It’s senior year at Niveus Academy for Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo. The opening assembly is a uncomfortable surprise for Devon, and an expected result for Chiamaka, as they are both made Head Prefects for their private school. Devon is surprised as although he is an A grade student, he is not popular among his peers, preferring to keep his head down and focused on his music. Chiamaka however has worked hard staying on top of everything she does, for every year she has attended Niveus. They both have high hopes for their futures.

There is another surprise for them. Their headmaster is new and not very friendly. Especially when Chiamaka goes to him for help.

She seems to be the target of someone who calls themselves Aces. Whoever Aces is, they send group messages to the entire school about her. These messages are soon too personal and embarrassing to ignore, and her reign as Queen Bee at Niveus begins to slip.

Devon is at Niveus on an academic scholarship, and knows how tenuous that attendance is. Despite the scholarship, his single hardworking mother can barely afford to have him there, but is determined to keep doing so. He knows he alone is his family’s way out of the dangerous neighbourhood he lives in, and the tiny house where he shares a bed with his two little brothers.

He too is suddenly shamed by texts and revealing photos about his sexuality, shared throughout the student body. Petrified the truth will reach home, he’s not sure what to do or who to turn to. The new headmaster is definitely not the one.

Relationships and close friendships begin to implode around them as they try to figure out why they are on a hate list. Devon and Chiamaka have never even spoken to each other before this, and now they only have each other to fall back on. One rich and popular. One poor and a nobody. Surely it can’t be because they are both black?

Think Karen McManus’ One of Us is Lying stirred in with M A Bennett’s S.T.A.G.S, and you have an idea of how deliciously intriguing, but horribly vicious Ace of Spades turns out to be. This has everything – Betrayal, Revenge, Mystery, Bullies, Love, Lies and Secrets.

Told in scholarship kid Devon’s, and wealthy Queen Bee Chiamaka’s points of view, the reader is allowed right down into their psyche, secrets and dreams. Neither of them are saints, but they’re not evil either – nowhere near as bad as Aces who is suddenly making their already difficult lives a misery.

Ace of Spades is about systemic racism throughout society and even within families. Devon’s sexuality and years of bullying because of it, is also an important theme throughout the book. This treatment has moulded who he is, petrified of the truth, and unable to trust many. That trust is eroded further as the truth is revealed about those around him.

The resolution of revenge wasn’t what I was hoping for but the ending is a Yes! moment.  

A sobering, thought provoking read.

Author – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Age – 16+

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(2021, Harper Collins, Racism, Homophobia, High School, Pecking Order, Popularity, Peer Pressure, Family, College, University, Top Dog, Queen Bee, Head Prefect, Secrets, Lies, Set-up, Teachers, Music, Academic, Drugs, Gay, Bi, Sexuality, LGBTQ+, Relationships, Friendships, Power, Courage, Wealth, Power, White Supremacy, Hate, Distrust, Technology, Love, Betrayal, )