Dove "Birdie" Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she's on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past... whom she knows her parents will never approve of.
When her estranged aunt Carlene returns to Chicago and moves into the family's apartment above their hair salon, Birdie notices the tension building at home. Carlene is sweet, friendly, and open-minded -- she's also spent decades in and out of treatment facilities for addiction. As Birdie becomes closer to both Booker and Carlene, she yearns to spread her wings. But when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, everything she's known to be true is turned upside down. ( )

This was a great book. Filled with teenage angst, love, family issues, all of it wrapped up into one amazing book. I loved the character of Birdie and how she finally found her voice and stood for what she believed in, even when the truth of a family secret comes out, and it could destroy her family, she is able to overcome and make things right for her world. Would love another book following up with what happens to Birdie. ( )

Dove "Birdie" Randolph works hard, trying to please her parents. Then, she falls for Booker, a classmate and friend of Laz, her best friend and the son of her mother's partner in their Chicago hair salon. Booker lost his temper once, following the death of his mother, badly beating his football coach so spent time in juvenile detention. Dove can't tell her parents, but along comes her cool Aunt Carlene, who is dealing with her own disease, substance abuse, who she learns to trust. Dove gets in over her head, and skates because of her wholesome background, but things go harder on Booker and Laz because of who they are and the color of their skin. Then, family secrets shake the Randolphs to their very foundation. 3.5 stars, but I rounded down because the secret was pretty obvious and has been done before. The book does a nice job of dealing with LGBTQ and addiction issues. ( )

diverse teen fiction with LGBTQA interest (11th grade Black girl with over-protective parents in Chicago falls in love with secret boyfriend Booker who has been in Juvie, and is supported by her gay sister, best friend Lazarus, and estranged recovering addict but cool aunt with secrets of her own).
Character-driven novel with sweet if straightforward characters. Not the most exciting read considering there is a "Revolution" mentioned in the title and the cover art is so beautiful; the surprises for the most part aren't that surprising, but still a solid story.
parental notes: contains underage drinking/drug use, dealing with anxiety, sex, drug/alcohol addiction and recovery. ( )

By no means bad! I just rated this out of personal enjoyment. I just thought it turned too soap-operaish toward the end. Some nice conversations about addiction, sexuality, and living for parental approval are present. Those topics should get the ball rolling for someone who wants to delve in deeper.

Carlene was my favorite. I'm glad the story didn't often take the cliche way out. sigh ... Birdie's daddy is dusty. that's low. I know temptation and all but with her sister!?!
-_-

2.5 ( )