On the Come Up is About More Than Just Growing Up
Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give, has a second and less well-known novel published in 2019. I believe that while it is less powerful than The Hate U Give, it does a good job of showcasing Thomas’s eloquent and captivating writing. On the Come Up shows the interconnectivity between race and poverty. It is also a unique coming of age story. It tells the story of an aspiring rapper named Bri. Bri lives with her mother and older brother in Garden Heights, a neighborhood near Jackson, Mississippi. They live in poverty, spending a portion of the book without the heat in their house. Jay, Bri’s mother, worked as a secretary before losing her job.
High school student Bri wants to make a name for herself as a rapper, but she can’t seem to step out of her father’s shoes. Her father Lawless was killed by a gang when she was a toddler. He was also a legendary rapper at battles in their community. Bri often attends those rap battles, sometimes competing, which is rare for a female and for someone as young as her. She is often compared to her father because she also wants to pursue rapping, but the comparison prevents her from becoming her own person.
After her father’s death, which is years before the book is set, her mother Jay became addicted to crack. For several years, Bri and her brother Trey lived with their grandparents because of it. Even though Jay rehabilitated, Bri no longer calls her “Mom” because she still doesn’t want to get attached and then let down. Jay is very guilty about her previous addiction and tries to make up for her lost time by babying and spoiling her kids. Although they don’t have much money, she does her best to show her affection for them. By the end of the book, Bri starts calling Jay “Mom” and begins to trust her more.
“Sometimes she babies me, like it's her way of making up for when she wasn't around. I let her do it, too. I
wonder though if she only sees me as her baby girl who used to snuggle up with her until I fell asleep.”
(Thomas 102)
Another recurring theme in On the Come Up is getting out of Garden Heights, their neighborhood.
Bri’s teachers want her to focus more on school and applying for colleges, but she wants to try to become
a mainstream rapper. She sometimes has to choose to study for her exams or to attend a rap battle with her
Aunt Pooh. Her brother, Trey, got good grades and went to college. He got his degree in Psychology but
returned home to help make ends meet. Bri believes that she can make it out of Garden Heights because of
her talent, but most people around her think that it may not be possible. By the end of the book, though,
Bri is starting to become more popular. She gets her song on the radio and becomes more mentally
healthy. The book ends with a cliffhanger and if a sequel comes out I’ll definitely be reading it. I would
definitely recommend this book!
I read this book over the summer last year and really enjoyed it as well. I really enjoyed watching Bri's relationship with her mother change over the story as they become closer again. I also taught it was really inspiring to see Bri change as a person during the story as she became more confident and developed her own identity.
ReplyDeleteThis review has definitely made me want to read this book! I think that making a name for yourself as a singer/rapper would definitely be very difficult at first, especially as a young adult. But, by reading this review, it sounds like this book captures the difficulty and tough decision making in becoming a rapper, and deciding not to pursue more traditional education. I also think that Bri's desire to live up to her father will make for interesting development of her character by finding a way to be herself throughout the story. I will definitely check this one out!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a very interesting book. I have heard about The Hate U Give a lot previously, although I never tried to read it, and this review makes me want to check out this author even more. I'm sure that On the Come Up, will be a very good read, and I'm excited to try it.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that On the Come Up is set in the same neighborhood as the Hate U Give. From the review, I could see other similarities between the two books, such as a character who is the best known as someone's daughter instead of as herself and a parent trying to make up for a period of his/her absence. However, I noticed that On the Come Up has unique components that set it apart from the Hate U Give and make it interesting. I have not read this book yet, but I hope I get a chance to during winter break.
ReplyDeleteThis books sounds really interesting. Bri seems like a very strong and persevering main character. I am interested to see how her relationship with her mother unfolds, and how she creates a name for herself as a rapper. Hopefully I will read this book soon!
ReplyDeleteI read this book a while ago, and really enjoyed it. I really liked seeing how Bri and her mom became closer throughout the novel. Bri was really fun to read about, since she kept persevering despite all the challenges she faced, and was able to create a name for herself as a rapper. Great article!!
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