This story gets the isolating nature and constant struggles of being a Black ballerina well. Ballet in itself has always been restrictive and rigid. 

The threat of being constantly replaced, a token, and having to prove your worth to others and yourself constantly are themes. Ballet can be such a rampant breeding ground for body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and internalized self-hatred.

Even more, Celine "Cece’s" lack of family and community weighs on her more heavily. She has few people who have her best interests in mind. There is a deep, subtle pain when your parents don’t believe in you or accept you fully.

Every moment Cece is waiting to fail. Constant stress. The reading experience was very stressful for me because every moment I was waiting for her to ruin her ballet career irreparably. Then, I was getting squeamish with her medical issues.

With added pressure, Cece becomes a prominent Black ballerina and is thrust overnight into a status symbol for young Black children and people. She wrestles with hating and understanding the value of an unasked symbolism.

Then, of course, the potential career-ending situation pops up. Bruh.

she gets pregnant. How do you trust in the pull-out method??? But she was young with no guidance, so I guess. Ain’t bout ish men gon do it every time.

 

I don’t know how to phrase this correctly. But this felt like watching a fictional movie about enslavement. You’re always left feeling drained, but you understand the execution and the hard truths. It’s just the reality. I don’t believe every story has to make you feel good or uplifting. Sometimes, a story has to lay bare the dirt and grit of a thing, an industry.

Overall, I believe the author effectively showed the tense environments many of these dance studios operate under, but it’s a dampening read. I understood Cece but never really liked her as a character. But I liked the connection and sorrow Cece had for her brother Paul as a positive. The fifth section was my favorite when it went unexpectedly Southern.

Not enjoyable but not bad! 

2.5 stars

Loving the character arcs Gil and Nell go through here. This story acknowledges the flaw of “toxic positivity” smoothly and learning to be content with change/loss of control (with other people). 

The art is still so adorable, and everyone has a cute, wide nose. 

I knew from page one this was the book for me. It’s delicious, and it delivers on the dark and intrigue. The plot turns kept me turning as well as the worldbuilding. Nothing was introduced that didn't have meaning. Also, I like that the academy was set in a college/university. 

Kidan was complex, twisted, and lovable. She was willing to get gutter for her goals. But really love was her driving force if you think about it. Kidan goes through several arcs here, and they feel earned. She was constantly self-destructive and cared too much.

Susenyos was irresistible, arrogant, frustrating, and scary all at the same time. A bronzed Adonis! Undeniably debonair

once he becomes fonder of Kidan. When he starts being soft with her ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! when he undid her braids in the steamy bathhouse. my heart! when he wrecked the house in anger because he faced retribution but still saved her. when he started desiring her. when she started calling him Yos

. 

Something that favorably stood out for me was the vampiric characters felt otherworldly and dangerous. They didn’t give ‘human being with fangs.’ They truly felt like ancient beings who could bend the world to their will. You feel Kidan’s trepidation when she’s erred too far with one of these beings. This is why Kidan’s headstrongness/attitude despite it, thrilled me. 

This girl has done dark things, but even she gets to feel soft, at times. Kidan's relationship with death is played with masterfully.

I enjoyed the whole cast of the characters. The humans and vampires (draniacs). 

Things get steamy (yes, pun intended) here, which is to be expected with the sensuality of vampires and bloodsucking in general, but it’s well done. It's giving Isley Brother's music, okay. With this in mind, this is definitely for the oldest of YA readers.

One nitpick: I was very tired of seeing “their mouth turned into a stretch.” It’s repetitive but probably a distinct trait of this author, I suppose.

Overall, I’m so here for this series, and I’d love to see a Netflix adaptation with East African actors. Tempted to draw fan art. This is for the girlies who like anti-heroes and when the girl falls in love with the villain. GIVE ME BOOK TWO!

Cute! I really liked the fantastical aspect of how musical chairs look here. Everything looks 10x bigger and the stakes are high. It plays into the stressful uncertainty that the game prides itself on lol.

The artwork was cartoony and conveyed action and expression well without written dialogue.

Off the jump, I enjoyed Jessie’s narrative voice. I would buy a 6-pack of this. She’s funny! Jessie’s dealing with new changes, teenage woes, and coming to terms with her autism diagnosis. 

Her overthinking about friends or daydreaming about boys (I’m talking we brushed hands and now I wonder what my wedding dress will look like) will be so nostalgic and relatable to some. 

High school is a strange time in general and wish-washy friends and wishy-washy boys don’t make it any easier. But the characters aren’t just flat. For instance, Levi

isn’t evil, but he’s spineless and playboy-ish. A total waste of time for someone looking for a committed boyfriend, but you see he’s also a goofy 10th-grader. Don’t pin your hopes and dreams on him, but he wasn't the worst.

Maybe Griffin seemed a little too good to be true, but he was such a sweetie pie.

Jessie felt and sounded like a real teenager, and the cast of characters were so good. The bits of Canadian and Palestinian culture were weaved in seamlessly. Jessie’s whole family plays a part here, so it’s not like she’s just wandering out in the world alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. 5 stars!

Laguardia’s Steppers – 2 stars Kind of basic but I love the message that these computers and AI could never replace real creativity. And the less subtle how quickly corporations try to steal from Black cultures.

Demon flow – 3 stars Creepy! A rapper’s spin on “selling your soul” for fame or in this case rap ability + mini revenge tale. My favorite story of the bunch.

Love in the Mix – 2 stars For the length it had, it was cute and I liked the art style. 

Sword of the Cypher – 1 star. All over the place. Not a fan. 

Marcus and the Drunken Fist – 2 stars Fast-paced. Typical underdog story with a training montage.

Not my favorite anthology, but I like the messages. 

Total wish fulfillment! But it’s got such a gooey-good core like a warm chocolate cookie. I enjoyed the cast of characters; they acted like actual high schoolers. The artwork was beautiful, the lines looked romantic and dreamy.

It feels so impossible, sometimes, but eventually, you could meet someone that matches your freak. Maybe this story will give someone hope.

The grand declarations of love in high school are ridiculous, but they are to be expected lol.  

4.5

 One of my favorite memoirs! Everything complimented this well, the art style, the writing, the humor, and the pop culture references.

I was somewhat aware of Weaver because of his webtoon and seeing a post or two of his on Instagram (back when I was more active). This story/his story digs deep with the emotions. Bullying and feeling like an outsider is shown here masterfully.

There’s a gardening theme about “guarding your garden,” the things you enjoy, your hobbies, what makes you, you.” Water it! Invest in yourself and your interests! I enjoyed this analogy very much!

The mental health discussions don't shy away either. Very relatable to many people. No one wants to be thought of as “crazy.” And everyone wants to be wanted by someone, platonically or romantically.

And how it did my heart so good when

he changed to the Black academy

and found his people. I'm glad his parents were proactive. So many people have a small sample size; a lot of people suck, but there’s someone out there for you!

Digs deep with emotional impact and uplifts at the end. Toward the end, things feel more "fictionalized" but it was still grounded in reality. I loved the cast of characters. If things go more fictional, I'd love this to become a series.