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intro_liz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-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? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
ashleyfleming4's review against another edition
4.0
"For the first time in a long love affair, she was afraid he would beat her. She was almost certain he would beat her. And if he had, she would have known that it was not her Jende who was beating her but a grotesque being created by the sufferings of an American immigrant life."
Another beautifully written story from the perspective of Cameroonian immigrants during the 2008 economic crisis.
Painfully sad & painfully realistic.
Another beautifully written story from the perspective of Cameroonian immigrants during the 2008 economic crisis.
Painfully sad & painfully realistic.
bransan326's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jennyluwho's review against another edition
3.0
While this was far from a bad book, and the writing was above average, I found the story fairly flat.
maddieoftheorangetree's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Another required read for school. An absolutely hopeless book that I actually really liked most of the time. Not enough to say I enjoyed it, though. I think it was a good thing to be required to read, as it had important topics, but oh my goodness was this book dark and sad.
laura_corsi's review against another edition
4.0
Behold the Dreamers is an immigrant love letter to America. It was at times funny and heartwarming and then it turns around and breaks your heart. Beautifully written and beautifully felt. There are so many poignant lines that will stay with me forever. I thought that this book would make me mad about the immigration policy in America, too. However, I found that though I was heartbroken for Neni and Jonge and sympathized with them when they lost their dream to become Americans, I also was happy for them in their new life in Cameroon. Perhaps, the bright, hard American dream is not for everyone. How many Americans give up on their dream and take second best? We all do our best to make it through. It is a sadness when you lose your dream, of course, but perhaps it is not the worst thing or the end of everything. We get smaller graces to get us through.
It is a loss but not the end. I will never forget the image of Neni and Jonge in Times Square saying goodbye to their beloved New York. And the line is, "{Neni} buried her face in his shoulder and begged herself to be happy." (351)
It is a loss but not the end. I will never forget the image of Neni and Jonge in Times Square saying goodbye to their beloved New York. And the line is, "{Neni} buried her face in his shoulder and begged herself to be happy." (351)
ginia552's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
natsafan18's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
This book dived deep into the themes of immigration and hope - and how the two can interconnect with sadness and anger. Those themes are beautiful ones to read about. Being a new immigrant living in a bustling city as New York would be a huge challenge.
The last 100 pages or so of this book seemed to move at a very fast pace - which kept the story moving but it still felt a little bit too fast for my taste.
The characters of this book felt so real and raw, dealing with the different struggles that they witness throughout the novel.
A good read overall
The last 100 pages or so of this book seemed to move at a very fast pace - which kept the story moving but it still felt a little bit too fast for my taste.
The characters of this book felt so real and raw, dealing with the different struggles that they witness throughout the novel.
A good read overall
melanieroyston's review against another edition
5.0
“Even after she’d seen the movies Boys n the Hood and Do the Right Thing, she couldn’t be swayed or convinced that the kind of black life depicted represented anything but a very small percentage of black life, just like Americans probably understood that the images they saw of war and starvation in Africa were but a very small percentage of African life.”
This book killed me in the best way possible. Though a work of fiction, much of this story is loosely based on the author’s own experiences of moving to New York City from a looked-over African country and others she knew were trying to make a new home out of America for themselves. The Jonga family endured struggles and doses of compassion way outside of my own context, and yet were wildly relatable on a basic human level. I love this book for all that is has taught me, the families and culture to which it has introduced me, and the heartbreaking yet inspiring story that will stay with me for eternity.
This book killed me in the best way possible. Though a work of fiction, much of this story is loosely based on the author’s own experiences of moving to New York City from a looked-over African country and others she knew were trying to make a new home out of America for themselves. The Jonga family endured struggles and doses of compassion way outside of my own context, and yet were wildly relatable on a basic human level. I love this book for all that is has taught me, the families and culture to which it has introduced me, and the heartbreaking yet inspiring story that will stay with me for eternity.