Punching The Air By: Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

Punching The Air
Author: Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam
Publisher: Harper Collins/ Balzar + Bray

Published: September 2020
Format: ARC Paperback/ Hardcover
Pages: 400
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:

The story that I thought

was my life

didn’t start on the day

I was born 

Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white. 

The story that I think

will be my life 

starts today

Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it? 

Review:

First, I would like to thank HCC Frenzy for gifting me an ARC Copy in exchange for an honest review. The reason why I have both an ARC and Hardcover is because I had pre-ordered a finished copy which arrived around the same time as my ARC, and the graphics in this book was AMAZING!

Honestly, I'm not sure what else to say other than the fact that you need to get yourself a copy of Punching the Air if you haven't yet!

So raw, powerful, and definitely a page turner. I loved that it wasn't written like a regular novel is, and I found myself flying through the book. The only thing for me, is I seriously wished there was more towards the ending. I felt like it was kind of left open, and I would've loved to have read just a bit more after everything that happens.

I really loved that Amal was so creative, I could relate to that creativity, and having that form of expression through words and visual art. I felt like it brought everything to another level, sh
owcasing his emotions in another form.

And the authors note at the end... WOW. Both Zoboi and Salaam did an amazing job writing this novel, and I seriously need to go back and re-read it again!

Overall, this was a great read, that pulled with many emotions from start to end, and trust me, you don't wanna miss out on reading this powerful novel.

So until next time, Keep Reading!

Your Graduated Bookworm! :)