Dreams on Fire

I love the idea of telling this story in verse. In the style of other YA novels in verse it gives the sense of having a deeper connection with the protagonist.

The writing, particularly the characterisation and plot, is too heavily reliant on stereotypes in a way that doesn’t feel fresh or subversive in places, which prohibits this from being something truly fantastic.

This book is poignant and poetic and really well-written, but the description is misleading. The format of this book is verse. It is told in the first person and is written as though the main character is creating and submitting poems about her life for class. Her life is very difficult and often sad and and the book is hard to read both for its subject matter and because of its format.

The publisher needs to inform the reader of the book's format. I don't think I would have opted to request this book if I had known about the format in advance.

Dreams on Fire
by Annette Daniels Taylor

West 44 Books


Multicultural Interest , Teens & YA
Pub Date 01 Oct 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Dreams on Fire through West 44 Books and Netgalley:


If you are looking for a good teen, ya lyrical novel this one is one I would definitely recommend.


Shanequa has dreams of higher education, but with a Father whose incarcerated father and a drug addicted Mother the Dream feels more like a fantasy.


Shanequa is given the chance to go to a private prep school, which makes her feel like maybe her streams have a chance of coming true. She finds it easier to lie to her new friends than to tell them about what is really going on with her family.


Having her lies find out cause Shanequa to react in a blind rage.


Has she ruined her chance forever or will Shanequa be given a second chance?


I give Dreams on Fire four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Dreams on Fire
Annette Daniels Taylor
West 44 Books
3 stars

Shanequa has been given a hard life. With a father in prison and a drug addicted mother living on the streets, Shanequa and her younger sister are cared for lovingly by their grandmother. When Shanequa gets the opportunity to attend an esteemed school, she thinks this is the chance for her to change her life. She meets many new people and even gets a best friend. Shanequa knows in her heart if she tells her friend the truth about her family, she’ll lose her friend. When her lies are discovered, and her rage causes her to lash out, her dream to change her life may be shattered.

This story is told in verse. The topic of the story isn’t anything we haven’t already read over and over again. The author introduces hot button topics such as bullying, impoverishment and incarceration but does not delve deep and develop the story line as well as it could be done. The story is a quick read and the format in which it is written fits the storyline well. While this format of writing had not been my favorite in the past, if you’re looking to read a verse story this is good one to choose.

There is a line from the story which Shanequa’s grandmother repeats several times throughout the verse and should be heeded by all not only the youth for which this book was intended. “Some folks acting friendly ain’t friends.” Unfortunately, a lot of children experience this and Shanequa was no exception.

<b>***2.5 Stars***</b>

Shanequa’s life is turned upside down after her father is arrested and her mother turns to drugs, and the streets, to cope. Taken in by their grandmother, Shanequa and her younger sister try to find their footing as Shanequa comes of age minus the guidance of her mom and dad.

The story is told in verse. The topic isn’t new and Taylor doesn’t introduce a character that isn’t made up of one of a thousand (hate to say it) tropes of what the world has come to accept as the characteristics of an “inner city youth”.

While she does attempt to tackle mass incarceration, poverty, and bullying without getting too deep into any one of those issues, it’s that decision to gloss over—perhaps aided by the format—which makes for a somewhat disconnected reading experience.

Shanequa is the most well-developed character, so it’s her voice we’re given as a guide into this world, but it’s a world with a lot of moving pieces: her mother, father, younger sister, grandmother, and Aaliyah are all important. However, they revolve in and out of the story so quickly you barely get a feel for them.

While you get a good picture of who Shanequa is, and the environment she’s fighting to flee, you never truly connect with her as a character because the decision to use verse makes her thoughts and actions feel choppy and disjointed.

Even more, you have only a vague idea of how much time has passed.

It’s confusing and makes for a stilted reading experience.

It was an okay read but it seemed to skim the surface of what it was intended to be.

Not a fan of this style of writing. This is the first book by this author that I've read. Once I figured everything out, the story was just picking up somewhat and then it was over. Certain things dragged on while others weren't developed.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.

I could not get into this book.The writing style was not for me. The structure of the book took something away. Did not hold my interest at all.

I have to admit that I struggled with Dreams on Fire at first. The book is written in contemporary verse which is a new format for me and gets some getting used to. While the story is very interesting and tackles some heavy issues, I felt at times as if I was reading author's notes which will be later turned into a book. Nonetheless, Dreams on Fire is a touching story once you adapt to the writing style. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of DREAMS ON FIRE by Annette Daniels Taylor in exchange for my honest review.***

I cried almost the entire time reading DREAMS ON FIRE. Annette Daniels Taylor’s words danced off the pages like a prima ballerina performing a solo. Can you imagine a middle-aged, white privileged woman relating so much to a low income teenager of color, with an adolescence so different than my own? Just one example of Taylor’s brilliance.

Shaniqua, bright and talented, suffers when her father kills the man who assaults her mother. He’s likely the victim of social injustice, where a white husband might have been considered a hero. Her mother turns to drugs and Shaniqua and her sister now live with their grandmother. Shaniqua’s talents lend her a prestigious scholarship to a private school, where she’s the only person of color. Ashamed by her family, she leads others to believe her parents died. Then Ashley, the meanest girl whose mother died befriends Shaniqua. But misleading people (lies) often come back to cause more problems.

I related to Shaniqua’s desires to keep the ugly truth from her friends and needed years of therapy as an adult to feel comfortable with the real story of my parents. Who hasn’t wished for a better circumstances or a better story? Embarrassment of parents, even excellent ones, is almost an adolescent right of passage. I even identified with Mean Ashley, plucked into boarding school by a busy father after her mother’s death. She thought Shaniqua was s kindred spirit, suffering the same pain. Ashley felt betrayed (which was no excuse for her reaction).

I hope that DREAMS ON FIRE is read by as many people as possible. Taylor shows the micro-aggressions, tacit and overt racism, institutional racism with subtle acumen that make for important classroom discussion. White students may not realize the significance of Ashely giving Shaniqua the “easy” (non ethnic sounding) nickname Nicki, failing to recognize the pride and importance of Shaniqua and its meaning.

DREAMS OF FIRE is a must read.