Let Me Hear a Rhyme, a striking novel published earlier this year, is a remarkable piece that will captivate the reader’s attention and provide an intriguing view on hip-hop, Brooklyn and overcoming hardship. The novel is written by Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming.

The book starts off in Brooklyn in 1986 with a funeral and two teens mourning the murder of their friend. In remembrance of his passion for rap music and hip-hop, they begin promoting his work under a stage name along with the help of his younger sister. The book follows their path across multiple events. Along the way, the three begin to uncover the details of his death and attempt to seek out justice for his tragic death. Throughout the novel, the trio develop a strong bond and overcome difficulties in areas such as choosing what is right and following one’s dreams. As the story progresses, tenison builds as a result of pressure from popularizing their friend’s music, and secrets are revealed while relationships are tested. The book explores themes of growing up, friendship and working hard to reach success.

These themes are portrayed well in the novel. The author does an excellent job of conveying the emotions and struggles of each character through heartfelt dialogue. Often times, the music in the text is able to portray the struggles of the characters as a whole. Jackson also focuses on the voices of these teens and their hopes and aspirations, carefully developing each. The characters in the book all have obstacles to overcome when deciding their future, and readers will be able to understand the main characters, empathizing with their passion for making a difference in the world.

Although the book is generally well-written, the text is difficult to understand in some portions because of the language used. Terminology utilized in the novel is not commonly used, thus making it slightly perplexing in comprehending events and thoughts of the characters. In addition, some readers may not be able to identify with the protagonists in their thought processes and conflicts due to time and place the novel takes place. Because of the book’s time and place, the characters’ decisions may not reflect those of readers in certain aspects.

Overall, Let Me Hear a Rhyme is a solid quality literature piece unlike others. It not only has themes of self development and growing up, but also includes topics of civil rights, racial equality, justice and morality. Despite the use of confusing language and terminology, the story is a compelling one. 

For anyone looking for a quick read, Let Me Hear a Rhyme would be an excellent choice.