The way Shawn death was described reminded of how people describe death in the streets of New Orleans. Murders and killings happen and no one says anything. I can’t help but wonder if staying silent while a human being lost their life is the right? Is silence better for the deceased or the person who killed them?

The way the author talks about beef is heartbreaking. Beef = words. Beef has caused too many souls to be lost at such a young age. What happened to the phrase “sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you?”

“The invention of the rules…they weren’t meant to be broken.” This resonated with me. The author knows how to make strong, vibrating, and heart touching statements. “Get down with somebody or get beat down with somebody.” Another line in the book that shook me.

Black mothers are always praying for their children, especially their boys. It a cold world we live in. Not only do you have to pray for a healthy delivery but once you find out your brown baby will be male, you have to pray harder.

The back and forth narrative between death, the rules, life, and the questions about the gun in the elevator gave me a few thoughts. It reminded me of the parts of your conscious that comes to you before you decide to do something that you may regret.

When Will saw the ghost of Shawn, Shawn was crying. He kept crying when Will was telling him about the revenge he hopes to get from Shawn’s death. When I read that, I knew that the rules do not matter if you are hurting someone you love. I believe that Shawn had no words Will. Shawn must not have wanted Will to disrupt his life to revenge Shawn’s life. On the other hand, maybe Shawn was mourning the death of Will. I say this because of Shawn's last words to Will on the elevator.

I guess a lot of lessons can be taught in an elevator.

Seriously! The first classics that I enjoyed. It was not too long and dragging. I kept waiting for Ulysses' revenge and it didn't disappoint.

Surprising a good read with a lot of lessons throughout. Overall I enjoyed the book and would read it to my nieces and nephews in the future. The BFG thoughts on human behaviors were most humbling. "Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not real."

As usually books like this one makes me happy and angry. However, it was fast read for such a long book,

I am usually not into reading YA fantasy type books, especially series. However, the character development in this book is amazing and structured well. I thought it was going to be hard to equally give each queen a voice in this book but the author did exactly that. Based on the ending of this book I can not wait to read what will happen in book 2.

This is by far my favorite historical fiction book.
1. Challenges gender norms
2. The main character is a person who is intersex
3. It highlights polyamorous love and that you CAN feel romantic love for more than one person.

Breaking from the stereotypical "boy meets and girl and live happily after ever" narrative is all I want in a book.

I audiobook this book and the voice annoyed me immensely. I understood the pain and Deenie feelings but her teenager stuff just really bothered me and I couldn't get past it.