Ace of Spades

This book touches on many of the ways that anti-Black racism harms Black people around the world. Write a research essay on one of these facets of racism, like the carceral system, racism in education, or misogynoir (the intersection of anti-Black racism and misogyny).

Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards are both dynamic characters who develop as the story progresses. Write an essay explaining how one of them changes over the course of the story. Connect your answer to the book’s themes.

In the book’s Epigraph and in her Author’s Note, Àbíké-Íyímídé references the Sunken Place, a concept created for the 2017 horror movie Get Out. Examine how the idea of the Sunken Place is relevant to Ace of Spades.

Why do you think that being the most popular girl in school is so important to Chiamaka? Why isn’t Devon concerned with being popular? Consider each character’s life and experiences when giving your answer.

Jack becomes a pawn for Aces even though he is not a legacy student at Niveus. Examine Jack’s role in the story in more detail and explain why his participation in the campaign against Devon and Chiamaka is significant. Incorporate discussions of real-world phenomena like online radicalization in your answer.

Devon often talks about pushing his feelings aside or repressing them when things get difficult. Given your understanding of Devon as a character, why do you think this is his response to painful situations?

Chiamaka makes a point to talk about clothing (her own and other people’s) many times in Ace of Spades. Why does she do this? How do these discussions of clothing further Chiamaka’s characterization?

The Epilogue gives insight into Devon and Chiamaka’s future lives. What details stand out about these chapters? How do they connect with the themes of the book and the characters’ goals?