Gangsta. Vol. 3by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Flashbacks to when Nic was assigned to Worick as kids. In present day, Twilights are being hunted, and the four leaders in the area have a meeting.Wow! The flashbacks are brutal and insightful. Both Nic and Worick were subject to harsh physical abuse because of what they are (a Twilight and a bastard son, respectively). That is part of why they bond, and I love seeing them bond. I appreciate the thought process Worick has about feeling slighted when he realizes Nic is deaf, and I like that Nic shows he's not stupid by reading books, reading lips, and his willingness to learn to write. I also like how they both learn sign language together. This volume has Nic speaking in both the past and present day, and I love the font choice and sound-heavy phonetics of the words Nic says because it shows that he can't hear his own volume and the words come out close enough to understand but not quite right. He's more open about speaking in the past, but it's really nice that he gets another option, and that that option bonds him closer to Worick and is almost a secret language since most people don't know sign language. I love getting to see Nic smile just a little when Doug asks if he looks "educated enough to know sign language." It's hilarious because he's having a laugh at someone, and the childlike reaction of that someone. That conversation also leads us to learning that Twilights each pay a "price" for their abilities -- Nic's is deafness, and I won't spoil Doug's. The flashbacks also provide a more thorough history of Twilights and how they are dealt with, which comes in handy considering the hunting of Twilights in the present day of the story as well. There are hints at the level of violence directed towards Twilights including the body of a raped-and-beaten-to-death female Twilight and mentioning that sexual assault against the females is common in hate crimes. It's definitely not an easy read, but it certainly paints a realistic picture of the world this is set in, the opinions of Twilights, and the mob mentality violence on top of the violence between warring factions. And we get an explanation for Worick's eye loss. I love that I get so much background. I now have a strong understanding of and connection to the two main guys, and a better understanding of the world. It's a powerful, dark, and heavy read, and I like it. Written: August 5, 2014
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