Review - Jackpot by Nic Stone

Title: Jackpot

Author: Nic Stone

Pages: 368

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's UK

Release Date: 17th October 2019

Blurb from Goodreads:  

JACKPOT is a hard-hitting novel about class, money and how you make your own luck in the world.

 
Seventeen-year-old Rico splits her time outside school between looking after her younger brother and working in the local gas station to help her mum pay the bills.

So when she sells a jackpot-winning lotto ticket and the money goes unclaimed, Rico thinks maybe her luck has changed. If she can find the ticket holder and reunite them with the cash, hopefully she will get a cut of the winnings. . . That is if she can avoid falling for the annoyingly handsome (and filthy rich) boy she roped into helping her with the hunt.

 Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

 

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's UK and NetGalley*

Seventeen-year-old Rico Danger's life isn't easy - when she isn't at school, Rico spends her time working at a gas station or caring for her little brother while their mother works.

Then someone that bought a lottery ticket from Rico's work wins a huge jackpot, but the prize isn't claimed. Hoping that finding the winner might turn her luck around, Rico enlists the help of a boy from school, Zan.

Can Rico find the owner of the ticket?

Can Rico keep things professional with Zan?

I went into Jackpot hoping that it would be a light, easy contemporary read. While it was an easy read, I wouldn't call it light - Rico's family had little-to-no money and she often compared her clothes and life to that of other characters. It did annoy me a little how she kept making assumptions and judged people because of how they dressed, or things they owned, but I can understand how hard her life was. It did make me feel grateful that I am fortunate to have the life I do.

Rico was a (mostly) likeable and relatable protagonist. I sympathised with her and wanted things to work out and get better for her.

I couldn't help but like Zan even though he could be super cheesy and over the top at times. I really liked Rico's brother as well as Zan's friends Ness and Jess.

The plot was good overall and there was a twist that I didn't see coming, but I wasn't gripped by the storyline.

The writing style was easy to follow and I found myself reading the book quite quickly.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Review - Dear Martin by Nic Stone

 
Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Pages: 224

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Release Date: 3rd May 2018 
 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League – but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighbourhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. 

Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. 

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up – way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty police officer beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US







 

My Review:

 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK Children's and NetGalley*

Justyce 'Jus' McAllister works hard at school and is one of the top students. But when a police officer sees Jus helping his drunk girlfriend into her car, all the officer sees is a black man hurting a white girl and Jus ends up in handcuffs.

Afterwards, Jus starts writing to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hoping that Dr. King's teachings can help him move on from the event.

But then something worse happens. Something that will change Jus's life forever.

I had heard a lot of good things about Dear Martin and I was worried that I would think it was over-hyped, but I ended up enjoying it.

Jus was a good protagonist - he was easy to relate to and I could understand why being handcuffed for no reason made him question everything. I felt really sorry for him.

I liked Manny and SJ. They were good characters.

I found myself blinking away tears several times, especially at a certain event.

The plot was interesting and thought-provoking. Something happened which had me gasping (and swearing) in shock.

Dear Martin is quite a short read but it packed a punch and I don't think it needed to be any longer.

Overall this was an enjoyable and important read.