I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book. I saw a poster of the MCs, Janelle 'Ellie' and Morris on Twitter and I knew I had to read this novel. I was not disappointed. The way Alechia Dow has weaved black culture into this YA fantasy will never cease to amaze me. I found myself nodding and uttering 'SAY THEIR NAMES' when Ellie was confronted by humans she thought wouldn't kill her but was reminded of all the hate she'd seen from the fallen black and brown brothers and sisters throughout history.
I have never felt so connected to a book like this before and I wish I had this book when I was a teen. I needed this story so much. I was the chunky black girl that no one quite understood and never felt like I fit in anywhere. This book touched me so deep and I don't cry when I read novels but I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
Thank you Ms. Alechia Dow for writing such an amazing, beautiful heartwarming story. There's so so much I want to say about this novel and the words are escaping me, but thank you so much and I can't wait to read more beautiful stories by you.
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One of the BEST YA novels I've ever read
I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book. I saw a poster of the MCs, Janelle 'Ellie' and Morris on Twitter and I knew I had to read this novel. I was not disappointed. The way Alechia Dow has weaved black culture into this YA fantasy will never cease to amaze me. I found myself nodding and uttering 'SAY THEIR NAMES' when Ellie was confronted by humans she thought wouldn't kill her but was reminded of all the hate she'd seen from the fallen black and brown brothers and sisters throughout history.I have never felt so connected to a book like this before and I wish I had this book when I was a teen. I needed this story so much. I was the chunky black girl that no one quite understood and never felt like I fit in anywhere. This book touched me so deep and I don't cry when I read novels but I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.Thank you Ms. Alechia Dow for writing such an amazing, beautiful heartwarming story. There's so so much I want to say about this novel and the words are escaping me, but thank you so much and I can't wait to read more beautiful stories by you.
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020
I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book. I saw a poster of the MCs, Janelle 'Ellie' and Morris on Twitter and I knew I had to read this novel. I was not disappointed. The way Alechia Dow has weaved black culture into this YA fantasy will never cease to amaze me. I found myself nodding and uttering 'SAY THEIR NAMES' when Ellie was confronted by humans she thought wouldn't kill her but was reminded of all the hate she'd seen from the fallen black and brown brothers and sisters throughout history.
I have never felt so connected to a book like this before and I wish I had this book when I was a teen. I needed this story so much. I was the chunky black girl that no one quite understood and never felt like I fit in anywhere. This book touched me so deep and I don't cry when I read novels but I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
Thank you Ms. Alechia Dow for writing such an amazing, beautiful heartwarming story. There's so so much I want to say about this novel and the words are escaping me, but thank you so much and I can't wait to read more beautiful stories by you.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2020
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2020
Top reviews from other countries
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Laura MachadoReviewed in Brazil on 22 June 2021
Uma jornada divertida por um futuro distópico
Antes de mais nada, acho bom começar dizendo que esse livro em geral é bem melhor do que eu esperava. Amo livros e música mais do que basicamente tudo no universo, mas ainda estava um pouco apreensiva pela história deste, porque era muito difícil para mim imaginar como a autora iria fazer livros e música serem tão imprescindíveis assim em um futuro distópico. Honestamente? Não acho que ela conseguiu dar tanta relevância assim, minha sensação era de que as duas coisas eram tão importantes na vida da Ellie quanto são na minha. Ou seja, super importantes, mas nada a ponto de serem essenciais em uma "rebelião".Laura MachadoUma jornada divertida por um futuro distópico
Reviewed in Brazil on 22 June 2021
Acho que a presença da música e dos livros foi, sim, bacana, acho que as duas coisas se misturaram bem com o enredo e toda a questão do Starry Eyed. Foi a sinopse e a frase de efeito na capa, falando como se o amor dos protagonistas por essas duas coisas pudesse salvar o mundo que achei um pouco forçado. De fato, tem um único detalhe que poderia ter ajudado muito, mas é spoiler, então pule para o próximo parágrafo se você quiser evitar! O final acaba com Morris e Ellie prontos para liberarem a música que vai salvar a humanidade. Acho que não deixar isso no livro, deixar como algo que acontece 'depois' foi um erro, porque era a chance de música ser tão determinante quanto tinha sido divulgado, e não foi. Além disso, perder a oportunidade de usar mesmo livros para passar mensagens foi triste. Poderia ter uma rebelião de verdade com isso, com mensagens escritas em papel, o que super funcionaria contra os Iloris, que são tão digitais, mas a autora nem tentou.
Tenho uma outra crítica. A Ellie é uma garota birracial que sofreu bastante racismo em seu prédio antes da invasão alienígena. Acho super válido falar disso, ter as lembranças dela e tudo o mais, mas queria que a autora não tivesse sempre acabado essas partes com uma comparação à invasão alienígena. Acho que isso fez toda a experiência anterior dela ser jogada meio de lado, porque o foco nunca ficava nela por muito tempo. Além disso, acabou me passando a impressão de que foi algo introduzido depois, o que eu duvido muito que tenha sido.
Em geral, eu gostei do livro, apesar de boa parte do enredo ser "de jornada" e de que não consegui por nada me conectar a Morris. A Ellie, em compensação, foi bem mais interessante e acho que talvez tivesse sido melhor se ela fosse a única narradora. Mas o Morris não é ruim, só robótico, coitado. Achei que a questão da Ellie ser demi-sexual foi super bem feita e o romance é bem bacana também! O final é bem legal, só queria que a história tivesse mesmo terminado no livro direito, sem deixar algo tão importante para o futuro próximo. Falaria mais, mas já expliquei na parte do spoiler!
Por último, só queria dizer que gostei bastante da ambientação distópica super próxima da nossa realidade. Pelo que Ellie falava, era como se tudo tivesse ficado pior pela atitude de seu presidente, o que deu muito a entender que era sobre o Trump. Essa foi a primeira distopia alienígena que eu li e a primeira super plausível, já que até as referências de livros e músicas são reais e atuais! Deu um pouco de medo até, confesso! Mas deixou a história mais intrigante ainda!
É uma leitura rápida, fácil e divertida! Recomendo bastante principalmente para quem está procurando um livro leve, mas que não é superficial e nem foge de seus próprios conflitos!
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- Priya RoyReviewed in India on 28 March 2024
One of the best sci-fi romance ever
Janelle Baker is a human whose world is attacked and conquered by the alien species called Ilori. The Ilori banned all books,art,music and any form of creative expression will lead humans to death i.e., execution. But our MC Ellie is rebellious enough to do so. She owns a secret library and distributes books to those who are interested in reading them, which is against the rules put forward by the Ilori. Did she get caught?Priya RoyOne of the best sci-fi romance ever
Reviewed in India on 28 March 2024
And even if she does get caught, will the young Ilori commander,M0Rr1S, execute her or will his secret be exposed in the process, which can tarnish his reputation in front of the Ilori or even worse lead to his death by his own kind...
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- Sarah WrightReviewed in the United States on 8 April 2020
Relatable and inspiring: a valuable message of hope in adversity
- Ekaterina BelovaReviewed in the Netherlands on 29 March 2021
Did not like it.. at all
