Ace Of Spades

Ace Of Spades

YA Mystery/thriller
Have I got a read for you!!! It's as sizzling as those heat
waves we've been sweating our way through recently, only in an
invigorating rather than oppressive way. Faridah Abiki-Iyimidi's Ace
Of Spades is one of those YA works that beats anything being put out
for adult adults. If you like a fast paced chiller with twists and
turns in nearly every chapter with an added element of social justice
relevence, and might (at least secretly) enjoy the revelation of rot
in a pricey, exclusive, snobby private school you will find the book
to be the literary equivalent of dark chocolate with sea salt caramel.
Of all the books I binge read this summer it's the one that
grabbed me the most and wouldn't let go, the one that I enjoyed more
than any other.
It's the fall semester first day of school at Niveus Academy.
Devon Richards is announced as one of four senior prefects and
Chiamaka Adebayo, as senior head prefect, is at the pinacle of the
student hierarchy. Other than being the only two Black students at
the school, they seem to have little in common. Chiamaka is totally
goal oriented, willing to do what it takes to get to and stay at the
top, unwilling to let anything stand in her way. On the people
considered to be her best friends she says:
"Our relationship is a transaction. I need a close, attractive
circle. Small, because the smaller your group, the less people know
about you--and the more they want to know. And, in return, Ava and
Ruby like how powerful the three of us are together."
Devon is a scholarship student whose mother makes huge
sacrifices to give him the opportunities Niveus can provide. Getting
through Niveus by flying under the radar, considering himself nearly
invisible, he's stunned by the announcement.
"At first I think he's made a mistake. My name never gets
called out at assemblies. Mostly because these assemblies are usually
dedicated to people the student body knows and cares about, and if
Niveus was the setting for a movie, I'd probably be a nameless
background character."
Both quickly get trapped in a worst nightmare for high school
students come true situation. Some person or persons going by the
cryptic name of Aces has started sending pictures and insinuations
that show them in the worst possible light to all their schoolmates,
an increasing number of whom are believing what they're told.
Some of the accusations are lies. Chiamaka has no need to steal
candy. But each of them has a skeleton in their closet. In
Chiamaka's case we're talking literal skeleton. But Devon has done
things that would not endear him to law enforcement to help his mother
out when there's no other way to get the money his family needs to
survive.
More than their reputation with their peers is at stake. Devon
and Chiamaka start getting in trouble at school in a way they never
have before. Perhaps they won't even graduate, never mind achieving
their dreams.
Out of desperation they form an unlikely alliance only to
discover that Aces' plot is a lot more sinister and involves more
people in high places than they'd ever imagined. And Aces is
everywhere, somehow compromising the safety of even their most
intimate spaces.
If this was all there was to the book, it would be more than
enough. But insights into racism, classism, and homophobia are
integrally woven into the plot.
So if you want a sizzling and thought provoking read to cap off
your summer or start a super fall...
...you couldn't do better!
On a purrrsonal note, yesterday was a great gardening day. We had so
many beautiful veggies to share! I brought back lettuce, tomatoes,
green beams, cucumbers, and an onion. Today Eugene went grocery
shopping. So Tobago and I went to zoom church. I was glad we did.
There was a blessing of the backpacks and masks. Pastor Malcolm
showed a picture of the backpacks I distributed and reminded everyone
of the project. It made me so happy! In the afternoon I've been
getting all organized because a new semester unlike any I've ever
before experienced before starts tomorrow. I'm so glad I won't have
to set an alarm clock. (Jules)
I iz her alarm clock. I do an excellent job. (Tobago)
A great big shout goes out to everyone starting a new semester tomorrow!
Tobago and Jules Hathaway





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