Reviews

Caucasia by Danzy Senna

meganturnsthepage's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

eunicek82's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

3.0

There were things I really appreciated about this book, but as a whole, it didn’t quite come together for me. I loved the contemplations on being biracial and the erasure that comes with it. I thought the book was a touch too long and too repetitive and its potential impact suffered from it. I will continue to read Senna though because I think she has a lot to offer and if New People is any indication, her craft is on a very upward trajectory. 

bocasbri's review against another edition

5.0

i loved this coming-of-age story. i think its important to address the privileges of being white-passing, while still acknowledging the impacts that can have on someone’s identity. while this was an extreme version of her mom forcing her to pretend to be white, it was still very interesting to see how that impacted birdie’s identity. 

it was hard to see the pain that birdie went through being separated from her sister and constantly having to lie to everyone. i wish that we got a bit more clarity on her mom’s and sister’s perspectives, but that didn’t quite take away from my reading experience. i was glad to see birdie reunite with cole by the end of the book. i was afraid of cole not accepting birdie in, but it was so heartwarming to see her also aching for that reunion.

caitlinhume's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 rounded up to 4

lavrendy's review against another edition

5.0

BEAUTIFUL

how does this not have more reviews

hollydyer328's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Danzy Senna’s insight into the mixed-race experience was excellent! She captures all the nuance in the juxtaposition of these two sisters. This is a pretty interior, character-driven book but there are some major plot points that move the narrative.

anfishh's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious

2.75

I didn’t find the narrator’s voice believable for their age range in the book. And I felt this was set up as kind of a mystery but with no real resolution. 

notlikeshrek's review against another edition

5.0

Senna’s writing is hauntingly beautiful. Her prose is unique and illustrative as she tells the story of a young girl grappling with her race, what race means in America, trust, and a sense of self as she’s separated from her family and community. This book is heartbreaking in its storyline, while also just being so good it hurts. I will recommend this book a million times over to anyone who will listen; please read this!

senquezada29's review against another edition

5.0

This was my 3rd time re-reading this book. It gets better every time. The complexity of U.S. race relations is interwoven into the story of a young girl who is desperate to find her long lost father, sister and herself - while living in hiding as a Jewish white girl but longing to rediscover her own Black identity. The book is described as haunting and intelligent by the NY Times and I believe that is as perfect a description as there can be for this book.

dinasamimi's review

3.0

I didn't like this as much as I liked New People. The story started out strong and petered out slowly for me. By today's standards, this would be considered YA given the protagonist. Senna has an uncanny ability to communicate a very specific multiracial experience and discuss the familial dynamics of passing.