YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

Different focus, but really imagine this will burst with energy. Looking forward to it...

Up to ch6. Love the battle scene. Bri is vibrant but her situation is uncomfortable reading. Sensing things are going to get tougher.

I'm starting the audio today! So excited and it's the same narrator as THUG

Chapter 6(view spoiler)[I like that this takes place in Garden Heights and we're seeing a bit of what happened in THUG. The rap battles are cool! I wish I could do that (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[I agree with Bri's aunt and friends, she shouldn't rap about guns and gangs. I think she's got plenty of other things and rapping about those things when she's not like that will probably get her some negative attention (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21(view spoiler)[Yep, now Bri is seeing the repercussions of her song. Hopefully she can make it right. I'm glad she isn't going to get with Malik, I think Curtis is a better fit for her (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28(view spoiler)[Bri needs to dump Supreme and do her own thing. He's trying to make her look ghetto and like a gang member. And Bri's mom probably should see someone about her depression. I feel bad that everything seems like it's falling apart for Bri. At least she has Curtis (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This was really good and I couldn't stop myself from listening to it all at once. It was very relevant and probably relatable to a lot of teenagers, especially black teens. I am so glad Bri did her own thing at the end and took control over her life. (hide spoiler)]

Up to ch13. I’m thinking this one might be interesting to listen to with all the focus on music. Getting a bad feeling about just how low Bri will get pushed.

I really enjoyed listening to it. The rapping was the best part

Up to ch20. The hypocrisy evident in the comments about the complaint makes me angry. It’s no wonder someone living that experience would feel angry. Still feel more on side with Bri’s mum and brother with regard to what she says.

Finished. Review on home page. Inspiring, in a different way to THUG.

Aly wrote: "Chapter 13 [spoilers removed]" I agree (view spoiler)[Bri shouldn't rap about guns and gangs. She can rap about other things and exactly she's getting negative attention and Bri should calm down. I think she has taken it all too seriously like what happened with Starr's friend in THUD. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting April 3rd AND April 16th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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Starting this right now.

Starting this today

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[Looks like Bri's got herself a banger here! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[Girl, don't you be abandoning Aunt Pooh like that! She's right that you don't need to be making this your image. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24: (view spoiler)[God I hope Jay gets that job. Their family needs it so badly. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I'm glad Bri decided to stay true to who she is at the end. Don't change just to please others. (hide spoiler)]

Aw man, I totally forgot to update it but hey, I started. I'm done wit about 7 chapters and it is going great but uhm... (view spoiler)[There is this one thing that is REALLY, REALLY irritating me. The MC seems more of a show-off! I mean, yeah, she has sass but there is a time and place to show off that sass - even if you are being sassy in your mind. I mean, hey! Someone is taking serious stuff to you and your first thought is sarcasm? Have you no compassion or what? (hide spoiler)]

started

Chapters 1-8 done (view spoiler)[Really loving this. Audio narrator is really great. Bri's rapping is so goood 👌 I don't trust her aunt, she's going to take all credit.

I'm loving the Star Wars references. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9 - 14 done (view spoiler)[i think Malik and aunt pooh is right about the song. Bri is going to end up in a situation and that song isn't going to help. (even though it is great song 😁).

I like that bri is impulsive. I think it's authentic since she is supposed to be a 16 year old girl. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 15 - 21 done (view spoiler)[im so on Bri's side when it comes to Malik suddenly having feelings for her. It's clear these two are made to be friends. They should just give it up and she should embrace her feelings for Curtis.

Her aunt is going to make the situation with the Crowns worse. I hope nobody dies. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[its sad that her aunt ended up in prison. Even though the book is over it didn't seem like the Crowns were pacified. I'm glad bri dropped supreme and took control of things because I was really pissed about what he said about using her dad. I really enjoyed this book, it was a really easy fun read that still covered hard topics. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting June 11th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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(view spoiler)[I'm listening to this on audio and the rapping is good! I like the references to The Hate U Give. We are also getting some elements of that story with Bri at school. I wonder what's going to happen with the mom since she lost her job. And her aunt for selling drugs... (hide spoiler)]
Ch 7

(view spoiler)[Bri's song is a hit and everyone is playing it. I knew there would be some consequences for her mentioning guns and other things in her lyrics. She's not taking the constructive criticism from her aunt or Malik about it. I think this might blow up into a bigger thing later on, maybe involving the school.

I don't fully trust Supreme and wanting to manage Bri. Something shady about him. I think he might get Bri into some trouble (hide spoiler)]
Ch 15

(view spoiler)[More repercussions from the song..she got her dads chain stolen. I hope Bri gets it back

I knew the school would get involved with the song too, but I think they will end up doing the right thing since the meeting. I'm glad Bri released the video evidence in a tasteful way.

I'm also glad she's realizing her song may not have the best message after the little kids start rapping about guns. I hope she makes a bigger song with powerful lyrics

Idk what Aunt Pooh did, but I'm kinda scared.. (hide spoiler)]
Ch 25

(view spoiler)[ I'm glad Bri stayed true to herself in the end. It's also a nice happy ending with J getting the job and living in peace at the grandparents house. And Bri is happy with Curtis and about to get her big break by getting herself there (hide spoiler)]
End

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Date changed. Restarting July 1st 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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6% (view spoiler)[ I like how this refers back to the hate u give, with the police shootings and riots in the garden. I’m intrigued by this plot line too! (hide spoiler)]

9% (view spoiler)[ loved that battle! So good listening to the audio version! (hide spoiler)]

will start soon

12%: (view spoiler)[I hate myself for saying this but so far I'm finding the book a bit meh and a little boring. I loved THUG so I have high hopes for this one. I'm listening to the audio narrator and don't really like the narrator so that might also have something to do with it. (hide spoiler)]

Can I join in too

I'll have to dig out my book. I just packed it LOL

Yea go for it! :)

Yes join susan!

Shar, reply to your 12%. My phone isn’t letting me reply (view spoiler)[ Is your narrator the same on as thug audio? I find this is a narrator I always listen to with these books.

I’m enjoying this definitely, but can see how it’s a bit slow. Like THUG was just boom straight into action. I shouldn’t be comparing, but I am! (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "Shar, reply to your 12%. My phone isn’t letting me reply Is your narrator the same on as thug audio? I find this is a narrator I always listen to with these books.

I’m enjoying this definitely, ..."

It is the same narrator but I read THUG as a physical so not too familiar with the narrator. (view spoiler)[I just reached 20% and I' starting to enjoy it more! (hide spoiler)]

30%: (view spoiler)[It got a little more interesting but then it went back to meh. I feel like it's dragging on a little bit. I just want things to happen but no things are really happening. I feel like I'm going to have an unpopular opinion on this book haha (hide spoiler)]

55%: (view spoiler)[I'm really liking the book now. I do think her Mum is right about the song, she shouldn't be rapping about something she has no knowledge on which is what has happened and school riot took it out in the wrong context. Supreme seems a little dodgy, he's trying to buy her trust - that's when you know someone can't be trusted haha (hide spoiler)]

80%: (view spoiler)[Bri is so self-asorbed and it is kind of a little annoying haha (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I didn't really hate it or love it. It was definitely a step down from THUG for me but it wasn't bad. I loved the messages being conveyed in the story but I didn't particularly like how they were being said. (hide spoiler)]

47% (view spoiler)[ I’m sus on supreme! It’s strange how her dad fired him, and now he is getting cosy with Bri and almost trying to snake her aunt! (hide spoiler)]

Shar wrote: "55%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ yeh I agree about her mum being right. She should be rapping about stuff that is her own, not something she has no idea of, hence why everyone is getting revved up, and she is getting kicked out of places. (hide spoiler)]

Shar wrote: "80%: [spoilers removed]"

I’m feeling that too (view spoiler)[ it annoys me so much how she just speaks without thinking, like the Instagram live she did, and then even just when she did the interview. She really just doesn’t care about anyone else’s opinion or the affect on them. (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "Shar wrote: "80%: [spoilers removed]"

I’m feeling that too [spoilers removed]"

Glad I'm not the only one who thought that! (view spoiler)[She just infuriates me when she speaks every single thing aloud instead of filtering it in her brain haha (hide spoiler)]

Shar wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

I agree (view spoiler)[ was a step down from THUG, I was really expecting a similar rated book. I didn’t like Bri so that made me not like the book as much, as I felt she was very selfish. I did like the audio version of this though! (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "6% [spoilers removed]"

I like how I didn't realise I was missing anything!