This is an important book that illuminates the difficult experience of a first-generation Black college student and the subtle and overt racism she encounters during her freshman year. It's searing and honest and may make some people uncomfortable but that's the point! A strong debut from an author I would read again!

REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN✨

I really have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it last month & now I’m going to force all of you to start thinking about it too!

QUICK SYNOPSIS✨
Savannah Howard begins her freshman year an elite college with disturbing racist history - that may not be as distant as they seem.

THE TAKEAWAYS
✨this entire book really centers around how important it is to use your voice & watching Savannah on that journey is so powerful
✨ while I am not the intended audience - it makes me emotional to think of every black teenage girl that gets to grow up with this book 🥺
✨I also think all white people need this book because the pov is fascinating and I learned so much about the small and large micro aggressions Black people face every single day

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE
✨college stories
✨strong female protagonists 😌
✨complicated mother/daughter relationships
✨true coming-of-age YA where we see our protagonist evolve over the course of the book

🥰 SO MANY amazing YA debuts, my kindle and I are #overwhelmed in the very best way

Out Now from Crown Books for Young Readers; 336 pages

Content Warnings: Racism, elitism, drugs, robbery, police brutality, use of the N-word, and
other racial slurs


About the Author: “Kristen R. Lee is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, whose love of books
stems from her grandmother who was a school teacher. After graduating with a bachelor’s in
communication from MTSU, she began to draft her first novel which focuses on systemic racism
and Black culture. Growing up in Memphis, a majority Black city, writing stories that reflect her
upbringing is what she strives to do. When she’s not writing, you can find her on Twitter sharing
memes about not writing.” (Bio taken from Author’s website.)


“I’m Freda Howard’s daughter, a woman who raised me when she was still growing
herself. I have that strength inside of me, inherited from her and her mother and her
mother’s mother.”
When Savannah Howard gets accepted into the elite Wooddale University with a full ride, her
mother refuses to let her give it up. Savannah’s white roommate and her boyfriend, Lucas, make
dorm life uncomfortable for her. Lucas is the big dog on campus with his rich family and white
privilege. At first, “Vanna” tries to fit in with her straightened hair and downplayed Memphis
accent, but when she witnesses acts of racism and hate crimes, she decides to take a stand. The
Black Student Union can only do so much in a predominantly white college, so she goes a step
further to expose the true nature of the students that attend Wooddale. Savannah will go to any
length to get the justice that the Black students of Wooddale deserve. But when it’s all said and
done, is Wooddale where she belongs?


Kristen R. Lee has taken from her own experience to write on the inequalities of Black people in
predominantly white institutions in her debut novel Required Reading for the Disenfranchised
Freshman. Lee uses immersive elements of Black culture in the book, such as African-American
Vernacular English and code-switching, to give her readers a feel for life as a member of the
Black community. I felt for Savannah the whole book; her struggles to be herself or to fit in are one that many can relate to. I enjoyed watching Savannah bloom into the person that she was
meant to be. Taking alternative routes to get her success was truly inspiring to read as it seemed
like so many systems were working against her. Not for the faint of heart, Required Reading for
the Disenfranchised Freshman is perfect for those who love a side of romance with their justice.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an
ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be
subject to change upon final publication.)

PRR Writer, Adrianna Muñoz

An impactful and thoughtful coming of age novel. I'm so happy I got to have an arc of this book and cannot wait to read more from this author!! This was really fun and I'm also very glad I got to be part of the book tour!

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two sittings! Even though I received this as an arc (I am a little late on my reviews), I listened to this on audio and Kacie Rogers was a fantastic narrator. She kept me completely engaged in the narrative and gave a really great voice to our main characters Savannah. Speaking of, I loved Savannah as a main character because she is persistent in what she believes in and what she wants but she is also a young teenager who is scared despite her strength! The novel does a great job tackling racism and racial injustices experienced by black students and the white privilege that benefits the white students. It was frustrating for Savannah and the sentiment is shared with readers through Lee's writing. I feel like the book leaves off on a really realistic note/tone and I really appreciated that. Looking forward to reading more from Lee in the future because this was a great read.

This book was absolutely amazing. I flew through it and wanted to have even more. In today’s world, anything that can accurately touch on racism is 100% relatable to what is going on in our world right now. Racism isn’t a problem of the past, it’s a problem of right now and this book acknowledges that. The main character is a Black college student named Savannah who attends an overwhelmingly white college and experiences a lot of microaggressions from her classmates, simply because she and some of her friends are Black. She is happy to have kept her grades up and made it to a college that will really mean something on her resume, but is it worth it to put up with her white classmates doing things like painting black face on a statue and insinuating that all Black people look alike and are too sensitive? I think this book was very well done, the author tackled such heavy topics in a very realistic way but without it being overwhelming for the reader to continue. I can’t possibly recommend this book enough, it might end up being the best book of the month!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this story.

Though it's long, I love the title. How many "disenfranchised freshman" (among other classes) are there? Especially Black students at a mostly white institution. One where the rich can buy their way in.

I know students of color will relate. As an older, white woman it angered me. I think a lot of our students will get encouragement from it.

An amazing debut. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. I hope this gets wide attention and appreciation.

This is a timely, necessary book from an author who’s now on my will-forever-read list. Lee’s voice is clear and strong through this novel, and this is ultimately a critical read about activism, advocacy, and both the covert and overt racism that Savannah faces as a Black student in her predominantly-white college.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Savannah earns a college scholarship to a prestigious university only to face racism and ostracism. She stands up for herself and others of her race even though it is difficult and frightening.

This is a powerful and thought provoking novel that might be banned in some places.

Read it. Develop empathy.

The cover and title are gorgeous. The story is powerful. I really enjoyed this eye-opening novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I will say up front, I am a cis-gendered white woman who had an average college experience.

Savannah has worked hard throughout high school to make it into Wooddale University on a full scholarship. Except, Wooddale is full of primarily white, wealthy students.

During the fall semester, the statue of the college’s Black president is defaced, Savannah realizes she cannot be quiet and in the shadows during her college years.

I was cheering on and wanted to support Savannah throughout this book. I cried. My heart hurt. I was furious. And I smiled.

The world needs more strong women like Savannah. Women who are willing to stand up and speak up about the world’s injustices.

I started this review stating that I’m just an average white gal. However, I’m an alumna of Cedar Crest College, who had their own reckoning with BIPOC students on campus in the past couple of years.

BIPOC students and alumnae accused the college of using their images and stories in the college’s advertising but not treating them equitably on campus. Four alumnae BIPOC students have launched the grassroots effort named “Pledge Her Our Best,” which states on their website their mission is “To amplify the voices of Black and NBPOC (non Black, people of color) and to support CCC in building a safe and more equitable community for all.”

Because Cedar Crest College - similar to Wooddale in Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman - in majority white, the personal stories shared by the students may not be the same as the other students and alumnae.

Thank you to Turn the Page Tours and the author Kristen R. Lee for including me on this tour.

Overall, this book was good. It follows first-year college student Savannah as she leaves home and heads to a prestigious ivy league institution, Wooddale. As soon as she arrives, she is forced to face countless microaggressions, and she begins to question if she made the right choice. Then, a statue is defaced, and racial tensions skyrocket. Will Savannah raise her voice against these racist actions? Is Wooddale truly where she wants to spend the next four years of her life? Fans of Netflix's Dear White People will fawn over this fast-paced YA debut novel by Kristen Lee.

After reading this book, I have to say that it truly lives up to its title—Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman should really be required reading for everyone, not just for disenfranchised freshmen, but for anyone who is interested in reading a powerful story about a Black girl’s experience with racism at an elite university setting.

WHAT I LIKED:
- Savannah was such an inspiring, passionate character. At first, when she arrives on campus, she tries to create a new identity of Vanna, but this actually only lasts a chapter or so until Savannah decides that she should never have to change who she is at heart just to fit in at her college. I think that this is a message that a lot of people (like me!) can benefit from reading.
- If there’s one thing this book doesn’t do, it’s shy away from discussing the brutal realities of racism, which is why I feel like I have to caution that if racism is an emotional trigger for you, then you should be warned that there is hardly a chapter that goes by without Savannah being bombarded with explicitly racist remarks, intentionally racist actions, and micro- and macro-aggressions. However, readers can be assured that these events are definitely directly challenged on page in what I think was a very effective and compelling manner.
- Akure Phénix on Goodreads mentioned in her review that this isn’t just a story written for Black people, and that “Latinas, Asians, etc will feel this as a minority deeply, too,” and I have to say that I couldn’t agree more with her. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman, while centering around a Black girl, is definitely a story for anyone who has ever experienced living as part of a racial, ethnic, or even religious minority.
- Around a third of the way through the book, the chapters begin to start off with a mini excerpt from #WooddaleConfessions, a social media page of sorts where Wooddale students can anonymously post about their random thoughts and experiences at Wooddale. I really thought this added an interesting layer to the story, and it really drove home the message that hiding behind a screen can truly bring out the worst in people.
- Lastly, I can’t end this section without discussing the college admissions scandal that Savannah unintentionally uncovers. I won’t spoil it too much, but it definitely brought back memories of the 2020 college admissions scandal, and it completely enraged me to see how easy it was for…ahem…certain students to unfairly receive acceptance to Wooddale. Let’s just say that if you were a fan of Julie Buxbaum’s Admission, than you should definitely check this book out.

WHAT I...DIDN'T
- The only thing I’d say I didn’t really like about this book was the abrupt ending. After having followed the characters of the book for so long and getting really attached to Savannah in particular, I wanted a little bit more closure! Others may disagree with me (and that’s fine!), but I personally believe this is a book that maybe would’ve really benefitted from an additional epilogue set maybe a few months after the events of the book?

OVERALL
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman was an exceptionally written debut author, and I couldn’t mean it more when I say that I’m truly looking forward to seeing what she comes out with next? (perhaps even a companion novel to this book?)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Yet another moment of silence for that title and COVER OMGGGG IM IN LOVE!!!!!!

Did I just devour this entire book in the just under half a day? Mayhaps so.

I also read this at a very coincidental and kind of perfect time as I’m just about to start a new semester. Not a freshman but still.

I was reading on a bit of a tight schedule so I both read along and listened to this book via audiobook, which I definitely recommend. I thought the narrator did a brilliant job and I could follow along very clearly, and I was going on 2x speeds oops,,,

Let’s start up with how important this story is and how I don’t think such a topic has been discussed in this genre before, which I really appreciated. Racism on campuses is an issue not talked about enough and I think the way Kristen R. Lee approached the topic was impactful and simultaneously very easily accessible!!!

Savannah was a main character full of spunk and I don’t think there was a better character for this novel to follow. Lee told this story through the eyes of a freshman (first year where I’m from) and it made for us as readers to get to experience this college through fresh eyes, which I loved.

This book also had me fuming, and it truly baffles me that a person would say half of the stuff being said to Savannah. On like her first day? Maybe it doesn’t baffle me.

However, my issue lies with the writing and character development. I found this book so easily readable and I flew through it, but I also can’t help but feel that the dialogue was slightly off and it didn’t always feel like they were humans, which made me struggle to connect with them. I also don’t think the author explored her characters enough. I loved Savannah’s mom and Tasha, but I would have liked to see more of them. It felt like there wasn’t enough space between the severity of the activism and for us to get to know the characters, and also see more campus life.

That being said, I absolutely loved the ending and it tied everything together really well. I’m super looking forward to what Kristen R. Lee writes next!!!

Overall, I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something short but still packs a punch, that Lee has filled to the brim with discussions that we need to have. Read for an empowering debut from an author who definitely has more in store <3<3<3

5 Stars

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman is about Savannah Howard, who has worked hard for all of high school to get into her top college. She’s always had her sights on attending an HBCU but decides to attend Wooddale after getting offered a full-ride scholarship.

As soon as I heard the premise of this book, I knew I needed to pick it up. When I saw that Turn the Pages Tours was hosting a tour featuring it, I signed up as quickly as I could. Being a debut book, I expected that there might be some flaws since it’s the author’s first time writing a book. I can say I was happily wrong! At the time of writing this review, this has to be one of my favorite books I read this year!

Our story centers around Savannah Howard, who spent most of her high school experience focusing solely on academics to get into her top college. Attending Wooddale, she is only one of one hundred Black students at the Ivy League school, and she doesn’t feel the most welcome. She faces microaggressions and outright racism from her fellow students. The perpetrators are never getting any real consequences. After facing countless threats and accusations, she decides to take a stand and make a change.

Through Savannah, we can see the various experiences of what it’s like being black. Savannah comes from a poor background and feels the need to attend Wooddale, saving her mother from paying large sums of money. In reality, she actually wants to attend an HBCU. This story highlights how difficult it is to fight against injustices ingrained into the education system. No changes seem to occur, leading people to feel defeated and ask themselves what more can they do. The story counteracts these feelings showing that giving up the fight will let those people win.

While on campus, Savannah meets Tasha and Benji, students at Wooddale currently in their sophomore year, facing the same microaggressions that Savannah faces as well. Tasha and Benji were great additions as they gave Savannah a support system to lean on and gave her advice along the way. I won’t mention who, but one of the characters provides another point of view to the black experience, as they come from a wealthier background adding more depth to the overall experience.

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman features at an Ivy League college campus, Wooddale. The setting played an influential part in the story because you can see how racism is deeply ingrained on campus, which has been going on for decades. This added further depth making the story more believable, demonstrating that microaggressions still occur today.

As the story progresses, the chapters begin with a small excerpt called #WooddaleConfessions, a social media page where students post anonymously about anything. When stories add an unexpected element, such as this one, it makes the story far more entertaining; the reader is more likely to be more attached to characters as well as see what the environment of Wooddale is truly like behind closed doors. We can see other students’ thoughts demonstrating their conflicting opinions and discussions on said topics.

The writing of this story was simplistic and right to the point. There was never a time when I had to go back and read a sentence over again. This type of writing helped to drive home how minorities face microaggressions every day and how we must continually fight injustices to make changes in society for the better.

The reader becomes more connected and invested in Savannah’s story seeing how these themes of microaggressions and racism towards minorities parallel our world. This point doesn’t get muddled by constant changes in pacing, rather, it stays consistent at a medium speed holding on to the reader’s attention.

Overall, this is the perfect read for you if you love books that provide commentary on serious topics parallel in our society, entertaining and enjoyable characters, and a college campus setting! If you are a Contemporary reader looking for a new adult novel to pick up, then consider adding this to your TBR!

Savannah Howard is determined to make her way as a first-gen college student at the prestigious Wooddale University - even though it's not the local HBCU that's closer to home. Now she's away from all she knows; her Black neighborhood for an institution where the racism is tighter than the ivy that clings to the walls. When a hate crime is committed and the school's administration does nothing, it's up to Savannah and her new friends to deliver justice.

I cannot stress how near-perfect this book is. Kristen R. Lee nails Savannah's anxious first-person POV with such amazing details, the anger about not having a social life back in high school, the academic stress of having everything balanced on a scholarship. Her biting tone comes alive when she's combative against the privileged students in her classes, showing just how done she is with the way people treat her. Lee also shows her softer moments when Savannah calls her mom and her friendships with Tasha B'onca and Memphis. Some of her best - and most heart-wrenching - interactions have been with her mom. Those scenes were when I had to put my kindle down and take a breather. (How do you explain to your mom about the rampant racism in your school? How do you break her heart that you have to transfer?)

I had minor issues with this strong debut. I wish we had more scenes of Savannah in her African Lit class and more of the amazing Mrs. Flowers. Nonetheless, the plot progressed with some great twists and turns, the betrayal of a supposed friend, and a realistic outcome balanced nicely with how things should be in a perfect world.

Kristen R. Lee went above and beyond with this contemporary debut. I cannot wait to read what she will publish next.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley/Underlined. All opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman

Author: Kristen R. Lee

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4.5/5

Diversity: Black MC and characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, social justice issues, college-aged characters

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (racism, micro-aggressions, white privilege, language, generational trauma, harassment)

Explanation of CWs: The book discusses racism, micro-aggressions, harassment, and white privilege at length. The book has some cursing in it, including white people saying the n-word. There is talk of generational trauma as well.

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Savannah Howard sacrificed her high school social life to make sure she got into a top college. Her sites were set on an HBCU, but when she is accepted to the ivy-covered walls of Wooddale University on a full ride, how can she say no?

Wooddale is far from the perfectly manicured community it sells on its brochures, though. Savannah has barely unpacked before she comes face-to-face with microagressions stemming from racism and elitism. Then, Clive Wilmington's statue is vandalized with blackface. The prime suspect? Lucas Cunningham, Wooddale's most popular student and son to a local prominent family. Soon, Savannah is unearthing the hidden secrets of Wooddale's racist history. But what's the price for standing up for what is right? And will telling the truth about Wooddale's past cost Savannah her own future?

A stunning, challenging, and timely debut about racism and privilege on college campuses.

Review: For the most part I enjoyed the book. I loved the message that it had about what racism, white privilege, micro aggressions, and being Black looks like behind the eyes of a Black woman who is entering a college that is a PWI. The book showed some of the horrors that Black and other POC students face in college, from slowness of action to remove hateful graffiti from a door to blackface to not reacting in an appropriate and sensitive manner to victims of racism and hatred. I also thought the book had a great message in finding your community and fighting back against the hate you get. I love the character development and the world building and overall I thought it was a well done novel, one that should be required reading.

The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like there was just a lot going on within the relatively short book. There wasn’t a lot of lull between issues that came up in the book and it felt like I couldn’t catch a break, which was more than likely the point of the writing style.

Verdict: It was well done!

DNF @ 30%

There are so many important things in this book, and I think it is a really important book that a lot of people would love. Unfortunately for me, there was a scene in which the main character tells her friend that she doesn't drink, and she is pressured into drinking anyway, and I know this seems small, but as someone who is sober, I found this to be promoting alcoholism and it was too much for me.

I still recommend this book because, as I said, I think it's an important one. It just wasn't for me.

As an adult, I enjoyed reading this book very much and I think teenagers will enjoy it as well and find a character to identify with. Some of it felt a little forced to me, but it is teen drama after all and for this genre, that is appropriate.
White readers will have their eyes opened, as they should. And in this day and age, bringing racism and classism to the forefront is a very good thing. Kids and adults need to read this book. And then discuss it.