YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Starting July 24th, 2018! :)

Chapter 3 (7% )

(view spoiler)[They lives in the bad neighbourhood but that doesn't mean they've to be treated that way. The cop really overdid thing when he killed Khalil. (hide spoiler)]

khungkhing wrote: "Chapter 3 (7% )

[spoilers removed]"

Haha you started it already? I was thinking about starting it tonight also because I finished my other book but I thought no one else was going to start it until tomorrow so I decided to wait.

I finished my last book last Saturday. Now I've nothing to read so I start early.

I'm starting this tonight

Jordan wrote: "I'm starting this tonight"

I already started it. I'm already chapter 3. I didn't really know if I was going to like it or not in the beginning because of the writing style but as I read on the writing style slowly got better.

I'm just in the beginning of it and I already hate a lot of characters, love some characters and cried my eyes out once!

Ooh okay, I'm excited to get to it now!

Gonna start this tonight! :D

I read a little bit of it last night but now I have just been procrastinating it! I think I'm starting to go into a reading slump which really sucks.

khungkhing wrote: "Chapter 3 (7% )

[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ yeh nothing excuses him killing Khalil! (hide spoiler)]

24% (view spoiler)[ I hate how those cops try to put words into her mouth when she is giving her statement. And what has Khalil being involved in drugs have anything to do with him being shot!!! (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "24% [spoilers removed]"

He was trying to say the cop thought he had drugs on him or with him and that's why he thought he had to shoot him because he thought he was a "threat" which is a stupid excuse in my opinion. He's only trying to cover for his buddy.

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ I really do not like King and I'm wary of his future actions after the discussion between him and Maverick. I also hope that Seven and the others get away from him before his temper goes too far. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8 - (view spoiler)[ The funeral scene evoked a range of emotions in me, aside from the obvious, I felt really irritated when Iesha and King walked in, even though it was clear Khalil was in a gang and it's their tradition, I feel like there could have been more of a sense of respect, especially from Iesha. I'm glad Rosalie stood up for both herself and the family and refused their help for the funeral. I'm not sure how to feel about April Ofrah, and whether her intentions are genuine for Starr's best interests or just for the media coverage it will achieve. (hide spoiler)]

Allie wrote: "Shae wrote: "24% [spoilers removed]"

He was trying to say the cop thought he had drugs on him or with him and that's why he thought he had to shoot him because he thought he was a "threat" which i..."
Yeh exactly!! Just trying to cover it up!

Jordan wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 8 - [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ yes I think King and Iesha turning up was so disrespectful. Especially what iesha was wearing!! I can’t beleive maverick slept with her when he had a fight with Starr’s Mum! Poor seven, having to be amongst all of that! (hide spoiler)]

I’m starting this book as soon as possible!

19% - (view spoiler)[Only 86 pages in and I'm already angry. Even though this kind of stuff happens all the time in real life and I KNOW how most of these situations go, some part of me still expects better of people, and I'm still disappointed when they fail to meet those expectations. It makes me sad and it makes me angry.

I'm at the part where Starr's heading to the police station to talk to the detectives, and I have a feeling I'm about to get mad again. (hide spoiler)]

Sarah wrote: "19% - Only 86 pages in and I'm already angry. Even though this kind of stuff happens all the time in real life and I KNOW how most of these situations go, some part of me still expects better of pe..."

I don't know if you got to the part yet but I will answer your question for you: Yes you will get mad again! And I totally get what your saying. You want people to be better but the reality is...people suck!

Sarah wrote: "19% - Only 86e..."

(view spoiler)[ I feel the same! Call me naive, but I didn’t realise this actually happened! It makes me sooo irate!! (hide spoiler)]

45% (view spoiler)[ I can’t believe how they have to be so fearful that they will get shot. Like the police ask Starr’s dad to get his is out, and he has to make sure he tells them he is getting it from his back pocket, so they don’t think he has a weapon and shoot him. Soo nuts!! I can’t believe this actually happens! (hide spoiler)]

Just got done with chapter eleven and that chapter was making me tear up so much!

Shae wrote: "Allie wrote: "Shae wrote: "24% [spoilers removed]"

He was trying to say the cop thought he had drugs on him or with him and that's why he thought he had to shoot him because he thought he was a "t..."

(view spoiler)[They wanted Starr to admit all those things so they can say that 115 had reason to did what he did. It's BS.

I love how Starr and her mom handle it thou. She doesn't let anyone manipulate her. (hide spoiler)]

Allie wrote: "Sarah wrote: "19% - Only 86 pages in and I'm already angry. Even though this kind of stuff happens all the time in real life and I KNOW how most of these situations go, some part of me still expect..."

(view spoiler)[It made me mad too. They did anything to cover their asses. They didn't care that their buddy just killed a kid. In their eyes, Khalil's life worth nothing. (hide spoiler)]

I agree! (view spoiler)[ all they care about is protecting their own regardless of what happened. (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 8 - [spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[From the way King and Iesha acted at the funeral, they will be the ones who make the situation worse.

BTW, I'm really glad that Seven turn out okay. (hide spoiler)]

khungkhing wrote: "Shae wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 8 - [spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

From the way King and Iesha acted at the funeral, they will be the ones who make the..."

(view spoiler)[ I hated what King did at his funeral! It was so disrespectful. (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "45% [spoilers removed]"


(view spoiler)[ the way the police treated Starr's dad was disgusting, and especially when they realised he was her dad. It was so uncalled for and when they didn't even question Mr Lewis, because Maverick was more 'stereotypical' of a man from the ghetto. (hide spoiler)]

Jordan wrote: "Shae wrote: "45% [spoilers removed]"


[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes! And the only reason her dad didn't get arrested was because people were around looking at them and wouldn't go away when the cops were telling them to mind their own business. (hide spoiler)]

Allie wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Shae wrote: "45% [spoilers removed]"


[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Maverick was street smart, though. He did everything those cops told him but still, they harassed him.

I think they did that to threaten Starr and to warn her to keep her mouth shut. They were the King Lord with the badge which made them even worse. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18 (72%)

(view spoiler)[Starr' interview made me bawled my eyes out. She really fought a good fight. She had her family in her corner to support and guide her.

The prep talk, Maverick gave Starr (made her recited the Black Panthers' Ten Point Program) was a good one ... she shouldn't back out because of a threat.

I love her family dynamics. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22 (84%)

(view spoiler)[Iesha let them go. She did love her kids after all. She protected them the only way she knew ... letting them go. I'm afraid of what King will do to her. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished!

Chapter 22 - (view spoiler)[ I could tell from the second she walked in that she wanted to help them but I just wasn't sure she'd be brave enough to go against King. (hide spoiler)]

Jordan wrote: "Chapter 22 - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I'm glad that she did. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

It's absolutely one of my favorite books of the year.

khungkhing wrote: "Finished

It's absolutely one of my favorite books of the year."

I didn't love it as much as I thought I would have but I loved the message that it sends!

Allie wrote: "khungkhing wrote: "Shae wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]

Chapter 8 - [spoilers removed]"
[spoilers removed]"

From the will be th..."
(view spoiler)[ yes so disrespectful!! Especially when knowing that Khalil refused to join kings gang! (hide spoiler)]

Jordan wrote: "Shae wrote: "45% [spoilers removed]"


[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ yep! So disgusting!!! Makes me so mad that this actually happens (hide spoiler)]

khungkhing wrote: "Chapter 18 (72%)

Starr' intervi

The prep talk, Maverick gave Starr (made ..."
(view spoiler)[ yes that interview was soo good! I’m so glad she spoke up about it all.
I love her family dynamics too! Like the praying at their new house haha! And her Mum and dad arguing mid prayer about the nan moving in :P (hide spoiler)]

Shae wrote: "khungkhing wrote: "Chapter 18 (72%)

(view spoiler)[I loved that scene. It was so funny and very cute. (hide spoiler)]

just starting now, update to come!

I'll be joining this one shortly! :)

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[It makes my blood boil that the detectives basically disregarded everything Starr said. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[Why should it matter that Starr's dating a white boy? Race should never make a difference. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 1 - 7: (view spoiler)[Wow, this is such an important topic. I feel sad for Starr and Halil’s family. It sucks that she can’t even talk about it with her school friends. I hope the cop who killed him gets arrested but I don’t think it will happen without a fight from Starr’s part. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1-7 (view spoiler)[ chapter 6 made me want to scream. They kept baiting her and putting words in her mouth! Khalil's the victim, not number One-Fifteen. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 8-14 (view spoiler)[ This book is amazing at making me want to cry. The scene where the cop freaks out at Starr's dad and makes him get on the ground made me so mad. I actually had to put the book down and take a minute. Then where Starr meets up with Hailey and Maya, and Starr finds out that she hasn't been overreacting about Hailey saying racist stuff, it just... damn. I'm glad that Maya and Starr have each other at least, but man I hope Hailey gets her crap together (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 15-20 (view spoiler)[ OK but the scene where Starr fights with Hailey, I was cheering her on. I also really love how she does get along with her family, but it isn't always perfect. It's very realistic, but also I love the relationship this family has with each other. (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ I had a feeling One-Fifteen would get away with it, but that doesn't change the fact that it made me mad. But that's just reality; cops get away with crap like this everyday, which is why Starr fighting was not just brave, but necessary. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[Ugh, I knew the verdict would come back as not guilty, but I didn't want to believe it. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I love that ultimately the community has each others' backs and are helping to rebuild Mav's store. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8 - 14: (view spoiler)[Oh shit, that scene with Starr’s dad on the floor made me so sad :( (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 15 - 21: (view spoiler)[Yay for Iesha protecting her kids though I feel bad for her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished:(view spoiler)[Wow Starr has become so brave throughout the book. It sucks that the cop didn’t get arrested. Chris is a sweetheart. I loved this book! (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting October 11th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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