Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman

by Kristen R. Lee

A striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses. Fans of Dear White People will embrace this activist-centered contemporary novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history--that may not be as distant as it seems.

Savannah Howard sacrificed her high school social life to make sure she got into a top college. Her sites were set on an HBCU, but when she is accepted to the ivy-covered walls of Wooddale University on a full ride, how can she say no?

Wooddale is far from the perfectly manicured community it sells on its brochures, though. Savannah has barely unpacked before she comes face-to-face with microagressions stemming from racism and elitism. Then, Clive Wilmington's statue is vandalized with blackface. The prime suspect? Lucas Cunningham, Wooddale's most popular student and son to a local prominent family. Soon, Savannah is unearthing the hidden secrets of Wooddale's racist history. But what's the price for standing up for what is right? And will telling the truth about Wooddale's past cost Savannah her own future?

A stunning, challenging, and timely debut about racism and privilege on college campuses.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Social Justice, New Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great informative read for anyone who’s willing to learn!

Savannah is offered a scholarship to attend a mostly white university. She doesn’t feel like she belongs, but after all the work that her mom and she herself have put in over the years, the least she can do is try. When she attends, she soon sees the many issues that the school has.

Racism and the disparities in privileges between different people are the main things I think the book exposes very well. I was very proud of Savannah for the decisions she took knowing very well the consequences could be dire. She is a brilliant girl and an inspiration to anyone who is still learning to stand up for what’s right.

[Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a black college freshman, I was excited to pick this up, hoping for a reflection of my own experience at a predominantly white institution; but unfortunately, that was not what this book was. The story felt very preachy. Instead of being a story that is meant for black college girls to relate to, it was a sermon for white readers. The book read like a powerpoint of racism through history, with the MC, Savannah, often breaking the third wall to deliver a brief history that would bring more context to a conflict. I also want to highlight how unauthentic this novel is to the college experience. Unlike in high school, there is no singular popular guy who rules the school, and I found it very unbelievable that everyone was under the control of this one guy. I know that Lucas was supposed to be representative of the white, wealthy, and privileged kids at school; however, diminishing this group down to one person made the story easy to brush off as unbelievable. I also didn't understand why the author only showcased blatant racism on campus. While I'm not ignoring that these massive shows do happen, it would've been more accurate to show the micro-aggressions people of color face more often on campus. I just felt like the author was trying so hard to teach a white audience about racism and privilege that she forgot who the novel really was about.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh…I wish I would have liked this more. I went into this really expecting a great story and instead I got a narrative that’s more about teaching individuals about the horrible experiences of a Black person who attends a PWI. I’ll preface this review by stating that I attended a PWI for every degree that I have. As a matter of fact, I went to a major PWI in the South. So I know first hand what it’s like to be a Black student in a sea of White students.

The story follows Savannah as she is accepted to a PWI on scholarship. When she gets there she faces an unexpected onslaught of racism. First of all, the amount of racism and the way it’s executed in this book is unrealistic and over the top. It felt like a caricature of what it’s really like to be Black and attend a PWI. There is no way in hell that one student was able to create the amount of chaos that the antagonist did with no one willing to hold him responsible. If it was a group effort maybe I would have bought into it more. Also, I found it extremely unrealistic that Savannah didn’t interact with more Black people while she was at school. Black student led organizations were the key to why I absolutely loved my time in college. There was a heavy focus on the racism that I feel like it sent the wrong message about experiences of those who are Black who attend PWIs. There was no focus on how tight knit Black students tend to be at PWIs and how we rely on each other, how we would travel to HBCUs that were close by, how we support and uplift each other. That’s not to say that there isn’t ever any drama or chaos but I know they served as my support system. I don’t think we got any of that in Savannah’s narrative.

And the character development also wasn’t the best. I applaud any book by a Black author that uses AAVE especially in context of the characters, but for some reason in this book it didn’t sit well. It felt completely and totally forced to the point that it was cringey. There was no time spent on creating a truly three dimensional flushed out character. Savannah read like a caricature for the experience of any Black person who attended a PWI. Honestly, I just wish this book was more balanced. It’s not that Black people don’t have bad experiences at PWIs or that our Blackness isn’t constantly on display at these institutions, but there’s more to that experience than trauma and I don’t think this book did a great job of showcasing that.

[Dona's Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found an audiobook of REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN by Kristin R. Lee on the Libby app. Check for your local library on the app and read great books for free!📚

Savannah is an accomplished freshman entering college, and has accepted a full scholarship to the nearby Ivy League scool, also a PWI (principally white institution). She expects to need to adjust to many things on her new campus, even racism. But she is not expecting the deep racism and long-reaching corruption she finds that begins with her own roommate and her vile classmate, Lucas. How will she survive four years at the same school with them, making life miserable for her, and the rest of the minority black students at the school?

I decided to read this book because I read SUN KEEP RISING by the same author and thought it was great. I don't think this book is as good.

The character work and plot are a bit wiggly in places. Savannah shows some logical inconsistencies about a few things, among them, violence, which is a pretty central theme in the book, and important to me personally. She and the other characters show little progression that doesn't also double as a major plot point. Everything feels very forced and formulaic.

I'm not sure what Lee's purpose is with this book, so I'm not sure I think she achieves it. I'm not sure who her audience is, or even who these characters are. Everything is too flat. I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as I did SUN KEEP RISING. So if you're reading this review, trying to decide whether or not to read REQUIRED READING, might I suggest you read the other instead?

Rating: 🏫🏫.5 / 5 corrupt colleges
Recommend? SUN KEEP RISING is better
Finished: March 19 2023

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

I struggled to finish this book. The plot had so much potential, but it never came to fruition for me. This read like a silly parody of college life. Like a really bad episode of Grownish. The angst and racial tension was so over the top. The main character’s exaggerated use of AAVE felt so forced. I think the author expected it to give more authenticity to the story, but I found it to be distracting. There were some profound statements about what it’s like to be a Black woman in this world. I appreciated that, but it was lost in the fluff of this book. I just wish she hadn’t taken such a silly approach to such a serious subject.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling my thoughts together on this one.

Full RTC

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

[Logan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is Kristen R. Lee's debut YA novel and follows Savannah Howard, a black girl who finds her dream school, Wooddale University, is more affected by racism than she expected.

I highly anticipated this debut based on that premise alone, but the fact is I found this story to be poorly executed, disappointing, and at times, completely unbelievable.

Required Reading is very plot driven and that would be fine if the characterization didn't suffer as a result. It feels like the characters were getting dragged along by the plot and all the points Lee wanted to make about predominantly white institutions and the struggles of being Black in America.

Lee's writing lacks a lot of description and personalization on any front. I wasn't rooting for anyone because after 300+ pages I feel like I still don't know anyone. I was just confused as to why Savannah was gunning so hard for Lucas in the first place after the statue incident when it wasn't clear he did it himself. Then there's the thing with him coking up Elaina that felt glossed over almost in severity?? Savannah even asks "What about Elaina?" When she meets with the Wooddale president and I'm like WHAT ABOUT HER??? The girl needs an episode of Intervention boo, idk how you can hold her accountable for racism when she was high 95% of the time.

I disliked so many things about this book it's hard to write it all down smh. I'll definitely have to do a video on this one.

And as always when it comes to Black authors and Black books, I feel guilty for disliking it but...I've never been the one to lie just because it's representation.

[Sana]

'Pitched as Dear White People meets the college admissions scandal, the debut novel follows freshman Savannah F. Howard as she enrolls at the Ivy League—and mostly white—Wooddale University, and confronts racism and white privilege head-on.'

OH, HELL YES

[lily ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i loved the cover of this book and the title - they were what inspired me to pick this book up at the library and take it home with me. once i read the synopsis and saw the topic that it tackled, i was even more certain that i was settling in for a great read. unfortunately, it didn’t really live up to expectations.

the writing itself was good, but the plot is where i ran into problems. the idea of the book is to tackle the experiences of Black students attending primarily-white colleges, and the challenges, and sense of not belonging, as well as the overt and unintentional racism that they must face. however, the whole entire book focused only on the racism that the main character faced at the hands of one (1) antagonist that harassed her and her friends, and the system that continued to let him get away with it. everything else was pushed to the side, including important things like character development, and the relationship between savannah and her love interest. even her schoolwork and classes weren’t really focused on, because she was constantly distracted by trying to take this racist down. which, fair enough, but it also felt like poor characterization. savannah is attending an ivy league school that she worked towards for her entire life. she’s highly intelligent, studious, and a hard worker. she pushed aside everything other than her studies to get to this point, and even graduated and went to college early. and now she suddenly doesn’t care about her grades at all? the ending didn’t feel particularly earned either. savannah worked hard to find her peace and hold the other students accountable, but it just felt like nothing really changed from the beginning to the end. she was working with the very same information, but suddenly it changed things? i don’t know, but i’m happy she found her peace.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald]

I tried to like this book; I really wanted to. Just couldn’t get into the story. I DNF’d about halfway through.

[Medhini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I enjoyed reading this and finished the book in one sitting. While I can't speak to the specific experiences of low-income and/or Black students at elite institutions, I found many aspects of this story relatable as a POC student at a PWI. The novel tackles white privilege and structural racism, especially at elite institutions, in a frustrating and upsetting way that is clearly still incredibly realistic.

I only have two major criticisms for this story:
-- It seemed to jump straight from one "bad event" to another, which didn't leave quite as much space for individual character development (especially in terms of the side characters).
-- If I remember correctly, all of the characters were either Black or white, and there were no other POC characters. While this doesn't hurt the story overall, I think that having other POC voices would strengthen and highlight the intersectionality of its major themes (especially since non-Black POC students do also attend elite institutions and do face structural racism, albeit in a different way).

If you are comfortable with the content in this book (microaggressions, use of racial slurs, etc.), I definitely recommend. This book should be required reading not just for disenfranchised freshmen, but for anyone who will attend, is currently attending, or once attended a PWI.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so engrossed in Savannah's freshman year of college at predominantly white institution I read it in one sitting. I can't believe this is a debut title! The pacing was perfect, the conflicts left me just as forlorn and confused as the main character, the side characters weren't half-filled out tropes, and best of all the romance subplot was kept light and to the side so we could really see the core arc. What a critical book for young Black and Brown students graduating and going into the academic environment which is basically always a cesspool of extra harm and stress for anyone not white. Thank you Kristen Lee for crafting this powerful and realistic story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers for an early edition to read and offer my personal opinion.

[Hannah]

This is extremely obviously a first novel, and that's not an insult, just an observation. If it were me acquiring it, I'd offer guidance and mentorship and encouragement and look out for future work from this writer but not publish this.

Then again, if I take off my book editor hat and put on my academic-who-studies-the-publishing-industry-and-its-racism hat, I absolutely see why someone would acquire this, because it's a book very much for the crowd that loved Dear Martin, by which I mean it is less a novel and more A Point About Racism for white people who want to feel lightly shocked but mostly good about how they aren't as racist as the people in this book, by which I mean it's for the white people who think they like Get Out because they don't realize they are exactly like the white people in Get Out. So cheers to this book's existence, but it was absolutely not written for me.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had higher expectations for this book and ended up being disappointed. It felt almost marketed for white audiences which made it feel unauthentic

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Crown Books for Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**

I'm starting January really conflicted. This is my third 3.5 in a row and I just want a book to rave about. This book was engaging and has a lot of important things to say, but I think the incidents that are happening in this book are really overt in my experience and would've definitely caught some attention prior to the conclusion of the book. I know that this is based partially on the author's experiences, but I can only bring mine to this reading and for me, it felt like the antagonist was almost cartoonishly racist whereas the racism I experienced throughout high school and college was more on the micro-aggressions level and VERY rarely as overt as Lucas' actions.

The book is about Savannah, an incoming freshman at Wooddale, an Ivy League college. She is a Black student, there on a full scholarship with a near perfect SAT score but is initially paired with a roommate who immediately shortens and gentrifies her name, who refers to her as "Affirmative Action" on many occasions, and who says a lot of ignorant things on the regular. Her roommate is dating Lucas, who is the student body president and the head of a frat house on campus, as well as the son of a very wealthy donor to the college.

The main conflict starts when a student defaces a statue of one of the Black founders of the college, painting it in Blackface and putting an afro wig on it. Savannah is (rightfully) upset that this statue has been defaced and that her fellow students don't seem to be concerned. They mostly laugh it off as "just a joke". Throughout a series of events, Savannah continues to experience harassment, different treatment from her peers and professors alike than the treatment of the white students, and many, many overt forms of racism. Many of them stem from white students insisting on using the "n-word" for...reasons (cause they're ignorant, if not racist). This did happen at my college (which was also predominantly white), but not to the same degree that I found in this book. Savannah eventually learns to use her voice to stand up for what's right, but I feel like the incidents that were happening throughout the novel would have definitely made some kind of news earlier than the conclusion of the book. They have a social media hashtag called #WooddaleConfessions. There would have to be some kind of TikTok or Twitter equivalent that would allow them to amplify the situations that keep happening LONG before the end of the book. Especially at an Ivy League school, which probably has more scrutiny in the media than your average college in my experience.

I really enjoyed Savannah as a character. I love that she has strong female friendships in both B'onca and Tasha. The relationships Savannah has with other Black women in this story is really where the story shines and where I enjoyed Lee's writing the most. I think Lee obviously has many important things to say about the BIPOC/Black experience in colleges, but I also think she shows great representation of female friendships within this community and I appreciated that. There's also some discussion about generational trauma and how the dreams of your parents can be thrust upon you in relation to Savannah's relationship with her mother, Freda, who is a single mother who works long hours and/or multiple jobs throughout her childhood to get Savannah a shot at Ivy League.

Overall, while I can't say it's representative of my experience in terms of how I experienced racism in college, I do think this book has important things to say and that the writing is worth giving it a chance. My only change would be to show more subtle instances of these events instead of mostly large, attention-grabbing things. I feel like the actions Lucas goes through are going to be so overt that some of the people who need to look at his behavior and examine themselves will write it off because it's SO in your face. There are shades, unfortunately, and I just think that maybe the book will end up with some people who need to read it and absorb it using as a way to excuse their behavior because it's not "as bad" as Lucas' mess.

3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4 for Goodreads)

[Libriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really, really wanted to like this book about a first generation Black girl attending an Ivy League college. The things that I liked about it: exploring the tensions at PWI between Black students with money and Black students without money, exploring microaggressions, exploring the ways that rich people are advantaged in PWI, Savannah's struggle between attending an Ivy League school or a HBCU, and the juxtaposition between where Savannah grew up and the college. But ultimately this book felt like it was set in a college that was much smaller than an Ivy League school and that it was set 20 years ago (but it was definitely set in present day.) Maybe I'm naive but an inactive BSU? A school that took 48 hours to remove racist graffiti from someone's door? I think (hope) that no Ivy League school would be that blatantly terrible in 2022.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, even though it was hard for me to read. It's always difficult for me to read books about racism because they make me sad and angry. I would never be able to understand how even though slavery ended hundreds of years ago, white people have continued to treat black people like sub humans even with all their lofty claims of being civilized individuals. I loved the message the author was trying to pass, that we have to continue fighting for our right to be treated as their equals even it seems as if we are fighting a losing battle. Even if our victory will be short lived, nevertheless we have to keep fighting.

[Emma Siemer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this title. Required Reading For The Disenfranchised Freshman is an example of when an author has a good idea but just does not execute the concept well. I found the plot to be extremely predictable and its only saving grace was the main character, Savannah. Savannah was mature, kind, and determined to right the wrongs happening on her college campus. I will not be recommending this title to other readers.
(PUB DATE: 02/01/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA/New Adult novel about Savannah, a Black college freshman trying to fit in at a private college where she is in the minority is perfect for fans of the Netflix show Dear White People. Savannah has to deal with microaggressions, hate crimes, racism, white privilege and so much more. Bravely she is one of the few willing to stand up and speak out against what's actually going on at the school, jeopardizing her scholarship and future. Great on audio and definitely a timely and relevant read!

[Morgan Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to RandomHouse Kids and NetGalley I was able to read an advanced e-copy of this book. It was so good.

The characters are real. They’re good, they’re bad. They’re complicated. Lee does an excellent job of showing the internal conversation and difficulties of trying to fit in and the pressures of having to “make it”. This book leaves the reader with plenty of thoughts and desire for conversation. I can’t wait for more people to get a chance to read this.

[Lee-ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Required Reading for Disenfranchised Freshman is a fictional account of the author's time at a prestigious ivy league college and the micro and macro aggressions she encountered there. The story itself is extremely important but other than Savannah, the characters were pretty one-dimensional and very flat. I wish the characterizations of the secondary characters was better fleshed out.

[Mindy Christianson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done! I devoured this book in one night; while marketed as YA, I think it’s important reading for everyone. As an educator, it definitely helped me understand more about what Black students experience in schools that are mostly populated by white students. The main character’s tenacity in seeking justice was admirable. I really liked the ending as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Danielle Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

PUB DATE: 1 Feb 2022

Thank you to @netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristin Lee. This book was PHENOMENAL. I can’t believe it’s Lee’s debut novel! I’m not even sure I can put all of my thoughts and feelings into words, but I’ll try.

Savannah Howard sacrificed the fun high school experience her peers took advantage of to study. Her mom pushed her to make sure she’d get out of their neighborhood, go to an Ivy League Institution, and make a better life for both herself and her mom. Savannah wanted to go to a HBCU in lieu of Wooddale University, where she received a full scholastic scholarship, but it was her mom’s dream for her to go to Wooddale and she didn’t want to disappoint her. On campus, Savannah was one of the only black people around. There were less than 100 black students. When she witnessed racism in the form of a disgusting caricature spray painted on the statue of Clive Washington, she quickly finds herself where she never thought she’d be: an activist fighting for what’s right.

People think that just because black people use AAVE, or Ebonics as ignorant, backwards, and racist people prefer, we’re unintelligent. Savannah is a straight A student who got a scholarship to a prestigious college. Told in first person, we experience Savannah’s code switch. In her head, she speaks the way she speaks around her black friends and family but when speaking to the white and entitled students she goes to school with and that she encounters in real life, she speaks in the only grammar they can comprehend - “proper” American English.

This book was so real that I honestly forgot I was even reading a book. It felt like I personally was experiencing the micro aggressions, the racism, and the hatred that Savannah and her friends received from a popular fraternity, and soon the whole school.

This was an emotional book and that’s putting it lightly. It is very exhausting to be black and to constantly deal with the ingrained racism that people display towards us. The worst ones are those who don’t even know they’re being racist and hateful. It’s so ingrained in them that it’s normal.

Lee also makes a statement about white performative activists that I think was extremely important. They’re okay cheering us on from the sidelines hiding behind they’re friends, and they’re okay supporting us in private, but that’s it. Going the distance.

“White folks don't ever get that we are the ones at risk. We got the most to lose.”

I’ve already pre-ordered this book and I’m so excited for a physical copy. This book was absolutely everything I didn’t know I needed and it’s a REALLY important book for teenagers, especially black teenagers, to read. I have a feeling that this book will be considered a classic in the future.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very impressed by this debut novel and found myself completely engrossed in Savannah's first year in college at an elite and mostly white university. On a full scholarship, she (and her mom) earned her the right to be there, but from day one, she is already questioning whether she belongs there because of the way she is treated, even by her roommate and roommate's mother. But her mother's voice constantly reminds her that she worked her butt off to get there and deserves to be there. But all is not well in the ivy-covered buildings of this "great" institution. Lucas Cunningham, a very wealthy and privileged son of The Cunninghams, generational supporters of the university, and boyfriend of her roommate, an "untouchable", begins a campaign of harassment, racism, and intimidation, leading to the most challenging year of her life, no matter which "dangerous" neighborhood she came from. This was a very quick read, and I felt Savannah's frustration, anger, pain, and fear throughout her trials even as I cheered her on. I loved that many of the side characters were not simply one-dimensional stand-ins. The author did a nice job developing many of them, especially Tasha, but also Savannah's best friend from home, even if her story was sad. Even as Savannah struggled to find her voice, I believe she came to the conclusion, if not me, then who? But I also liked the advice that Professor Daphne gave her at the end, and I loved Mrs. Flowers and the advice she gave her along the way. But in the end, it was Savannah who had to decide what was right for herself and I appreciated that lesson.

Overall, this was a very good read and more or less challenging a read depending on who you are and where your beliefs align. Personally, I found myself agreeing with Savannah more often than not, and the things she felt were very visceral for me. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book is being released on February 1.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up!

This is such a powerful book and reminded me of my time as a Black college student at a prestigious PWI. So many of Savannah’s struggles were what I experienced as well, and there’s such a fantastic dialogue about whether it’s worth “sticking it out” or going to an HBCU where your Blackness isn’t constantly on display.

Can’t wait for more books from this author.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

RTC for blog tour.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

[Alicia J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why most books always have the teenagers solving the biggest scandals but this book followed this troupe. A teenager who wants to be accepted into a HBCU but has to deal with privileged people using her circumstances against her, battling racism in her school system, and a kid who has identity issues is all wrapped up in this book. There’s growth, self-discovery, and “justice” delivered in this fast past book. I would recommend this book to those who are trying to find their voice, if you ever been discriminated against, and for those who say they “don’t see color.” Young and old, all ethnicities, can benefit from reading this book. It brings a different perspective on some thought patterns out there in society and allows you to self-reflect on what biases and prejudices you may have. I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.

[Julia Pappalardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish. It was just so painfully unrealistic.

[Ari (Books. Libraries. Also, cats.)]

Really enjoyed this upper YA contemporary! This was SUCH a strong debut and I know I'll be recommending this one a lot at my library to fans of Louisa Onomé, Brittney Morris, and Renée Watson.

More of my bookish thoughts here: Instagram | My Blog | Twitter

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great pick for fans of "The Hate U Give" by Angie Stone and "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone. There is no police brutality discussed but racism and microaggressions on a college campus is explored. Full review coming soon.