Another excellent and thought provoking book from an amazing author. I'm so glad I picked up (and then watched) The Hate U Give, and I was not disappointed when I found On the Come Up and decided to read it as well. Written about people living in the same general neighborhood as the first novel, but not a sequel, OtCU explores some similar themes. That of racial profiling, that of being targeted by those in charge based on skin color and/or neighborhood you come from. These are important issues and I'm so glad that this author has chosen to write about them in such a way that brings light and gets people talking. I had people at my place of work, all adults, discussing The Hate U Give and now that I've read this book, I hope to get them talking again. (Also, please turn this into a film as well.) People like to think that this type of thing doesn't happen anymore, that people aren't still judged based on the color of their skin, but that's just not true. I've seen it.

On the Come Up focuses on some of the less heard about instances of this profiling. Schools that treat students with different colored skin differently. The fact that this is just a novel should not stop people from seeing this as a wake up call to how we treat the younger generation. Unless someone sheds light (like this book) and does something to stop it, this is what will keep happening, because this is what our children are learning, this is what they are being shown.

If you enjoyed The Hate U Give, or if you are interested in reading YA drama, I highly recommend this book.