Bump This by LT Ville
A Review By: SD
Keith is an 18-year-old high school student living in Harlem. He has a life plan that includes being the class valedictorian and going to Columbia University. His mother is a recovering drug addict and his family is broken in most meanings of the word, but he has remained unfazed by his surroundings. He meets two cousins, Jesse and Derrick, and his senior year is turned on its head as he finds himself in a love triangle that leads to the discovery of details from his past that his mother wanted to keep hidden forever.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2019
An installment in a Series? Yes
Narrator (s): Alonzo Riggs
Keith is an 18yr old high school student, finding out that he's attracted to men after meeting two cousins, Derrick and Jesse. Keith has to figure out how to navigate his sexuality while living in the rough streets of Harlem, NY.
I really like how this "coming out" story is portrayed, especially as it takes place in the hood. The main characters' issues with coming to terms with their new found attraction to men is authentic to the environment that it is taking place in. There aren't enough stories that tell the uniqueness of being a gay Black man in the hood, and all of the hurdles they face. LT Ville did a great job exposing the lack of support and ridicule the LGBTQIA+ community has to navigate through in what most people consider the "normal" masculine, or "religious" spaces within the black community. The narrator also did a good job bringing the characters to life as 18 year old men.
I had to remind myself several times while listening that the story follows three 18yr old men. Because some of the dialogue was juvenile, and some of the things the characters did was very immature and aggravating at times. However, in all honesty, a lot of what took place between the main characters definitely reflected that of young adults, no matter their sexual preference. So while I may not have enjoyed that aspect, as it was a bit too teeny bopper for me at times, the author did an amazing job by properly depicting the mindset of 18 year old males.
Reading Recommendation? Yes
Rating: 3 (It's aight)
Content Warnings? None
