SYNOPSIS

Devon and Chiamaka attend a private school called Niveus Academy. At the beginning of their senior year, they become the subject of rumors that are going around school by text signed by “Aces.” Though they’re not friends, they team up to discover who is revealing their secrets and why. What could possibly happen?

MY RECAP AND REVIEW

This book is told in a dual perspective between Devon and Chiamaka. Devon deals from time to time to help his mom with money. Chiamaka comes from money. They both attend Niveus Private Academy but their paths don’t naturally cross for most of their time there. It isn’t until they both become prefects their senior year and begin getting rumors spread about them that they come together. The rumors are spread through text by an anonymous person signed as Aces who seems hellbent on tormenting them. This story is a mystery and thriller of them uncovering who Aces is with a few subplots thrown in there.

Devon is gay and is secretly hooking up with the the drug dealer that he runs for sometimes to get extra cash. He’s terrified of coming out to his mom because an old friend from his neighborhood that also goes to Niveus didn’t take the news well. It’s not acceptable where he comes from.

He also meets a guy named Terrell and their story was entertaining. At the same, Devon is dealing with guilt because his mom is working so hard to keep him and his brothers afloat and out of trouble while his dad is locked up.

Chiamaka’s subplot consists of her wanting to be the best at school and beyond. She has dreams of going to Yale and becoming a doctor. Because she engages in the politics of popularity, she doesn’t have any real girl friends. She has feelings for the guy she considers to be her best friend and he tells her he’s falling for someone else. He is also kinda shady. Chiamaka also deals with some internalized anti-blackness in regards to her hair and she realizes she’s been presenting herself the way she does to make those around her at school comfortable. She also falls for a girl for the first time.

SPOILER AHEAD

It wasn’t that shocking to find out Aces was multiple people throughout the school. There was too much known and too much going on for it to be a singular person. It’s crazy how many people lied in their faces for so long. That is traumatic as hell. The tradition of accepting two black students to then break their spirit senior year wasn’t on my bingo card, however it plays a lot into what real life white supremacy is like.

END OF SPOILERS

I have mixed feelings and scattered thoughts about this book. They’re the only black kids in the school and it’s weird to me that they weren’t at least cordial. It’s also wild to me how dismissive they were at first that the anonymous texter could be targeting them because of race. They’re just written to be a little naive and trusting, like with the news anchor, and as a Black reader, there’s a disconnect there for me.

This book is about racism and touches on classism. I find Chiamaka to be grating and I know she’s inspired by Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl based on the author’s note, but I wished she was a little less judgmental about Devon’s neighborhood.

This book was a quick read, partly because it kept me engaged in their subplots and the uncovering of who Aces was. The end was a little “jump the sharky” with the fire that started, Chiamaka and the gun, and the crowd that shows up to break up the event happening.

I also wish we got to see more of Devon and Chiamaka becoming friends. The author makes it clear where their relationship stands by the end, but in the story, we don’t really see them getting along. They’re like coworkers, forced to achieve a common goal, but distant outside of work.

OVERALL

Overall, I give this book 2 stars. I go back and forth between 2 or 3 because I like the concept of the book and I like Devon. At times I feel for Chiamaka. Story wise, it kept me engaged, but honestly there’s a disconnect for me that I can’t really put into words. Some aspects seemed forced. We were dealing with heavy topics, but the story came across a little lighthearted? Maybe it’s because it’s set in high school with teenagers and it does give Pretty Little Liars vibes. I’d recommend it, solely to be able to talk about it with someone else.