Reviews with content warning for Violence - Pet

I found this slow to get going, but once it did I was riveted. Set in an idealised near-future where there is supposedly no more monsters, Jam is visited by a creature who claims her best friend's house is harbouring a monster. Torn between wanting to believe she lives in a safe world, and wanting to protect her friend, Jam joins forces with the creature, who calls itself Pet, and uncovers something that shocks everyone. As usual, Akwaeke Emezi's prose is simply brilliant.

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chrisb913's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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sydapel's review

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dark hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Floored by how much depth and feeling Emezi can pack into a YA novella. My suggestion would be to pick this up without a prompt or reading the blurb and revel in what it makes you think about.

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galaxies's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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james1star's review against another edition

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dark inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

I was very excited to start this book and it most definitely didn’t disappoint. The story follows a teenage black trans girl called Jam living in the city of Lucille. After a revolution, the angles apparently got rid of all the monsters but when a creature called Pet comes into her life through the strangest of circumstances, she starts to think differently. With the help of her best friend Redemption they set out to hunt a monster.

At first I thought the subtleties around the revolution, ‘monstering’ someone, statues of monsters and references to the mainland and island were possibly alluding to slavery and the civil war. Which they could be and I think with an older mind and some historical context these parallels are apparent. But then the idea of what a ‘monster’ is broadens with there being (at least) one in the current timeframe. That’s because the monsters are lurking in plain sight and because the government and adults are so convince they’ve been eradicated, their monstering is allowed to continue. Tackling it head on, not being afraid to admit your wrong because no matter how much you want something to be true won’t make it true and talking to children about bad things is the real message of the book and overall I think Emezi does a great job of portraying this.

The characters are really great, Jam, Pet and Redemption have a lot to them and so too Jam’s parents Bitter an artist and Aloe a paramedic. I would have maybe preferred more (but this will likely come when I read the prequel) and to get to know Redemption’s family a bit more too, his brother Moss, parents Malachite and Beloved and their non-binary lover Whisper. I enjoyed the outward queerness present which was great to see. Jam is selectively mute but we don’t really get much context on why this is which is a bit of a shame. I’d also say as the book went along I didn’t exactly lose interest but it didn’t go in the direction I had initially thought but was still good. Overall I’d for sure recommend giving this a read no matter what age you are and I’ll definitely be reading more Emezi books.

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savannahread's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

“monsters don’t look like anything. that’s the whole point. that’s the whole problem.”

whew this was so heavy & haunting & beautifully metaphorical.

bad people still exist even if you refuse to acknowledge their existence.

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laurensgaylife's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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meant2breading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

“You knowing, you think it gives you clarity, sight that pierces. It can be a cloud, a thing that obscures.”

A pure message of hope, especially in today’s climate. Beautifully interwoven themes about the power of community, restorative justice, and mechanisms of utopia that I think are important for both youth and for adults to read and reflect on. Pet certainly packs a major punch that will have lasting effects on me. I will recommend this to everyone.

**Please Check CWs.**

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