Ace of Spades
By Barbara Saunders,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teens seek who's behind online bullying in tense thriller.
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What's the Story?
When ACE OF SPADES begins, Devon and Chiamaka, the only two Black seniors in their prestigious prep school, are appointed to leadership roles for their class. Soon after, anonymous text and video messages begin appearing about them, baring their deepest secrets to the student body. The two don't know each other well -- they come from different family backgrounds and occupy different rungs of the popularity ladder -- but they become friends and allies in solving the mystery of who's sending the messages.
Is It Any Good?
This suspenseful read brings Gothic touches (enjoy hilarious, surreal descriptions of terrible teachers) to a very modern story with astute social commentary. In Ace of Spades, debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé brings us two relatable, complex characters and shows them confronting an old enemy -- systemic racism, a modern enemy -- online abuse, and the timeless challenges of being a teenager. The combination of these things makes for an entertaining novel whose social commentary never interrupts the fun of being absorbed in a great story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the consequences of keeping secrets in Ace of Spades. How do you know what information to share and what to keep to yourself?
Social media plays a big role in Ace of Spades. How might you protect your personal information from spreading on social media?
How did having two narrators influence the way you understood the story?
Book Details
- Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date: June 1, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 480
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 28, 2021
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