“For all the Black kids drowning in the sunken place, desperately trying to claw their way out, this book is for you.” – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

| Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A must-read for every fan of YA thriller novels, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s Ace of Spades perfectly blends the juicy intricacies of teenage scandal while presenting the reader with heavier topics such as classism and racism in the 21st century. Published in 2021, the author skillfully entertains readers and creates suspense throughout the novel, making the book highly engrossing. As a voracious reader myself, I was able to finish the book in one night. However, while this insomnia-inducing novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end, the novel falls short in its literary complexity and use of devices.

Ace of Spades first began to gain popularity on social media sites where users heralded the novel as the epitome of YA novels. Indeed, the novel seems to include many modern topics and trends that have grown over the years that appeal to younger, teenage audiences. The novel incorporates 2 queer romances, which accompany an academic rivals to friends dynamic. The novel focuses on a male lead, Devon, and a female lead, Chiamaka. Devon is a talented musician who dreams of one day attending Juilliard to pursue his passion, while Chiamaka, the most popular girl within the school, maintains a perfect academic record in order to attain her goal of attending Yale and participating in the pre-med program. Both students attend Niveus Private Academy. However, a problem soon arises; someone is out to get them, anonymously revealing their darkest secrets to all their peers. The blackmailer, who is referred to as Aces, shows no signs of stopping, and what was once a few twisted pranks turns into a grave, deadly game, threatening not only the students’ futures but their lives. Immediately within the first few chapters, the author juxtaposes the lives of these two students. Though both work hard to achieve success, Devon lives in the impoverished part of the city with his mother who works multiple jobs, while Chiamaka sports her favorite pair of Jimmy Choos to school. Devon often feels a sense of imposter syndrome because of his status among the other students, while Chiamaka is loved and adored by the student body. The author works hard to incorporate different issues that many teens in the same predicament face, and does a fantastic job of bringing light not only to various mental health issues, but to issues of classism and racism, and what that means to students in American private schools. However, the true beauty of the novel lies in its plot points. The author has woven a complex story with many climactic moments, and, just when one thinks that they might have solved the mystery, the book adds another twist. However, this means that certain points within the novel can sometimes seem far-fetched; many plots and issues build upon one another to the point of absurdity. While the novel succeeds in weaving a tale of incredible suspense, I found that I was, at times, anticipating the final solution for quite a while, to the point of losing interest. However, when all was revealed, I was not left underwhelmed in the slightest. The most deficient aspect of the novel lies within its use of literary devices and literary complexity. I was unable to pick up on any forms of devices that the author used, such as imagery or similes in dialogue or in description. I would describe the novel as a guilty pleasure: while it offered little to no literary substance, it was incredibly hard to put down.

When including a diverse group of characters such as the ones portrayed within the novel, the author presents us with not only the representation of minorities, but also representation of the issues that certain minorities face. For this reason, the book contains a trigger warning for its heavy depictions of themes such as racism, homophobia, bullying, and suicidal ideation. Devon, who is afraid to come out to his mother, suffers from mental health issues because of the secrets he keeps. Chiamaka, who struggles with her hair and, furthermore, her racial identity, deals with her own feelings about her culture. Overall, the novel does a fantastic job of portraying different characters from different circumstances.

In the author’s note, Àbíké-Íyímídé clearly states her intent in the writing of this book: “I started Ace of Spades as an 18-year-old freshman-lonely, depressed, and with a lot of questions about the world and myself-and through writing this book, I felt as though I was able to guide not only my characters on their journeys but also myself. Writing this book was like a form of self-therapy, and I hope that it is the same for black people that pick this book up. … I hope that in reading this story you see that despite the darkness we are plagued with, which often feels inescapable, that not only are happy endings possible for Black people, but that we deserve them.” In short, this book is a must-read for people of color. Furthermore, anyone struggling with their personal or outward acceptance of their identity would thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this novel and its characters. However, for readers who look for poetic devices and descriptions within their reads, the book would be quite underwhelming. Overall, I appreciate the book most for the various topics I was able to gain knowledge on, such as how racism and classism have been enforced within society. The book is not only meant to thrill and excite but to educate on systemic racism within the 21st century, a topic that would benefit all readers. Ace of Spades is the perfect blend of electrifying mysteries and social and public criticism.