Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Beautiful fantasy about girl's quest for safety, power.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When BITTER begins, Bitter has finally settled in at the special boarding school she attends with other artistic kids who have difficult histories. Bitter lives in the city of Lucille, a crime-riddled, dangerous town dominated by a billionaire. An activist group called Assata organizes and protests for change. Bitter is cynical about the possibility of change and hopes to hide out in the safety of her school indefinitely. As tensions mount in Lucille, Bitter learns she can't avoid the danger and unrest that dominates the society she lives in, and she also can't avoid her own power or ability to cause harm to herself and others.
Is It Any Good?
Beautiful, literary language combined with an unflinching commentary on society's ills make this book very intriguing, most suitable for mature, strong readers. In Bitter, author Akwaeke Emezi takes on a pressing question: What happens to young people when they feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, the responsibility to solve adult problems? The kids here take one of two paths, escapism and activism, and each one has its costs. For the reader who is already anxious about such questions, this book might be reassuring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how different characters in Bitter cope with the anxieties of living in their society. What works and what doesn't? How can adults lend support when kids are worried about big things happening in the world?
The friendships in Bitter come under a lot of strain. What are some of the ways you've managed conflicts with your friends, or given or received support during hard times?
What message do you think the author gives about violence?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Activism , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf
- Publication date : February 15, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 274
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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