Maëlys's Reviews > Ace of Spades

☆ 5 / 5 ☆

“The world isn’t ideal. This world, our world, the one with houses as crooked as the people in them. Broken people, broken by the way the world works.”

This book left me stunned and speechless, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up as my favourite debut of 2021.

Chiamaka and Devon are the only two Black students attending Niveus Private Academy but their paths couldn’t be more different. Chiamaka loves the sciences, she’s climbed up to the top of the social ladder, and designer clothes are her best friends. On the other hand, Devon attends the school on a scholarship, his mother has to work three jobs to put food on the table, and he keeps his head down as best he can, finding refuge in the music room.

However, Chiamaka’s and Devon’s lives start getting tangled in each other when they respectively get nominated as Head Prefect (for the third year in a row) and Senior Prefect (to everyone’s surprise) respectively. But after this promising start to the new school year, Aces, an anonymous bully, is out to ruin not only their last year of highschool, but the futures they’ve both dreamt for themselves. While it seems like Aces also exposes a couple other people, it quickly becomes apparent that Chiamaka and Devon are their prime targets.

“I think anyone can be nice, but it’s not about being nice. You can’t escape a history like that and not be affected.”

I’d like to say that things start out a little more trivial but there is truly no levity to anything that comes out about these characters, it is only that things become darker and more and more dangerous with each passing day and revelation. This bullying and targeting unmistakably reflects and takes root in institutionalised racism and how it has shaped society and the future of Black people until this day.

I’m in awe with how seamlessly and unapologetically Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé incorporates so many layers and complexities to her social commentary. It all starts with the contrast between Chi’s and Devon’s financial situation but shows that beyond the money (which Chi’s family has) what comes with generational wealth are influence and power. Their classmates are not only rich but they have direct contacts with people who can set the trajectory of a life.

“What I felt was a desperation to be powerful in a world that doesn’t let girls be. Especially girls like me.”

While the main plot showcases a very peculiar case of racism, it actually highlights how it manifests itself in many ways. From the policing of Black bodies (certain hairstyles being forbidden for example) and white beauty standards (Chi doesn’t “hate” her hair but she knows her classmates’ perspective on it and makes herself fit in that mold) to how it is the basis of the prison system. It is in how quickly society will condemn Black people as guilty and how it lingers in the media's silence and wrapped narratives. One thing I also loved is how social media is used as a platform for information and activism. Of course, it’s far from perfect, but it is sometimes the only place where people can have a voice and platform to tell their stories, for people to come together.

There’s also an emphasis on the complicity of the “nice” white people who don’t want to say anything to their friends or challenge their families, sometimes even participating in extremely violent acts. This goes so far as Chi’s father staying silent when his family is outwardly racist to his own wife and daughter.

“In this home of worn leather sofas, tabletops with cracked edges, mismatched chairs, and exposed pipes, there is so much love. Even if that love is for a version of me that isn’t real.”

Devon’s character particularly touched me as Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé takes the time to show us what it means to be gay and Black for him. While for some of his classmates queerness doesn’t negatively impact their lives because it is intuitively accepted by most (let’s say a white guy who’s into theater), he is seen as an oddity in the eyes of these same people as if Black boys can’t be gay. Living in his neighbourhood as a gay boy also means deep rooted trauma, being beaten up for not being masculine enough, having to hide his relationships. He’s also frightened to come out to his religious mother and lose her love, and they have such a moving scene together about it.

I also really enjoyed how Chi’s sexuality was explored in this and showing that she never truly liked boys and her boyfriends, but that they were only pieces in what she sees as the journey she has to take to achieve success.We see her come to that understanding very seamlessly and I really adored it.

“I have to stop myself from apologizing- because what would I even be sorry for? Existing too loud?”

What impressed me with this book as well is that in the midst of all of this there were some very funny, lighthearted, and heartwarming moments. We see Chi and Devon experience small joys and love. Some of my favourite scenes included their mothers and there was something so special with each of those moments.

This was a stunning debut with what I thought was a perfect ending! It unpacks so much and is so intriguing and well-written, it was truly impossible to put down. I can’t recommend this enough, and I’m excitedly waiting for so many to love this.

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Buddy read with Melanie ♡