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Alma Presses Play
A lyrical novel-in-verse that takes us through the journey of coming of age in New York during the 80s.
Alma's life is a series of halfways: She's half-Chinese, half-Jewish; her parents spend half the time fighting, and the other half silent; and she's halfway through becoming a woman. But as long as she can listen to her Walkman, hang out with her friends on the stoops of the Village, and ride her bike around the streets of New York, it feels like everything will be all right. Then comes the year when everything changes, and her life is overtaken by constant endings: friends move away, romances bloom and wither, her parents divorce and--just like that--her life as she knew it is over. In this world of confusing beginnings, middles, and endings, is Alma ready to press play on the soundtrack of her life?
Alma's life is a series of halfways: She's half-Chinese, half-Jewish; her parents spend half the time fighting, and the other half silent; and she's halfway through becoming a woman. But as long as she can listen to her Walkman, hang out with her friends on the stoops of the Village, and ride her bike around the streets of New York, it feels like everything will be all right. Then comes the year when everything changes, and her life is overtaken by constant endings: friends move away, romances bloom and wither, her parents divorce and--just like that--her life as she knew it is over. In this world of confusing beginnings, middles, and endings, is Alma ready to press play on the soundtrack of her life?
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 14, 2021
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December 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Make Me a World for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Alma Presses Play follows a preteen half-Chinese, half-Jewish girl living in 1980's New York. This book is in verse, which I usually love because it adds so much beauty and meaning to ordinary words. I was very excited to read this book and wanted to love it, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Some of these aspects didn't work for me specifically, and some aspects were just not handled as well as I'd have liked in general.
One big thing that wasn't discussed enough was the use of the "f" slur. A character uses this word against another character, then the friend group ostracizes him for a little bit. He never had consequences to this, besides having to apologize and being excluded for some time. The talk surrounding the word's use was really simple. It didn't permit the use of this language, but it also only went so far as to say something along the lines of "you can't talk about gay people like that." Nothing was said beyond that and once the guy apologized, he was back in the friend group. I guess this would be typical for a group of preteens, but the conversation surrounding it didn't really add anything to the story or overall message besides adding a little bit of conflict.
Something that irked me was how Alma, our main character, kept bringing up her period. Once she had it, she kept using it as a conversation starter and mentioned it to almost everyone she talked to. Even months after it first happened. I am all for open talk of periods, believe me, but these conversations felt forced and a little unnecessary.
The book had almost no punctuation. I'm almost certain this was a stylistic choice because of its in verse format, but for me it made reading a lot of it very confusing because I couldn't distinguish between different sentences and ideas. That's just something to keep in mind going into it. I think for some people it would work for them, but for me it really didn't.
A big part of the description (and even cover and title) of this book is the way music interacts with Alma's life. We definitely saw her listen to music, but while she was constantly listening, I didn't feel like it was integrated besides just dropping the name of the song and hoping the reader understands the vibes of it. If you understood the references, I'm sure it would add a lot to the novel, but for me, I only recognized about two songs, so the music part of the story felt lacking.
Another part that was essential to the novel was the identities of Alma and her friends. They were a diverse bunch, which I liked to see. However, I had trouble distinguishing between the friends. Even after finishing it, I still can only name and describe the differences between two out of the six (maybe more?) kids in the friend group.
That said, I almost could see this novel being marketed as Middle Grade and not Young Adult. The kids were in middle school and felt more immature than many Young Adult characters.
I realize I have talked a lot about what I didn't like about Alma Presses Play, but there were some parts I enjoyed: I liked how Alma felt really connected with so many mythological references. The way she would twist different myths was ingenious and I loved reading those parts of the story. I actually learned a lot of myths from this book, so that was a nice addition.
Alma Presses Play didn't live up to my expectations. The writing and content fell a little flat from me, based on what I had read from the description. However, I could see this book working for other people and it was a relatively easy read.
Content Warnings: use of the "f" slur, references to prostitution, references to alcoholism, divorce
Alma Presses Play follows a preteen half-Chinese, half-Jewish girl living in 1980's New York. This book is in verse, which I usually love because it adds so much beauty and meaning to ordinary words. I was very excited to read this book and wanted to love it, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Some of these aspects didn't work for me specifically, and some aspects were just not handled as well as I'd have liked in general.
One big thing that wasn't discussed enough was the use of the "f" slur. A character uses this word against another character, then the friend group ostracizes him for a little bit. He never had consequences to this, besides having to apologize and being excluded for some time. The talk surrounding the word's use was really simple. It didn't permit the use of this language, but it also only went so far as to say something along the lines of "you can't talk about gay people like that." Nothing was said beyond that and once the guy apologized, he was back in the friend group. I guess this would be typical for a group of preteens, but the conversation surrounding it didn't really add anything to the story or overall message besides adding a little bit of conflict.
Something that irked me was how Alma, our main character, kept bringing up her period. Once she had it, she kept using it as a conversation starter and mentioned it to almost everyone she talked to. Even months after it first happened. I am all for open talk of periods, believe me, but these conversations felt forced and a little unnecessary.
The book had almost no punctuation. I'm almost certain this was a stylistic choice because of its in verse format, but for me it made reading a lot of it very confusing because I couldn't distinguish between different sentences and ideas. That's just something to keep in mind going into it. I think for some people it would work for them, but for me it really didn't.
A big part of the description (and even cover and title) of this book is the way music interacts with Alma's life. We definitely saw her listen to music, but while she was constantly listening, I didn't feel like it was integrated besides just dropping the name of the song and hoping the reader understands the vibes of it. If you understood the references, I'm sure it would add a lot to the novel, but for me, I only recognized about two songs, so the music part of the story felt lacking.
Another part that was essential to the novel was the identities of Alma and her friends. They were a diverse bunch, which I liked to see. However, I had trouble distinguishing between the friends. Even after finishing it, I still can only name and describe the differences between two out of the six (maybe more?) kids in the friend group.
That said, I almost could see this novel being marketed as Middle Grade and not Young Adult. The kids were in middle school and felt more immature than many Young Adult characters.
I realize I have talked a lot about what I didn't like about Alma Presses Play, but there were some parts I enjoyed: I liked how Alma felt really connected with so many mythological references. The way she would twist different myths was ingenious and I loved reading those parts of the story. I actually learned a lot of myths from this book, so that was a nice addition.
Alma Presses Play didn't live up to my expectations. The writing and content fell a little flat from me, based on what I had read from the description. However, I could see this book working for other people and it was a relatively easy read.
Content Warnings: use of the "f" slur, references to prostitution, references to alcoholism, divorce
January 13, 2022
Alma is thirteen. It’s the early 1980s, and Alma lives in the Village in New York City. She listens to her Walkman, hangs out on the roof with her friends, avoids eye contact with the Girls who stand in doorways, and buys Mary Janes candy to eat. She might be about to have her first kiss. Her parents fight a lot. And she goes to Chinatown regularly to visit her mom’s side of the family. Cane tells Alma’s story in verse, using evocative language and lots of cultural references from the 1980s. While some of the titled poems could stand alone, most of them benefit from the context of the surrounding story. Cane explores Alma’s mixed Chinese-American and White American heritage to some extent, but that aspect of the book is more of an enrichment of the environment than a focus. Alma learns about ancient mythology, and musings about figures like Leda and Zeus mingle with references to the Pretenders and David Bowie. This is a coming-of-age book full of atmosphere and it’s recommended for middle schools and public libraries. /review for another source
There are a couple of poems in here I liked so much I stopped reading and took the time to find a sticky note to mark them. Then I tried to copy them here, but that also messed up spacing. They're on pages 2 and 116.
There were times when I wondered if there were too many cultural references for poetry - that without the context of prose, maybe teens would just be confused?
I loved the part where Alma travels to San Francisco with her mom. The experience of visiting a new place can be very eye opening.
I also dug the parts where Alma is figuring out her feminism. Some great stuff there.
I felt muddled about the plotline with Dario. And it wasn't ever really explained in a way I understood. But muddled feels like a good word to describe 8th grade, so maybe that's ok?
This definitely felt like a book I should read slowly. Take breaks between every poem or few. It takes some digestion.
There are a couple of poems in here I liked so much I stopped reading and took the time to find a sticky note to mark them. Then I tried to copy them here, but that also messed up spacing. They're on pages 2 and 116.
There were times when I wondered if there were too many cultural references for poetry - that without the context of prose, maybe teens would just be confused?
I loved the part where Alma travels to San Francisco with her mom. The experience of visiting a new place can be very eye opening.
I also dug the parts where Alma is figuring out her feminism. Some great stuff there.
I felt muddled about the plotline with Dario. And it wasn't ever really explained in a way I understood. But muddled feels like a good word to describe 8th grade, so maybe that's ok?
This definitely felt like a book I should read slowly. Take breaks between every poem or few. It takes some digestion.
September 23, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Tina Cane for the opportunity to read Alma Presses Play in exchange for an honest review.
This book claims to be a novel-in-verse, and while it certainly has its poetic elements, it wasn't quite like the other novels-in-verse that I have read before.
Alma is a half Chinese, half Jewish girl living in New York in the 1980's. She loved her Walkman, on which she listens to her favorite songs. Often times people relate songs to current events in their lives, and Alma certainly finds a song for every circumstance. She shows the struggles of transitioning from middle school to high school, but she has some road bumps along the way.
Alma loses friends and makes new ones. Her parents are in the midst of a divorce. She sees a social worker/therapist lady. And she's about to enter high school. Life is a whirlwind, but at least she can find her way through by connecting to music. This also has great cultural elements throughout the novel.
I marked this as both Middle Grade and Young Adult, as the character is a good portrayal for both audiences. This is a coming-of-age story about learning how to get through the things life throws at a person. While it wasn't quite what I expected with verse (I particularly enjoy Ellen Hopkins' verse novel methods), this is a great high-lo novel that readers will enjoy and connect to.
This book claims to be a novel-in-verse, and while it certainly has its poetic elements, it wasn't quite like the other novels-in-verse that I have read before.
Alma is a half Chinese, half Jewish girl living in New York in the 1980's. She loved her Walkman, on which she listens to her favorite songs. Often times people relate songs to current events in their lives, and Alma certainly finds a song for every circumstance. She shows the struggles of transitioning from middle school to high school, but she has some road bumps along the way.
Alma loses friends and makes new ones. Her parents are in the midst of a divorce. She sees a social worker/therapist lady. And she's about to enter high school. Life is a whirlwind, but at least she can find her way through by connecting to music. This also has great cultural elements throughout the novel.
I marked this as both Middle Grade and Young Adult, as the character is a good portrayal for both audiences. This is a coming-of-age story about learning how to get through the things life throws at a person. While it wasn't quite what I expected with verse (I particularly enjoy Ellen Hopkins' verse novel methods), this is a great high-lo novel that readers will enjoy and connect to.
August 25, 2023
Reread August 2023.
I absolutely adore this book. I love the writing style, and each chapter makes me feel like I know Alma and her world.
I absolutely adore this book. I love the writing style, and each chapter makes me feel like I know Alma and her world.
March 1, 2024
This YA in- verse was quite good . The story quite interesting but it just felt a little underwhelming.
August 16, 2021
Don’t let the fact that Alma is 13 make you feel like this book would read too young. It doesn’t at all. Alma is an old soul, she’s a sensitive, thoughtful, accepting teenager.
It’s 1982 in New York, Alma has the same set of friends she grew up with.
She’s an introspective girl. She knows her parents don’t get along well. They’re both good to her but they can’t make it work with each other.
She isn’t shocked when her parents announce their divorce. She’s fine as long as she doesn’t have to move. Too many things are changing already, she’s going to highschool next year and one of her best friends just moved away.
She’ll listen to her music, write or try to meditate when she’s upset.
This book was written in verses which I found unique and well written. I’m not a big fan of the style of modern poetry without punctuation or capital letters, this is not that. I felt like this flows smoothly.
I thought that Alma was a wonderful character. She’s ahead of her times in a lot of ways but it rings true.
I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed this story. I think you’ll love Alma too, this girl’s got heart.
It’s 1982 in New York, Alma has the same set of friends she grew up with.
She’s an introspective girl. She knows her parents don’t get along well. They’re both good to her but they can’t make it work with each other.
She isn’t shocked when her parents announce their divorce. She’s fine as long as she doesn’t have to move. Too many things are changing already, she’s going to highschool next year and one of her best friends just moved away.
She’ll listen to her music, write or try to meditate when she’s upset.
This book was written in verses which I found unique and well written. I’m not a big fan of the style of modern poetry without punctuation or capital letters, this is not that. I felt like this flows smoothly.
I thought that Alma was a wonderful character. She’s ahead of her times in a lot of ways but it rings true.
I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed this story. I think you’ll love Alma too, this girl’s got heart.
December 28, 2021
DNF - I was intrigued by the premise of the book: A coming of age story set in 1980's Greenwich Village. I was also curious about the prose writing style, but, unfortunately, the style just couldn't hold my attention and I wasn't able to finish the book.
***gifted by Underlined
***gifted by Underlined
October 9, 2022
Amina presses play was written in a unique fashion. The story was about a girl who had to deal with divorce. She does well with dad but the transition to mom is hard. I enjoyed the different way it was written. Definitely a good book.
March 14, 2023
This book was just not for me. I was expecting a YA novel because I found it in the YA section but it didn't feel like that at all. Nothing captivated me, and the characters didn't interest me either.
October 16, 2021
3 1/2. This might be one of those rare books that fits the 7th-9th grade crowd. Free verse.
February 26, 2024
That was pretty good...
July 7, 2025
Two and a half stars
October 13, 2021
The cover for this book is just gorgeous! It also gives off a sort of musical theme with the headphones, music player and book title. The book is written in verse and although it should feel impactful and meaningful, for me it just didn’t. The book barely had any punctuation marks, and that made reading a bit difficult for me. Also, it wasn’t until half way into the book that I realized that the title should also be read for some of the verses for it to make sense. I was originally using the titles as headers or dividers but I guess, maybe that’s just me who doesn’t know a lot about poetry.
Music should be a recurring theme or focal point if we go by the book cover and title as any indication. The story does a great job in mentioning track titles, singers and albums. However, if the reader doesn’t know those references it’s won’t add to the story. The integration was lacking and Alma rarely expresses her feelings or ties the music back to her current situation. This disappointed me a little as music is such a vast area of not only emotions but untold stories.
Although music was scarcely integrated, there were a lot of Greek mythological references and candy names. I liked how Alma was able to connect the Greek myths into her daily life and find the deeper meanings behind them. I also learned a lot of myths and a new perspective on Greek myths that wasn’t taught to me during my schooling. Okay, candy is mostly everyone’s favorite but the amount of candy mentioned in this book was really unnecessary, in my perspective. They didn’t seem to add anything into the story, unless there was some hidden meaning I didn’t get? But they sure did leave the impression that one of those kids will surely get a cavity soon.
The story has a lot of subplots that never took off leaving a sour taste in my mouth. They were just mentioned and tossed to the side. For example, her friend moves away and can’t be found, another friend uses homophobic slurs who was never reprimanded correctly, or another friend’s alcoholic parents. And these are all directly related to Alma; there are others that were mentioned where Alma is a “spectator.”
Also, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters in this story. I agree it was a bit hard given the format this story is written in, but I felt the characters didn’t have depth. They were just passing spectators in Alma’s life. When Alma spent time with her friends, Ms. Nola or even her family it felt like she had too, not that she wanted to. Interactions and feelings felt very lacking in these areas. It felt like I was reading a meeting minutes email in point form on what happened during the day and main topics or events that occurred.
Overall, this story was just not for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t resonate with you. Give it a try and let me know!
xxMysticxx
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
Music should be a recurring theme or focal point if we go by the book cover and title as any indication. The story does a great job in mentioning track titles, singers and albums. However, if the reader doesn’t know those references it’s won’t add to the story. The integration was lacking and Alma rarely expresses her feelings or ties the music back to her current situation. This disappointed me a little as music is such a vast area of not only emotions but untold stories.
Although music was scarcely integrated, there were a lot of Greek mythological references and candy names. I liked how Alma was able to connect the Greek myths into her daily life and find the deeper meanings behind them. I also learned a lot of myths and a new perspective on Greek myths that wasn’t taught to me during my schooling. Okay, candy is mostly everyone’s favorite but the amount of candy mentioned in this book was really unnecessary, in my perspective. They didn’t seem to add anything into the story, unless there was some hidden meaning I didn’t get? But they sure did leave the impression that one of those kids will surely get a cavity soon.
The story has a lot of subplots that never took off leaving a sour taste in my mouth. They were just mentioned and tossed to the side. For example, her friend moves away and can’t be found, another friend uses homophobic slurs who was never reprimanded correctly, or another friend’s alcoholic parents. And these are all directly related to Alma; there are others that were mentioned where Alma is a “spectator.”
Also, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters in this story. I agree it was a bit hard given the format this story is written in, but I felt the characters didn’t have depth. They were just passing spectators in Alma’s life. When Alma spent time with her friends, Ms. Nola or even her family it felt like she had too, not that she wanted to. Interactions and feelings felt very lacking in these areas. It felt like I was reading a meeting minutes email in point form on what happened during the day and main topics or events that occurred.
Overall, this story was just not for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t resonate with you. Give it a try and let me know!
xxMysticxx
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
August 15, 2021
I really like the new, broader inclusivity of fiction in verse, but this novel is not a good example of it. The verse clunks along in mostly short phrases, and feels heavy and drags. The author's reasons for making tabs or breaks in the lines aren't clear, and even reading it out loud offers no illumination on why she's made the choices she has. It's also a bit difficult to read, typeset as it is. Wearing my editorial hat, I'd say that short prose vignetters would work a lot better. The book pays homage to YA of the 1980s, and tries to follow the issues depicted in Judy Bloom's Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret--notably parents of different religions and getting your period for the first time. But Alma and her friends aren't very interesting, lacking depth and any compelling reason to follow their stories, and the potential avenues of exploring faith and the rituals society has imposed on "growing up" are largely ignored. There are lots of brief subplots: a girl who moves away and can't be found; a boy who uses homophobic slurs; the class differences between some of the friends; one girl's alcoholic parents. All of these could have enriched the book, but are sort of tossed off without having lasting meaning.
December 25, 2021
This book took me AGES to finish. Even novels-in-verse that I don't like very much I finish much quicker. Some of that is the season (Merry Christmas! We made it!), but I think more of it was that this book isn't about anything. I think, maybe, the central story is the divorce of Alma's parents? But that only kind of coheres and only after about half the book has gone by. I couldn't quite put my finger on Alma as a character, either. Her voice in the poems is contemplative, nearly always, but then there are narrative hints that she has some anger problems. Those anger problems never peak through in the tone of the writing, though. Just overall a half-baked thing that could have been a little tighter and could have used more emotional intimacy. It doesn't even necessarily need more plot--I'm happy to just hang out in a character's life for a year or so--but it does need more something in the absence of that plot.
September 13, 2021
Gorgeous cover with a story in verse that packs a punch. Alma's lens of the world may be through young eyes but her observations and feelings for her situation and the things around her were deep and moving. I really think these lines will connect with so many. I loved this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 1, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Make Me a World for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. Here is that review:
4 stars
In this aptly titled verse novel, Alma, the m.c., initiates readers into her 13-going-on-14 world and all it has to offer: friends, parents, culture, puberty, music, and all of the good '80s candy. The novel is set in the early '80s, so readers familiar with this scene (particularly with childhood/young adulthood in this period) may find some of the references particularly nostalgic.
Cane employs aspects of Alma's surrounding - and first-person narration - to develop Alma's character and a sense of both time and place. Alma's love of music can be seen in the titles of several of her entries, and she regularly begins these with well selected lyrics. Similarly - and for me more interestingly - Alma is reading a lot of mythology at school. She uses the characters and their stories to make sense of the world around her in creative (and educational - but not irritatingly so) ways. There's also an ideal balance between Alma's school, home, and extracurricular experiences. At school, Alma grows close to Ms. Nola, the guidance counselor who serves as a faithful mentor. I love the portrayal of this character: a trustworthy adult with Alma's best interests in mind. At home, Alma's parents are flinging red flags from the jump. She's attuned to the ages and stages of their disagreements and to the lifestyle changes they implement in an attempt to work through some of their struggles. The conversations around arguing parents and divorce are also realistic and well articulated, and readers who have had (or are having) similar experiences will undoubtedly relate to Alma's concerns, growing awareness, and grief in this area. After school and in the summer, Alma's friends display a number of circumstances and identities that she (and then of course the reader) notices, and her interpretations seem consistently age appropriate. There are so many topics packed in to such a relatively small number of words.
I do agree with the current YA billing of this novel, but it reads as a very young YA/late middle grade read to me. Not since Margaret have I seen a character of this age be so period-obsessed. On a related note, the adults have what I found to be some odd reactions to Alma's period (including but not limited to her mother asking if she has her period because her eyes are dazed and she seems far away. Is this a thing?). There is also one detail I really struggled with and that is one young character's use of a homophobic slur. No one ignores this, and the word and the offender are treated as they should be. However, the word itself comes up several more times (all in reference to the same event). I didn't need to read it once, and seeing it multiple times was a lot (for me as an adult reader of this young YA/late middle grade novel). This situation could have been handled much more effectively.
Overall, this is a comprehensive verse novel that will be relatable to so many groups. Alma deals with so many age appropriate circumstances, and while she isn't flawless, she grows in inspiring and engaging ways. I'll be recommending this one to students (with a strong caveat about the aforementioned use of that word and why I think it's not well managed here), and I'll be on the lookout for much more from Cane.
4 stars
In this aptly titled verse novel, Alma, the m.c., initiates readers into her 13-going-on-14 world and all it has to offer: friends, parents, culture, puberty, music, and all of the good '80s candy. The novel is set in the early '80s, so readers familiar with this scene (particularly with childhood/young adulthood in this period) may find some of the references particularly nostalgic.
Cane employs aspects of Alma's surrounding - and first-person narration - to develop Alma's character and a sense of both time and place. Alma's love of music can be seen in the titles of several of her entries, and she regularly begins these with well selected lyrics. Similarly - and for me more interestingly - Alma is reading a lot of mythology at school. She uses the characters and their stories to make sense of the world around her in creative (and educational - but not irritatingly so) ways. There's also an ideal balance between Alma's school, home, and extracurricular experiences. At school, Alma grows close to Ms. Nola, the guidance counselor who serves as a faithful mentor. I love the portrayal of this character: a trustworthy adult with Alma's best interests in mind. At home, Alma's parents are flinging red flags from the jump. She's attuned to the ages and stages of their disagreements and to the lifestyle changes they implement in an attempt to work through some of their struggles. The conversations around arguing parents and divorce are also realistic and well articulated, and readers who have had (or are having) similar experiences will undoubtedly relate to Alma's concerns, growing awareness, and grief in this area. After school and in the summer, Alma's friends display a number of circumstances and identities that she (and then of course the reader) notices, and her interpretations seem consistently age appropriate. There are so many topics packed in to such a relatively small number of words.
I do agree with the current YA billing of this novel, but it reads as a very young YA/late middle grade read to me. Not since Margaret have I seen a character of this age be so period-obsessed. On a related note, the adults have what I found to be some odd reactions to Alma's period (including but not limited to her mother asking if she has her period because her eyes are dazed and she seems far away. Is this a thing?). There is also one detail I really struggled with and that is one young character's use of a homophobic slur. No one ignores this, and the word and the offender are treated as they should be. However, the word itself comes up several more times (all in reference to the same event). I didn't need to read it once, and seeing it multiple times was a lot (for me as an adult reader of this young YA/late middle grade novel). This situation could have been handled much more effectively.
Overall, this is a comprehensive verse novel that will be relatable to so many groups. Alma deals with so many age appropriate circumstances, and while she isn't flawless, she grows in inspiring and engaging ways. I'll be recommending this one to students (with a strong caveat about the aforementioned use of that word and why I think it's not well managed here), and I'll be on the lookout for much more from Cane.
January 31, 2025
I love books and stories written in poetry form because I write poetry. It's like I'm reading Alma's diary. I’m feeling everything she's feeling. I’m seeing everything she's seeing. And I’m thinking everything she's thinking. Going through everything she's going through. This makes me want to write a book in poetry form just because I can and because I want other people to think, feel and see what I see. Maybe they can relate to me in some way.
I’m breezing through this book because of the way that it's written and I can't stop reading it. It’s simply just the eagerness of wanting to know more of what happens next. I have to find more books written this way just to cross it off my book bucket list.
I don't think I have ever read about a character who is a mix of Chinese and Jewish. It’s very interesting to read when she talks about her family, culture and religion. It’s also cool to read knowing that the setting takes place in New York City in the 1980s. This could definitely be a great potential series or a movie.
The first book I read in poetry form was Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. I loved everything about it. The second book was in between poetry form and a script if that makes any sense. It’s called LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin. So this book, Alma Presses Play, is the third. I also enjoy stumbling upon books written like this because I least expect it once I open the book to just take a peak at the words on the page.
I do wonder what happens to Alma, her parents and her friends. Does Alma ever visit California again? Does she decide to move with her mother? Does she stay a New Yorker with her father and her crew? For some reason this book kind of reminds me of On My Block even though that series takes place in California. It’s the growing up aspect and the friend crew and the fear of constant change that makes me think this book is similar.
I’m breezing through this book because of the way that it's written and I can't stop reading it. It’s simply just the eagerness of wanting to know more of what happens next. I have to find more books written this way just to cross it off my book bucket list.
I don't think I have ever read about a character who is a mix of Chinese and Jewish. It’s very interesting to read when she talks about her family, culture and religion. It’s also cool to read knowing that the setting takes place in New York City in the 1980s. This could definitely be a great potential series or a movie.
The first book I read in poetry form was Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. I loved everything about it. The second book was in between poetry form and a script if that makes any sense. It’s called LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin. So this book, Alma Presses Play, is the third. I also enjoy stumbling upon books written like this because I least expect it once I open the book to just take a peak at the words on the page.
I do wonder what happens to Alma, her parents and her friends. Does Alma ever visit California again? Does she decide to move with her mother? Does she stay a New Yorker with her father and her crew? For some reason this book kind of reminds me of On My Block even though that series takes place in California. It’s the growing up aspect and the friend crew and the fear of constant change that makes me think this book is similar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
I knew I was going to like this book as soon as I saw that beautiful cover. Yuta Onoda did a phenomenal job of putting us into Alma's world before we even open the book. Alma is a half-Chinese, half-Jewish thirteen-year-old navigating life in New York City in the early 80s. At the end of 8th grade and the summer that follows, Alma is dealing with the impending demise of her parents' marriage, hanging with her friends, and figuring out what may be some romantic feelings for her friend Miguel. She also gets her period, deals with the loss of a friend who moves away, and has meaningful conversations with her school guidance counselor. And she always, always has her favorite music close by.
As someone who was about Alma's age at the time this book takes place, I loved the nostalgia brought on by Alma's playlists, her favorite candy (some of which I had completely forgotten about!), and the pop culture references of the day. It reminded me of simpler times, when the limits of your world were your neighborhood, and time with your friends was the priority of your day.
I have to admit that I've never been a big fan of poetry, so the idea of a novel written in verse was a tad intimidating, but Cane made the words flow so effortlessly that I almost forgot about their format. I actually enjoyed the way the words and phrases were spaced on the page, and the blank spaces between the chunks of text felt like breaths that Alma would take were she speaking these words aloud.
I would recommend this book for later middle-grade readers and younger YA readers. Alma is only thirteen but she really is an old soul, wise beyond her years in some moments. And, as always, I encourage those of us who aren't such young adults to check this out as well.
Thank you to Make Me a World, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
As someone who was about Alma's age at the time this book takes place, I loved the nostalgia brought on by Alma's playlists, her favorite candy (some of which I had completely forgotten about!), and the pop culture references of the day. It reminded me of simpler times, when the limits of your world were your neighborhood, and time with your friends was the priority of your day.
I have to admit that I've never been a big fan of poetry, so the idea of a novel written in verse was a tad intimidating, but Cane made the words flow so effortlessly that I almost forgot about their format. I actually enjoyed the way the words and phrases were spaced on the page, and the blank spaces between the chunks of text felt like breaths that Alma would take were she speaking these words aloud.
I would recommend this book for later middle-grade readers and younger YA readers. Alma is only thirteen but she really is an old soul, wise beyond her years in some moments. And, as always, I encourage those of us who aren't such young adults to check this out as well.
Thank you to Make Me a World, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
December 23, 2021
Thirteen-year-old Alma Rosen loves living in her East Village New York City neighborhood in the 1980s where there's always something happening. She has a group of friends with whom she loves hanging and eating candy while listening to music. But the neighborhood has its unpleasant moments--dirt and trash and teen hookers on the streets--and her own home is increasingly uncomfortable as her parents' arguments continue to escalate, leading to a separation and a divorce. While in some respects, hers is a familiar story of change, loss, and embracing new experiences, what makes this one worth reading is how rich it is in popular cultural references--to songs, music, movies, books, candies, phrases such as "Oh, snap!" that were typical of that era. Alma, who is half Chinese and half Jewish, ponders misogyny and the Red Flags that appear to stall a budding romantic relationship as well as the disappearance of her friend Maureen who moves to Ohio, sends her one letter, and is never heard from again. Given her complicated ethnic background, I expected to see more about her two cultures, but the author focused more on other directions. Since some of the lines are separated by spaces within the text, they can be hard to interpret and require a bit of backtracking in order to understand who is speaking and what is meant. Still, doing so is worth the effort. In the end, readers will be pleased that Alma knows exactly whom she is and where she wants to be. There are some loose ends dangling, but those will have to be tied up by readers in their own imaginations. Many teen readers will relate to Alma's feelings and experiences. Nevertheless, given her age, I was a bit surprised that there wasn't more included about her body image.
September 7, 2021
Rating: 4/5
TW: Divorce, homophobia, racism, death
I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts are my own.
This story follows Alma, a girl who is half-Chinese and half-Jewish who lives in NYC in the 80s, and told in prose as it follows her life, both the ups and downs, of a typical family life.
I liked this novel. I haven't read prose in a while and this felt like a nice take on it, however I can't really speak on the accuracy of the Chinese or Jewish representation as I am neither of those things. I liked Alma's character a good bunch, because of her passions for reading and writing and also listening to music. She uses it pretty often to compare moments in her life to ones she hears about or reads about, and elevates the meaning of the story even though she is just 13 in the story.
A lot of the other characters were pretty diverse, which was nice as it shows the complex roots of New York City, but I wasn't really a fan of Miguel. He ends up being a total asshole for something I won't get into because of spoilers but I love that it's shown as a chance for growth and development with Alma, and that you don't need to get into a relationship right away.
Alma also faces a lot of real life struggles, like the arguing of parents and trying to find her own place in the world, that felt realistic and impactful enough, but not enough to really move me.
Alma Presses Play is a great novel on finding one's self, family, and self-identity that is a great quick read.
TW: Divorce, homophobia, racism, death
I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts are my own.
This story follows Alma, a girl who is half-Chinese and half-Jewish who lives in NYC in the 80s, and told in prose as it follows her life, both the ups and downs, of a typical family life.
I liked this novel. I haven't read prose in a while and this felt like a nice take on it, however I can't really speak on the accuracy of the Chinese or Jewish representation as I am neither of those things. I liked Alma's character a good bunch, because of her passions for reading and writing and also listening to music. She uses it pretty often to compare moments in her life to ones she hears about or reads about, and elevates the meaning of the story even though she is just 13 in the story.
A lot of the other characters were pretty diverse, which was nice as it shows the complex roots of New York City, but I wasn't really a fan of Miguel. He ends up being a total asshole for something I won't get into because of spoilers but I love that it's shown as a chance for growth and development with Alma, and that you don't need to get into a relationship right away.
Alma also faces a lot of real life struggles, like the arguing of parents and trying to find her own place in the world, that felt realistic and impactful enough, but not enough to really move me.
Alma Presses Play is a great novel on finding one's self, family, and self-identity that is a great quick read.
July 22, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the ARC! 4 out of 5 stars, I want nothing more than to give Alma a hug.
I had some reading difficulties with this, due to the medium I had to read it on (not available for Kindle, basically had to NetGalley Shelf it, and I could not enlarge the text) so I faced what felt like a fair amount of eye strain. This made reading the book more difficult but I did try to power through for Alma!
She's so very much a kid. She's struggling with her family-- or more accurately, they're struggling, and she's trying to cope. She has her friends, her favorite spots in the City, and a mental health professional she sees. Her relationships with her friends are as varied, messy, and difficult as many relationships of the type you'd have in middle school. Many of them too, either face their own issues, or discuss her own with ideas of how to try to "fix" her. They all have much to learn-- they're young, after all, still learning about other people, and struggling so much with their own problems.
Alma's relationships with her parents and grandparents too shine-- they're important people in her life, and she often thinks about them, despite their physical presence being distant or away. This book felt increasingly personal with them, twisting in just the right spots with the complexity of familial relations.
CWs include: racism, period-typical homophobia, prejudice against drug users.
I had some reading difficulties with this, due to the medium I had to read it on (not available for Kindle, basically had to NetGalley Shelf it, and I could not enlarge the text) so I faced what felt like a fair amount of eye strain. This made reading the book more difficult but I did try to power through for Alma!
She's so very much a kid. She's struggling with her family-- or more accurately, they're struggling, and she's trying to cope. She has her friends, her favorite spots in the City, and a mental health professional she sees. Her relationships with her friends are as varied, messy, and difficult as many relationships of the type you'd have in middle school. Many of them too, either face their own issues, or discuss her own with ideas of how to try to "fix" her. They all have much to learn-- they're young, after all, still learning about other people, and struggling so much with their own problems.
Alma's relationships with her parents and grandparents too shine-- they're important people in her life, and she often thinks about them, despite their physical presence being distant or away. This book felt increasingly personal with them, twisting in just the right spots with the complexity of familial relations.
CWs include: racism, period-typical homophobia, prejudice against drug users.
August 26, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I was initially surprised by how long it took me to read this book. Not because I wasn't interested, but because it hit really hard in the nostalgia corner of my brain.
The character Alma feels caught in the middle in so many aspects of her life, which is easy to relate to. Especially the lyrical way her story is told.
Some of the stomach pitting moments came out of left field, but that just added to the realism for me. Life does that: it drop kicks you and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. With smartphones and the internet, sometimes I forget what it was like before, when we relied on times to call for long distance, letter writing, and how someone can lose touch completely if neither of those are available. For me, this tapped into a part of myself that often felt trapped and stuck.
It truly felt like seeing the world through a growing girl's eyes. Parts of it made me feel guilty, like I was reading her diary. The open rawness with which Alma is expressed, especially with repetition, makes for an emotional read so be prepared for that.
I'm glad to see in verse stories still coming out for young readers, and can't wait to see more from this author!
I was initially surprised by how long it took me to read this book. Not because I wasn't interested, but because it hit really hard in the nostalgia corner of my brain.
The character Alma feels caught in the middle in so many aspects of her life, which is easy to relate to. Especially the lyrical way her story is told.
Some of the stomach pitting moments came out of left field, but that just added to the realism for me. Life does that: it drop kicks you and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. With smartphones and the internet, sometimes I forget what it was like before, when we relied on times to call for long distance, letter writing, and how someone can lose touch completely if neither of those are available. For me, this tapped into a part of myself that often felt trapped and stuck.
It truly felt like seeing the world through a growing girl's eyes. Parts of it made me feel guilty, like I was reading her diary. The open rawness with which Alma is expressed, especially with repetition, makes for an emotional read so be prepared for that.
I'm glad to see in verse stories still coming out for young readers, and can't wait to see more from this author!
May 15, 2024
I found I liked this a lot. The book is definitely more of a journey type book than an action book. It focuses on growing up (with aspects like friends moving, body changes, school changes, etc), identity, and divorce. I feel like the book would have benefited if the pace had been a little faster and the book a little longer. For example, I feel like the notion of identity was toyed with a bit in the beginning but then kind of dropped off. The same goes for puberty/menstruation/'girlhood' which was mentioned more in the middle and then fell off. So I think if the pacing was better or the book longer then maybe those themes would have had a chance to come together better?
I didnt really enjoy the lack of punctuation. It truly made reading kind of grinding because I kept having to decipher who was speaking. I also agree with another review in thinking that this is definitely more middle grade and would be more so with some grammar changes.
Overall though I felt moved by some of the characters struggles and felt like this book had a lot of good potential. I dont regret reading it, but do feel a bit unsatisfied? (The ending was a little too meh for me)
I didnt really enjoy the lack of punctuation. It truly made reading kind of grinding because I kept having to decipher who was speaking. I also agree with another review in thinking that this is definitely more middle grade and would be more so with some grammar changes.
Overall though I felt moved by some of the characters struggles and felt like this book had a lot of good potential. I dont regret reading it, but do feel a bit unsatisfied? (The ending was a little too meh for me)
August 9, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Alma Presses Play is a novel-in-verse which follows thirteen year old Alma, a half-Chinese, half-Jewish girl growing up in New York City in the '80s, as she grapples with the ups and downs of friendship, romance, and a tumultuous home life.
I adored this book! I'm always a sucker for a novel in verse anyways, since they're such quick and easy reads, and Alma Presses Play used the format to tell a beautiful coming-of-age story with the backdrop of A Bunch Of Songs I Actually Know And Love (shoutout to all the Bowie Alma listens to!). While the novel would certainly resonate best with a late middle grade/early YA reader, ultimately I felt like there was also a lot I got out of it as an adult reader. It was an opportunity for me to reflect on those times in my own life -- what it means to lose a friend, or to think of a place as home. Through the characters' complex relationships in a deeply tumultuous time in Alma's life, there are ample life lessons to be learned.
My favorite part of Alma's story is the ultimate resolution to her parents' divorce, specifically that we don't actually know who she picks to live with. Initially, I was frustrated, but as I considered it more, I realized it leaves it open for younger readers to come to their own conclusions. If they were in Alma's shoes, who would they pick? Why? How does Alma's story show them what home means to them? The novel lives beyond what's on the page.
Overall, Alma Presses Play was a lovely read, and one I'm excited to see put into the hands of young teenagers who need to know that they are not alone.
Alma Presses Play is a novel-in-verse which follows thirteen year old Alma, a half-Chinese, half-Jewish girl growing up in New York City in the '80s, as she grapples with the ups and downs of friendship, romance, and a tumultuous home life.
I adored this book! I'm always a sucker for a novel in verse anyways, since they're such quick and easy reads, and Alma Presses Play used the format to tell a beautiful coming-of-age story with the backdrop of A Bunch Of Songs I Actually Know And Love (shoutout to all the Bowie Alma listens to!). While the novel would certainly resonate best with a late middle grade/early YA reader, ultimately I felt like there was also a lot I got out of it as an adult reader. It was an opportunity for me to reflect on those times in my own life -- what it means to lose a friend, or to think of a place as home. Through the characters' complex relationships in a deeply tumultuous time in Alma's life, there are ample life lessons to be learned.
My favorite part of Alma's story is the ultimate resolution to her parents' divorce, specifically that we don't actually know who she picks to live with. Initially, I was frustrated, but as I considered it more, I realized it leaves it open for younger readers to come to their own conclusions. If they were in Alma's shoes, who would they pick? Why? How does Alma's story show them what home means to them? The novel lives beyond what's on the page.
Overall, Alma Presses Play was a lovely read, and one I'm excited to see put into the hands of young teenagers who need to know that they are not alone.
July 28, 2023
Alma Presses Play is a novel-in-verse that is told completely through free-verse poetry. This book reminded me of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, but that book is a compilation of vignettes, rather than verses. Both stories detail the life of a young girl and her coming-of-age story in an urban city in the 80s. I really enjoyed Alma's love for music and her fascination with mythology. I felt the story had a lot of great insights into feminism, growing up, and life in general, but the story overall really fell flat. It took me close to an entire year to try and read this book. I had a hard time getting through it and I almost had to DNF it. I believe it's best to read this book in intervals since you might miss some insightful quotes or phrases and I think the book is better suited for pre-teens rather than YA. Overall, Alma Presses Play tried to be a profound coming-of-age story but it missed the mark.
August 24, 2021
Alma Presses Play is a book in verse set in 1982 New York City. It follows the stour of Alma, an eighth grader who is growing up and seeing her life change before her eyes.
A line that caught my attention and perfectly summed up the book was, “A person who feels caught between places and spaces”. I feel like this describes Alma perfectly. She is changing. Leaving middle school for a new high school. Her parents are on the verge of divorce. Her friends are making changes (moving away, acting on hormones).
Alma uses music to help calm and center herself in the chaos. I thought the use of music would be a little more prominent; the description of music was one reason I was drawn to this book. But though it was used intermittently, it still was a cool idea.
I recommend this book!
A line that caught my attention and perfectly summed up the book was, “A person who feels caught between places and spaces”. I feel like this describes Alma perfectly. She is changing. Leaving middle school for a new high school. Her parents are on the verge of divorce. Her friends are making changes (moving away, acting on hormones).
Alma uses music to help calm and center herself in the chaos. I thought the use of music would be a little more prominent; the description of music was one reason I was drawn to this book. But though it was used intermittently, it still was a cool idea.
I recommend this book!
November 21, 2021
Is Alma ready to press play on the soundtrack of her life?
▶️
Alma is an 8th grader growing up in 1982 in NYC who feels caught between both sides of herself: the Jewish side and the Chinese side. The only thing Alma wants to do is listen to her Walkman to drown out her parents fighting, friends moving and a romance that dies before it can begin. With all these changes, is Alma ready to move forward?
▶️
This YA novel in verse will resonate with many students, despite the fact that it takes place decades before, because the topics are relevant to many now. The poetry was beautiful and reads like a stream of consciousness in many places due to lack of punctuation. Add this one to your middle or high school library or classroom.
CW: alcoholism
3.5 ⭐️ lack of any punctuation made it more difficult to read. Had to switch to audiobook
▶️
Alma is an 8th grader growing up in 1982 in NYC who feels caught between both sides of herself: the Jewish side and the Chinese side. The only thing Alma wants to do is listen to her Walkman to drown out her parents fighting, friends moving and a romance that dies before it can begin. With all these changes, is Alma ready to move forward?
▶️
This YA novel in verse will resonate with many students, despite the fact that it takes place decades before, because the topics are relevant to many now. The poetry was beautiful and reads like a stream of consciousness in many places due to lack of punctuation. Add this one to your middle or high school library or classroom.
CW: alcoholism
3.5 ⭐️ lack of any punctuation made it more difficult to read. Had to switch to audiobook
January 29, 2022
YA at it's complete best. Alma Presses Play is a poignant coming-of-age novel written in verse. Alma makes for a very compelling protagonist and her characterization just leaps off the page. With biting wit and a youthful curiosity, Alma very much feels like a real 13-year old girl. Her day-to-day story of cycling around New York City with her friends is very fun to read, with plenty of 80s references and nostalgia to enjoy.
It's definitely an important book for teenagers to read, since it so descriptively portrays a world before iPhones and social media. There's a bit of a sad nostalgic element to an 80s NYC that will never be experienced again. A pre-9/11 era of "simpler" times.
But of course, there were flaws to this generation as well and the novel does reflect this. There are moments where Alma's friends use slurs and the neighborhoods they live in are afflicted with drug use and prostitution. One of Alma's friends moves away and after a short correspondence, Alma never hears from of her again and probably doesn't have much hope of getting in touch with her - since this was a time before Facebook and Google.
Overall, this YA novel is a glowing story that reminds us what it feels like to be young and exhilarated by the unknowns of the world.
It's definitely an important book for teenagers to read, since it so descriptively portrays a world before iPhones and social media. There's a bit of a sad nostalgic element to an 80s NYC that will never be experienced again. A pre-9/11 era of "simpler" times.
But of course, there were flaws to this generation as well and the novel does reflect this. There are moments where Alma's friends use slurs and the neighborhoods they live in are afflicted with drug use and prostitution. One of Alma's friends moves away and after a short correspondence, Alma never hears from of her again and probably doesn't have much hope of getting in touch with her - since this was a time before Facebook and Google.
Overall, this YA novel is a glowing story that reminds us what it feels like to be young and exhilarated by the unknowns of the world.
November 4, 2022
This book of verse is told from young Alma's point of view as she is turning into a teenager in 1980s New York City. She is into music and uses it to help her in the world. She has a core group of friends and all of them are dealing with some problem. She realizes that something is going on with her parents, who are already struggling with her dad being Jewish and her mom being Chinese, and tries her best to just ignore it and focus on school. There are great moments in this book, but sometimes it feels too contemporary. She uses some slang from the 80s, but there are often moments where it felt more like 2020 kids. The little moments of lists or letters added so much to this story though, and I really appreciated those.
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