A review by readingwitherin
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

medium-paced

5.0

 
Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, public outing, hit and run, bullying, incarceration of a parent, stalking

“Hello, Niveus high. It’s me. Who am I? That’s not important. All you need to know is… I’m here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. -Aces”

This book had me feeling the whole range of emotions with what all happened in it. It was just a lot and just wow I think is the best word to explain it. 

At first, this book did remind me a lot of Gossip Girl with all the texts and private videos/photos that were getting sent out to the entire school. But then things took a really dark turn about halfway through the book and you start to see all of the underlying things that had been there from the beginning of the book. From the blatant racism to the sabotage that was happening to both Devon and Chiamaka it was just astounding at times. 

The entire school really played the long game with these two when it came to racism and making sure that institutions continued to work against those of color. It was so heartbreaking to read the longer it went on because of how many people were involved in it and it truly seemed like they couldn’t really go to anyone to talk about it. 

Having said that though Devon and Chiamaka are both smart and they find ways to get out what is happening in this school. They both go about it in different ways and that turns out to be a good thing because it made sure that all the bases were covered and that a backup plan was always in place thankfully. 

Overall I’m so glad I read this book and I cannot believe this was just a debut book from the author. Devon and Chiamaka while both from different social upbringings were still dealing with some of the same things when it came to their time at Niveus high. Up until the time of Aces they didn’t have anything to do with each other as they were both working on different things for their futures. Chiamaka wants to be a doctor and Devon wants to be a musician. Aces was what brought them together and in the end, created what I think will be a lasting relationship because of what they went through. 

 I cannot wait to read more by them in the future because this one was so so good! Highly recommend it to everyone. 

“Don’t do drugs, stay out of trouble, do well in school, date whoever you like. That was the only thing I ever said to you.”