care, honesty and executed brilliantly.
From the multiple relationship dynamics explored and the portrayal of mental illness, to the chapter structure and characters and everything in between, this was truly excellent.
TW: homophobic and racist slurs, homophobia, racism, depression, anxiety, discussion of suicide, acephobic comment, panic attacks, sexual assault.
This was by no means an easy read and Morgan Parker doesn't shy away from exploring 'tough' topics head on without frills (so if you are sensitive to any of the topics I've listed in the trigger warnings I would be cautious going into it) but they way these topics are discussed are done so with care, honesty and executed brilliantly.
From the multiple relationship dynamics explored and the portrayal of mental illness, to the chapter structure and characters and everything in between, this was truly excellent.
TW: homophobic and racist slurs, homophobia, racism, depression, anxiety, discussion of suicide, acephobic comment, panic attacks, sexual assault.
September 11, 2019
At a time when everyone says things like "wow exposed," "I feel seen," or "omg ME" about simple things all the time, it's hard for me to articulate how deeply and seriously I feel those things about this book... This is the most of myself that I have ever, ever seen in any piece of media and it was EXTREMELY overwhelming. I had multiple highlighters on hand every time I read this because I needed to highlight so many different lines and passages for a myriad of screaming reasons, and I needed to be able to find them again. The amount of personal truth in here was staggering and also emotional to know that someone else had similar experiences on such a granular level.
Earthshattering.. five stars and beyond.
Earthshattering.. five stars and beyond.
September 10, 2019
So this book had a lot of important themes. As someone who attended a majority white high school in 2008 I could relate to the racism Morgan faced and the feelings of not fitting in. It was like re-living my high school years again. I've since long pushed that past me. I didn't feel like this story had much of a structure though. I feel like everything written here could've been written in a long poem instead or an article. Teen Morgan wasn't a likable character and so much of this predictable story was wash, rinse, repeat that it was hard to get through. I do appreciate that Morgan Parker included resources for the people who need them to help deal with depression.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2019
Who Put This Song on? is the most accurate depiction of teen depression and anxiety I've ever encountered and will be an automatic recommendation for anyone going through a hard time. The dichotomy of Morgan's space as a young African American woman in a mostly white high school and her desire to fit in with other outcast groups is also really beautifully explored here.
August 6, 2020
Rating: 3.5 stars
Morgan doesn't want to be defined by her depression. Living in sunny California and being one of the only Black girls in her Christian high school is tough. And, it's even tougher having depression. Morgan believes she is cursed. That God cursed her to have depression and to be "difficult". She knows she's not the easiest person to be around. Morgan is ready to change the song and share her story of depression. In Who Put This Song On?, Morgan Parker writes a fictional story of her struggle with depression and being Black, starring herself.
I rated Who Put This Song On? 3.5 stars because at the the beginning of the novel, I was overwhelmed by Morgan's depression. It was making me feel depressed, and I was seriously considering not finishing it. Of course, that was yesterday. Today, I picked up the book, and I was renewed in strength to continue reading the book. Today was much better than yesterday. I was not overwhelmed today. Morgan talks about serious topics, many I won't or hopefully won't deal with.
She talks about the struggles of being a Black girl, especially in a conservative Christian school in California. I won't ever have to face what Morgan went through there because A) I'm not black, B) I don't live in California, and C) I didn't go to a conservative high school because I went to public school. I won't ever know the true struggles Morgan faced or faces as a Black woman. I do know the struggles she faces as a woman.
I was incredibly disgusted by how racist and misinformed many of the teachers were in her Christian high school, and it was 2008! I mean, seriously, but of course, things were not perfect then, and most definitely, not perfect now. I did love reading about Morgan's disbelief and joy that Obama won the presidency. All I remember about that election was nothing really. I was six years old, and I didn't care about politics. I do remember that we had to watch the inauguration in my first grade class, and I was incredibly bored.
Morgan talks about her depression, which is the main premise of the book. Hopefully, I won't have depression in my life time because while it can be manageable, it seems like it sucks, especially during the lows. As of right now, I do not have depression, so I can't relate to what Morgan was going through. I really do wish I could understand better, but sadly, I don't. I do think that we need to help spread more information about depression, so we can lessen the stereotypes and the harsh stigma surrounding depression. I did like that Morgan characterized mostly all therapists as white middle-aged women named Susan because all the books I've read that dealt with depression and/or therapy, the therapist were white middle-aged women with names like Susan.
I do recommend Who Put This Song On? for fans of Nic Stone, Brandy Colbert, and Natasha Diaz. Who Put This Song On? is a good read for those who need a more in depth personalized look at depression. Of course, everyone's depression is different. There are so many important issues touched in this novel, and that's why you need to read it.
Happy reading!
Morgan doesn't want to be defined by her depression. Living in sunny California and being one of the only Black girls in her Christian high school is tough. And, it's even tougher having depression. Morgan believes she is cursed. That God cursed her to have depression and to be "difficult". She knows she's not the easiest person to be around. Morgan is ready to change the song and share her story of depression. In Who Put This Song On?, Morgan Parker writes a fictional story of her struggle with depression and being Black, starring herself.
I rated Who Put This Song On? 3.5 stars because at the the beginning of the novel, I was overwhelmed by Morgan's depression. It was making me feel depressed, and I was seriously considering not finishing it. Of course, that was yesterday. Today, I picked up the book, and I was renewed in strength to continue reading the book. Today was much better than yesterday. I was not overwhelmed today. Morgan talks about serious topics, many I won't or hopefully won't deal with.
She talks about the struggles of being a Black girl, especially in a conservative Christian school in California. I won't ever have to face what Morgan went through there because A) I'm not black, B) I don't live in California, and C) I didn't go to a conservative high school because I went to public school. I won't ever know the true struggles Morgan faced or faces as a Black woman. I do know the struggles she faces as a woman.
I was incredibly disgusted by how racist and misinformed many of the teachers were in her Christian high school, and it was 2008! I mean, seriously, but of course, things were not perfect then, and most definitely, not perfect now. I did love reading about Morgan's disbelief and joy that Obama won the presidency. All I remember about that election was nothing really. I was six years old, and I didn't care about politics. I do remember that we had to watch the inauguration in my first grade class, and I was incredibly bored.
Morgan talks about her depression, which is the main premise of the book. Hopefully, I won't have depression in my life time because while it can be manageable, it seems like it sucks, especially during the lows. As of right now, I do not have depression, so I can't relate to what Morgan was going through. I really do wish I could understand better, but sadly, I don't. I do think that we need to help spread more information about depression, so we can lessen the stereotypes and the harsh stigma surrounding depression. I did like that Morgan characterized mostly all therapists as white middle-aged women named Susan because all the books I've read that dealt with depression and/or therapy, the therapist were white middle-aged women with names like Susan.
I do recommend Who Put This Song On? for fans of Nic Stone, Brandy Colbert, and Natasha Diaz. Who Put This Song On? is a good read for those who need a more in depth personalized look at depression. Of course, everyone's depression is different. There are so many important issues touched in this novel, and that's why you need to read it.
Happy reading!
June 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this slice of life YA, and I enjoyed the author’s note at the end. I really empathized with being in high school and listening to punk/emo music in 2008, but there’s so much of Morgan’s experience that I didn’t share (being Black, having severe depression and a suicide attempt, and going to a Catholic high school in conservative SoCal) but I loved reading about her experience. It’s a really good contemporary YA, and Morgan’s voice is really compelling (the audiobook narrator was fantastic!), especially when she’s having a freak out and can’t control her emotions and talks about how much she hates that she can’t handle them. I HIGHLY recommend this for someone wanting some 2008 high school nostalgia, someone dealing with depression, or a Black POV.
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