Reviews

The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir by Wayétu Moore

charliebnl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

kirsten0929's review

4.0

[2020] Notes to self… The first third of the book was told from a child’s point of view (generally not my preferred perspective), the author as a five year old at the onset of the civil war in Liberia. The final third was from the mother’s perspective as she returned to Liberia to rescue her family. Together these were the real story (the middle third felt like filler). Very powerful.

lulu_readsalot's review

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

A wonderful, sad, stressful book.
I had no idea about Liberian history. This book encouraged me to look deeper. 
It is amazing how her dad and grandma made EVERYTHING possible to protect Wayétu and her siblings from the war, both from bodily harm as from the psychological trauma: guns firing were dragons fighting!
Her mother risking EVERYTHING to come to her family's aid and make sure they make it out safe.
The women soldiers who, yes... took advantage of an opportunity to make money, but also saved countless lives! The people who got out because of them and their families, the futures that they ensured. Brave women.
It is heartbreaking how we keep doing harm to each other in exchange of power, the power to continue to do harm.
This is a story that people should know about!
Wonderful book! I am really glad I read it. 

paperbacksandpourovers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

joellie's review

emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

4.0

sportula's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

laurenmarietta's review

5.0

A tragic but stunning memoir. I'm left with the truth that, even (perhaps especially) in times of war, the strangers we meet and the friends we care for can make all the difference in the trajectory of our futures.

africanbookaddict's review

5.0

4.5 stars

Man... I didn't expect to cry at the end. Women are such essential beings. Liberian women in particular, are a special kind. May you be a Satta, in this world.




*full review on africanbookaddict.com, soon.

katielong84's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced

4.75

arayo's review

emotional inspiring sad tense

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, and War

Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, Racism, and Racial slurs

Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy