On the Come Up

By Angie Thomas

Book #2 in the The Hate U Give series

A teen rapper's viral song sparks controversy, forcing her to fight for her dreams against all odds.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 101,569 ratings

464 pages· 94,736 words· Est. 9 hour read

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Sixteen-year-old Bri dreams of rap stardom, but life throws her challenges. Her father's legacy looms large, her family faces eviction, and her first song goes viral for the wrong reasons. As media portray her as a menace, Bri must decide if she'll become what they expect or rise above. With her family's future on the line, Bri's journey is a battle for identity and survival. Can she defy expectations and claim her voice in a world that tries to silence her? 'On the Come Up' is a powerful tale of resilience and the cost of dreams.

From the publisher

The YA love letter to hip-hop–streaming on Paramount+ September 23, 2022! Starring Sanaa Lathan (in her directorial debut), Jamila C. Gray, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Method Man, Mike Epps, GaTa (Davionte Ganter), Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Titus Makin Jr., and Michael Anthony Cooper Jr.#1 New York Times bestseller - Seven starred reviews - Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor BookSixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri’s got massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.Bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. But with an eviction notice staring her family down, Bri doesn’t just want to make it–she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn’t always free.”For all the struggle in this book, Thomas rarely misses a step as a writer. Thomas continues to hold up that mirror with grace and confidence. We are lucky to have her, and lucky to know a girl like Bri.”–The New York Times Book ReviewPlus don’t miss Concrete Rose, Angie Thomas’s powerful prequel to her phenomenal bestseller, The Hate U Give!