Reviews

Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta

jordanpie's review against another edition

4.0

this book reminded me of Queenie but a Canadian girl version. it was so relatable and funny to read.

gayathiri_rajendran's review against another edition

4.0

Frying Plantain is a series of interconnected short stories which navigates through the life of Kara Davies, a Canadian by birth but ethnically Jamaican. Both her mom and grandmother were born and brought up in Jamaica. Through this collection, we see the author tackle several topics such as identity, race, family, fitting in etc.

Kara Davies has a very strict upbringing. Her mom wants her to finish school and go to college. Things are strict at home and there are no distractions allowed. Kara finds it difficult to assimilate at school too. Her friends live in a different neighbourhood and they drift apart when she changes schools later.

The author has done a good job of portraying a teenager and the ups and downs they go through at that age. Kara's relationship with her grandparents is also explored in this book. It is a bit screwed up and I liked how the dynamics in the family was portrayed by the author. It made for interesting reading. Even though there is no clear resolution at the end of the book, this made an excellent read!

Powerful and well writen!

jules_not_dead's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

4.25

danielle_sips_tea's review

emotional reflective 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

3.0

briant's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

pointnorth's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

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

2.25

keekiara's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

4.0

Glad I finally got around to reading this collection of powerful, connected micro-stories. I don’t usually like short stories but this was more a novel comprised of micro bursts from the main character’s adolescent years. Definitely conveyed some of what it must be like growing up second/third generation Jamaican in Toronto. Enjoyed it a lot and the relationships between the grandmother, mother and daughter. Reads like a memoir but in fiction form.

ritsukas's review against another edition

3.25

rating: 3.25 stars
— read for school

ncrozier's review against another edition

2.0

I'm very picky when it comes to short stories,and this collection just didn't do it for me. The stories were easy to read, but I was hoping for something with a little more oomph.