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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I got half way through this book before the library took it back and then months passed before I got it again. I liked the second half better as a whole as pieces started coming together. I appreciated the multi media approach of including letters, emails, chats, news articles, etc. But wasn't as convinced by the bigger framing of it as a school assignment. Interesting YA look at Haiti today and Haitian history, but at times didn't quite all come together.
GLT Reading Challenge 2021 #1 - A book with the word LOVE in the title
#15 - a book set on an island or desert
#37 - a book written by a BIPOC author
#40 - a book related to a UNESCO World Heritage Site (National History Park - Citadel, Sans-Souci, Ramiers)
#42 - A book written in two languages
Marginally #43 - a book related to immigration
#46 - a book related to North America
#50 - a book involving a multigenerational family
Read Harder Challenge 2021 #17 - an own voices YA book with a Black main character that isn't about Black pain
#15 - a book set on an island or desert
#37 - a book written by a BIPOC author
#40 - a book related to a UNESCO World Heritage Site (National History Park - Citadel, Sans-Souci, Ramiers)
#42 - A book written in two languages
Marginally #43 - a book related to immigration
#46 - a book related to North America
#50 - a book involving a multigenerational family
Read Harder Challenge 2021 #17 - an own voices YA book with a Black main character that isn't about Black pain
I enjoyed this book! it started off slow to me but then picked up. The book is written in a mixed media format (texts and emails) For the most part, I think it flowed but other times it just didn’t make sense. there are quite a few storylines and I think most of them come together in the end
2.5 stars. I liked the beginning before she went to Haiti. There was a lot of voodoo, which I don't like reading about.
I didn't really get a feel of what Haiti is like reading this book.
I didn't really get a feel of what Haiti is like reading this book.
3.5 ⭐️
Really enjoyed the writing and the mixed format, but the ending felt mostly unsatisfying and a little abrupt.
Really enjoyed the writing and the mixed format, but the ending felt mostly unsatisfying and a little abrupt.
I'm writing a novel set partly in Haiti and was hoping to find something written by Haitians and set at least partly there. I found something so much better! What a beautiful story with great characters. Alaine's personality is so engaging and hilarious. I love her! Highly recommend, and I learned something about Haiti, too, and the less than positive effects of our donations. The audiobook narrator is terrific btw.
What a unique read! This book is full of historical context, journal entries, texts, letters, emails and realistic fiction writing styles. I learned so much and loved it! What a cool way to write and tell a story. These sisters were hilarious at TXLA 2019 and I had so much fun talking to them and watching their lip sync battle. Buy this book for your YA reader! #weneeddiversebooks
Received advanced reader copy from publisher via Baker & Taylor book supplier
After Alaine’s mom has a rather public meltdown and disappears back to her Haitian homeland, Alaine finds herself shipped off to Haiti as well … after “the incident” at school. So, a semester with her Tati Estelle and her mother (and her mother’s secret)? Oh, and a family curse? Yeah … what could go wrong?
I admit it. I picked this book up purely because I could fill-in-a-blank on the Book Riot 2019 Read Harder Challenge and enjoy a unique-format novel. Instead what happened was I FELL IN LOVE WITH ALAINE! Her spunk, her sass, her humor, her drive, she is 1000% one of the best characters EVER. What also happened was I got schooled in Haitian culture and touches of its history. Goodness our school system does an excellent job of making the USA seem at the center of it all, doesn’t it? What a rich country. I know, I know, it is one of the poorest economically. I mean rich in the ways that count: family, friends, customs.
I also was reminded, again, of why #ownvoices novels are so freaking important and why publishers need to continue feeding this market. Dear Haiti, Love Alaine was written by a pair of sisters whose parents are Haitian immigrants. They saw a need and filled it. And now a whole new score of teens (and adults) will see themselves on a book cover and in a book blurb. And other readers get a story rich in tradition and culture that skillfully disguises lessons we probably missed in school.
What a joy. I cannot wait to rave about this at work and plop it in the hands of some of my teens.
** Note: for other Read Harder Challenge readers: this fills the epistolary novel box but also is an #ownvoices set in Central America. I ended up checking the second one as I have other epistolary novels on my TBR just begging to make it onto the “read” shelf.
After Alaine’s mom has a rather public meltdown and disappears back to her Haitian homeland, Alaine finds herself shipped off to Haiti as well … after “the incident” at school. So, a semester with her Tati Estelle and her mother (and her mother’s secret)? Oh, and a family curse? Yeah … what could go wrong?
I admit it. I picked this book up purely because I could fill-in-a-blank on the Book Riot 2019 Read Harder Challenge and enjoy a unique-format novel. Instead what happened was I FELL IN LOVE WITH ALAINE! Her spunk, her sass, her humor, her drive, she is 1000% one of the best characters EVER. What also happened was I got schooled in Haitian culture and touches of its history. Goodness our school system does an excellent job of making the USA seem at the center of it all, doesn’t it? What a rich country. I know, I know, it is one of the poorest economically. I mean rich in the ways that count: family, friends, customs.
I also was reminded, again, of why #ownvoices novels are so freaking important and why publishers need to continue feeding this market. Dear Haiti, Love Alaine was written by a pair of sisters whose parents are Haitian immigrants. They saw a need and filled it. And now a whole new score of teens (and adults) will see themselves on a book cover and in a book blurb. And other readers get a story rich in tradition and culture that skillfully disguises lessons we probably missed in school.
What a joy. I cannot wait to rave about this at work and plop it in the hands of some of my teens.
** Note: for other Read Harder Challenge readers: this fills the epistolary novel box but also is an #ownvoices set in Central America. I ended up checking the second one as I have other epistolary novels on my TBR just begging to make it onto the “read” shelf.
I wanted to love this book but unfortunately I didn't. At first glance the story was extremely appealing. I loved the idea of the visiting Haiti with all it's spiritualism. But for me there was just too much going on in this story. The beginning (before Haiti) too too long to get to. Then once we were in Haiti there were too many storylines and I found myself not caring.
One of my greatest joys of reading is letting the words wrap themselves around me and pull me in. I wanted to be in Haiti. But that never happened. I think this is mostly in part to the epistolary style of this story and not the authors writing.
I'm curious to see what what else these sisters have in store and will definitely consider another book from them.
Thank you to the publisher for this copy via Netgalley.
2.5 stars rounded up.
One of my greatest joys of reading is letting the words wrap themselves around me and pull me in. I wanted to be in Haiti. But that never happened. I think this is mostly in part to the epistolary style of this story and not the authors writing.
I'm curious to see what what else these sisters have in store and will definitely consider another book from them.
Thank you to the publisher for this copy via Netgalley.
2.5 stars rounded up.
"I received a review copy from Amazon Vine and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review."
First things first I love this cover so much!
Alaine has been sent to Haiti after a school presentation/prank gone wrong. Throughout this story we are introduced to different characters and to be honest it was a little overwhelming at times. The story would also flip from journal entries, emails, text messages, postcards and I found it made the story choppy and hard for me to connect to the story. I have read over 200 pages of this book so far and I’m not really sure what is going on plot wise besides the “insert spoiler”. As much as I wanted to love this book, I had to sadly bow out gracefully and dnf this story. Just because I didn’t enjoy the book please don’t let my review stop you from reading.
Update:
This book wouldn’t leave me alone so I decided to pick it up again. I have to say I’m glad I did! I ended up enjoying the second half of the book way better, I felt the writing was better and everything I read prior started to connect and make more sense. So this ended up being a nice read that made me happy.
First things first I love this cover so much!
Alaine has been sent to Haiti after a school presentation/prank gone wrong. Throughout this story we are introduced to different characters and to be honest it was a little overwhelming at times. The story would also flip from journal entries, emails, text messages, postcards and I found it made the story choppy and hard for me to connect to the story. I have read over 200 pages of this book so far and I’m not really sure what is going on plot wise besides the “insert spoiler”. As much as I wanted to love this book, I had to sadly bow out gracefully and dnf this story. Just because I didn’t enjoy the book please don’t let my review stop you from reading.
Update:
This book wouldn’t leave me alone so I decided to pick it up again. I have to say I’m glad I did! I ended up enjoying the second half of the book way better, I felt the writing was better and everything I read prior started to connect and make more sense. So this ended up being a nice read that made me happy.