This book focuses on the pressure of expectations and possible futures. How kids are pushed, sometimes beyond their limits, to achieve a spot at a prestigious school. Henry has a side business to pay for school, he is part of the debate team to pad his application, he puts in his time at his schools social scene, and he has certain smiles for different situations. He feels, as a black student, that he needs to work twice as hard in order to be considered for a spot at an Ivy League. It is also about how sometimes we are our greatest enemies, that we can put so much pressure on ourselves that we end up making decisions without thinking about the consequences. Henry and Corinne were a fantastic couple. The circumstances of their becoming friends, their witty banter, his helping her break out of her shell, her helping him stay grounded. Corinne is a good sounding board for Henry's anxieties and misgivings. She does not put up with his Smiles and his bull, continuously calls him on it, pushes him to consider why he wants to go to Columbia and whether or not he should really be looking at other aspects of his life. He is obsessed with sneakers, their design, and he is an expert of them. Sometimes we need someone else to show us our true selves. At times, I was so frustrated with the adults of this book, with the system Henry must continuously fight against, with his feeling like he has no way to get to the future his father and him dream about. The fact the sleazy, white kid is offered a spot to Columbia just made my skin crawl (especially when he received a recommendation from the same lady who refused Henry, because Henry did not want Columbia for the right reasons, while this white kid only wants Columbia because he is a Legacy). It was infuriating how realistic this novel was in terms of injustices towards Black students. Highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants an adorable young adult romance.
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