Wow this book hit hard. Beautifully written, strong vibrant characters and so much emotion. It made me sick to my stomach and my chest hurt. It made me smile and laugh. It made me think. I can't remember the last book that made my cry so many times. The writing was so vivid and well done that I could feel character's emotions like they were my own. Strong strong strong characters. And so many important themes that made this book feel like a true to life story.

Starr's struggle to navigate her world and the extraordinary and life altering situation she is put into. She is amazing. I simply don't think I could step into her shoes. She's a rockstar because she is so real.

I'm not going to start an argument via goodreads reviews, but just state my feelings through this amazing book.

I'm from the suburbs of Baltimore and lived in the city while the Freddie Gray case happened. I remembered the media, the riots, the looting, seeing tanks drive down the streets of my neighborhood. Being on lock down at work and at a baseball game. Walking past armed military men and women who were there to protect some people in the city against others. It's something I hope never has to happen in a city again. Though I did not grow up in the city and have not faced what many people face on a daily basis, I could understand both side of what was going on. And I saw so many of things play out the way they did in this book. Not only the "police vs thug", but the poverty that forced people to live lives they wouldn't have chosen. How the media always picks a side. How truths and perception all get muddled together.
The biggest message for me here was when Starr that even if Khalil was a drug dealer, so what, that doesn't mean his life should be forfeit. And that Starr has hope that these things will change. I hope and pray that they do Starr.