Reviews

When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina

sarahanne8382's review against another edition

3.0

This one was such a mixed bag.

I liked that the multiple perspectives gave a clearer picture of life in apartheid South Africa and I was glad to learn about the Soweto Student Uprising (which I, frankly, didn't know about before reading this book). It's a worthwhile topic to explore, but I feel like there was something missing in the execution.

I didn't buy the romance between Zanele and milqutoast white guy Jack. I had lots of unanswered questions, and in general everything felt too rushed. I kept feeling like I was missing important details that would make the plot make sense. Some of it also may be not being South African and missing more of the cultural references.

I liked that the audiobook had a different narrator for each character because it really made sure each narrative was separate, because, in the early chapters especially, that was the only way I could keep the different stories straight.

constantlymaya's review against another edition

5.0

Really enjoyable. At first I didn't like how short some of the character's sections were as the book switches between POVs, but it kind of adds to the sense of urgency and desperation. This would be an awesome movie, I hope they make an adaptation.

bsmorris's review against another edition

5.0

Why read dystopian literature when you could read about apartheid-era South Africa? This is an inspiring story of characters participating in the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The alternating first-person point of view immerses you in the life of each character and approaches the story from the perspective of two black South African characters as well as a white South African boy and an Indian South African girl. Sometimes the alternating point of view was a little confusing if I didn't pay attention, but otherwise, I found the story fascinating and helpful in understanding how to resist oppression, something unfortunately still all too relevant.

charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition

DNF

This isn't really my genre plus it was really slow in the first few pages and nothing really was happening so....

library_ann's review against another edition

2.0

I never really liked any of the characters, except maybe Mina. I was put off at the beginning by the privileged white boys sneaking into the black club in blackface. I never bought that Jack had real feelings for Zanele. I never really felt like he was part of his society, and that for him Zanele was an exotic distraction.

I know that in youth you make and break friendships and alliances so much more quickly. But it felt like Mina and Zanele joined up in their activism without hardly discussing it out loud.

This was just not my type of book. It moved too slowly, and then at the end Jack was dead (?) offscreen with hardly a mention.

kallsypage's review against another edition

I definitely recommend this one on audiobook! Each character has a different narrator which really brings the characters to life. 

nukkoldv's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mandyist's review against another edition

5.0

Incredible book set in Jo'burg, June 1976, the month of the Soweto Uprising. Told through the eyes of four teens - schoolgirl Zanele, tsotsi Thabo, privileged Jack and aspiring-med-student Meena. More South African YA please!

I'd like to think I'll write a proper review on this but I am very behind. Suffice to say, I recommend everyone with an interest in apartheid, history, racism, crimes against humanity, authoritarian states read this.

I chose this as part of my focus in 2022 on Apartheid in South Africa

chrobin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

leavingsealevel's review against another edition

3.0

Arushi Raina is only 24! Wow. Great premise, characters, and research. I can't wait to see what she writes next.