Format: Paperback
Published: June 1st, 2021
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is another YA book that I think works really well for the target audience. I enjoyed Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s thriller, and can definitely see young adult readers getting a lot out of it. Set in elite private academy Niveus, Ace of Spades focuses on the only two Black students at the school – Devon, who keeps his head down, focused on applying to Julliard, and Head Girl Chiamaka, who understands the power of fear when it comes to climbing the social ladder and staying at the top. Neither are prepared, however, for their secrets to come to light when an anonymous texter starts contacting the whole student population.
The book uses the school setting to explore themes of institutional racism, but it tackles other social issues through this as well. Devan and Chiamaka come from two different worlds, and neither initially realise the reason they’re the ones targeted. Devan is a ‘wrong side of the tracks’ kind of kid, with a single mother struggling to pay the bills and a father in jail. Chiamaka comes from an upper class family, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t also struggle against the racism prevalent in Niveus, knowing she has to work harder than any of the white students to remain there.
The two characters contrast and compliment each other well, both viewing the problem through their own lens, and (eventually) working together to get to the bottom of it. As the layers unfold, both Devon and Chiamaka realise the issues are bigger and more dangerous than either initially assumed.
Outside of these two, we also see their wider communities, whether it’s within or outside the school, and both have to confront questions over who they can and can’t trust. Something I liked in the book is that, ultimately, neither can move forward without some sort of community, without trusting each other, and Àbíké-Íyímídé uses the idea of community and activism to counteract the racism built into Niveus.
Overall, I think although it’s a ‘simplified’ version of racism, it works for the target audience and does a really good job of drawing you into the worlds of these characters, with an intriguing plot to keep readers guessing and turning pages right to the end.
Reading Challenge
2025 TV Shows Reading Challenge
Prompt: Black-Ish – A book where the main character is a POC
Progress: 2/12
Unwrapping Words 