A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

RISING CLASS by Jennifer Miller profiles "How Three First-Generation College Students Conquered Their First Year." The names of these real life students are Briani, Conner, and Jacklynn and the first two attend Columbia University in New York while Jacklynn attends Ozark Technical Community College. Briani is from a small town in Georgia and Conner and Jacklynn, a long-time couple, are from Missouri. By sharing details about issues like financial strains and family addiction, Miller poignantly points out "the gulf between ... [first generation] and so many other students. They all lived on the same campus, but they didn’t live in the same world." Professional reviews suggested this text for students in high school (ages 12 to 18 or in grades 10 -12), but I am honestly not sure how much they could relate since they have not yet been to college. However, they could definitely learn from these experiences and perhaps better formulate questions and criteria related to their own future college choices. Educators, too, could benefit from reflecting upon these students' concerns and Miller's extensive reporting. Brookings published a report (8/21) on transition programs between high school and college which outlines their mixed success in preparing students. And Miller notes that in Fall 2019, "roughly a third of college students in the United States were first-generation." Given more recent mental health crises, it is clear that even more support is needed.

This nonfiction was extremely engaging and very accurately encompassed the college student experience through the portrayal of a diverse student perspective. The collection of moments show the highs and lows, the mundane and equally unique nature of every student's experience and the universal feelings of higher education. There is so much engaging information, this book was unputdownable and is perfect for any reader who wants to experience more of the college experience.

Although I'm not typically a nonfiction reader, I found this really well-written and engaging. The students profiled have different but really clearly, honestly expressed experiences, and the book does a nice job of showing the personalities and relationships without shying away from rocky parts of their school and personal lives or from incorporating real world events as they came without trying to shape the narrative. It also does a nice job pointing out a variety of factors that play into this experience such as how the experience can be isolating or invisible in certain ways, or how even seemingly well-intentioned schools and administrations can miss the holes in their supports and programs for these students in particular. I did feel as if Jacklynn's college story was sidelined in certain ways, sometimes in favor of updates on her relationship with Conner but sometimes just in favor of the Columbia pieces in general, and I did wish that the other perspectives like Genevieve's were reported out a little more rather than just being included as occasional interludes that felt both like they disrupted the flow and like they weren't quite enough. Still, a really interesting and thoughtful read, enjoyable despite the ways the subject matter is serious, and offering both a mirror and a window into the FLI life.

This book works well for people who prefer shorter chapters that make the book easier to digest, and each chapter functions as its own experience. The chapter corresponds to a snapshot of a moment in the college student's life that was significant to their experience. This makes the book exciting to read as you relate to knowing how it feels when you are living a moment that becomes important to your life story, or causes you to question how things are going. This book tackles some hard themes as lower income students navigate their real-life experiences of going to college, and what it means for them and their families. I loved how relatable and yet how revealing these stories were from each student. Not everyone can relate to each moment, but everyone can learn something from each moment, and it causes reflection about personal experiences and how things have turned out or things that you've personally missed as a person amongst other people living their own lives separate but intertwined with yours. It reminds you that choices you make can affect others, though you may never personally see the consequences. You get to see a lot of the social lives of college students and what it is to navigate friends and roommates while leaving space for studying and academic success. It tackles things that can be stacked against you, especially a lack of money and resources. I would just like to see even more information about these student's experiences. I want the story to continue. I want even more substance.

Rising Class is well written and engaging for a YA audience, but it feels incomplete. I wish the author had followed these kids for longer, since the interruption of the pandemic leaves the story unfinished.

This is the first book I've read about first generation college students that includes that pandemic experience so I feel it is something that teenagers would identify with immediately. The stories are presented well and I felt an immediate connection with the students and wanted to know more and more about them and their experiences. Some important unseen and unheard challenges are addressed and I hope that high school guidance counselors will read this book and then add it to their own reference shelves to lend out to students who fall into this category. Knowing something about what to expect is important.
It is very readable so I'd heartily recommend it to any prospective college student whether they are first generation or not, simply just for the sake of developing empathy for others.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I hope it finds it way into every school library.

This book follows several first generation college students at an Ivy League college. The narrative style and alternating between character perspectives makes this an engaging read for all students. It addresses issues of class, race, and other factors that determine our experiences while also debunking stereotypes about first generation college graduates. Though classified as YA nonfiction, this book is recommended for secondary and college educators and staff who work with students through the transition from high school to college.

I read this ARC courtesy of Macmillian Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley.

While you can find many accounts of low-income and first generation college student experiences this would likely be the only book account that delves into starting college the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The author follows Briani, Conner, and Jacklynn, and their families for the first year (and beyond) of their college experience.

Author Jennifer Miller narrates their busy lives including the normal stress over exams, navigating interpersonal relationships, the rise of the Coronavirus disease, the murder of George Floyd by police officers, and the subsequent nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and resistance actions.

As a first generation student I was immediately compelled by the premise of this book (Briani, Conner and Jacklynn were starting college as I was finishing up my degree) and was drawn in by their honesty and resilience. The book had a nice balance of each of their stories, and it was a great overall read. I look forward to requesting a copy for my library.