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moon4luvrs's review
5.0
OMG! This book was amazing . I will most certainly be reading more books from this author. This book was so simple and smooth yet so detailed. I couldn't put it down! 10/10 would recommend.
bookishvanessa's review
5.0
Stunning. Powerful. Endearing. Heartbreaking. Realistic.
These are five words I would use to describe this book.
Makeda is an 11-year-old Black girl who was adopted by a white family when she was an infant. When her family moves away from her old school and her best friend (another Black adoptee her age), Makeda is thrust into a new school with kids who primarily see her as "other" and "different" due to her skin color. Though I cannot relate to the pain Makeda went through, I felt for her.
This book is told through a variety of formats: prose, free verse, songs, letters, and blog posts. Lockington's writing is gorgeous, and the imagery is rich and descriptive. The book moves really quickly and is a great look into racism and its effect. This book is geared toward middle schoolers, but should be read and savored by everyone, in my opinion. I happened to see this at work while cleaning library shelves the other week and am so glad I stumbled upon it. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this book, and it deserves so much more attention than it appears to have gotten.
These are five words I would use to describe this book.
Makeda is an 11-year-old Black girl who was adopted by a white family when she was an infant. When her family moves away from her old school and her best friend (another Black adoptee her age), Makeda is thrust into a new school with kids who primarily see her as "other" and "different" due to her skin color. Though I cannot relate to the pain Makeda went through, I felt for her.
This book is told through a variety of formats: prose, free verse, songs, letters, and blog posts. Lockington's writing is gorgeous, and the imagery is rich and descriptive. The book moves really quickly and is a great look into racism and its effect. This book is geared toward middle schoolers, but should be read and savored by everyone, in my opinion. I happened to see this at work while cleaning library shelves the other week and am so glad I stumbled upon it. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this book, and it deserves so much more attention than it appears to have gotten.
nickidenicki's review
5.0
Heartbreakingly beautiful coming of age story
I fell completely in love with Keda. She tells a unique story of what it is like to be a young black girl coming of age in these times. The book deals with racism head on and shines light on the way that even the best allies can have missed steps.
There were points in this book that were hard to read. The N-word is used once in the book but it was a very important part of the story. Other than that the book does not use any harsh or bad language.
I fell completely in love with Keda. She tells a unique story of what it is like to be a young black girl coming of age in these times. The book deals with racism head on and shines light on the way that even the best allies can have missed steps.
There were points in this book that were hard to read. The N-word is used once in the book but it was a very important part of the story. Other than that the book does not use any harsh or bad language.
tora76's review
4.0
This was so good! It's about a preteen girl dealing with issues of transracial adoption as well as her mother's untreated mental health problems. The author decided for some reason to write it entirely without commas, instead going with either run-on sentences or extra periods. I believe this was to mimic the flow of a poem while still keeping to paragraph format. Personally I don't feel that it added anything to the story and I didn't love it, but it was fine and I think the story is worth giving a go, even if the idea of no commas seems a bit off-putting.
kierscrivener's review
4.0
This is an incredible novel that follows eleven year old Keda as she navigates a new city as one of the few Black students in her high school and the only Black member of her family. Adopted as a baby she faces questions of identity and belonging in her family and how others perceive her in her family. It takes time to also look at how her mother acts and reacts as a white mother to a Black daughter, her insecurity, her mistakes.
How their mother (undiagnosed until late in the novel) Bipolar II affects both her and her sister Eve. Eve seeing her mother's diagnosis and manic episodes as destiny and that because she looks like their mother struggles with feeling like people identify her with the 'worst' of their mother. When Keda wishes nothing more to not be questioned or asked about her 'real family' or 'where she was born' She wants to blend and Eve wants to stand out.
I loved that Lockington allowed for both of them to have missteps and wrong opinions but also that their mistakes doesn't change their love or commitment to one another. As someone who couldn't be more different from my siblings and whose opinions couldn't fall further apart. But still remains close to them I appreciated that she included this nuanced exploration of sisterhood. You will never be carbon copies of your siblings whether you are biological, adopted or step siblings but that doesn't mean there can't be a bond that is greater than your differences. I wish I had written it down (as it is not in the quotes) but it was that they were the same tree looking at different skies. That they looked at the same situation with their different stories interpreting it.
I read a review saying that it was overcrowded, that she attempted to tackle too much and I couldn't disagree more. My favourite part of this is that it is intersectional. That though the 'main plot' is Keda finding and embracing what it means to be a Black girl. And more specifically a Black girl in a white family. But Keda's Blackness, or Keda being a transracial adoptee isn't an all encompassing thing. It impacts all areas of her life but those other things impact her life as well. So often stories especially those focused on identity of a minority is put in a vacuum. They become The Black One. The Gay One. The Bipolar One. The list is endless. But though representation is important, when we have representation and only representation with no other struggles or joys or big things we make these character tokens instead of characters. People are more than their most marginalized identity.
Life is messy and overcrowded, it doesn't wait for one crisis to end for another one to begin just ask 2020. And I think storytelling should reflect this. There are bad ways that this can be written but For Black Girls Like Me isn't an example of bad writing.
I just finished rewatching Civil War (I am going through Chadwick Boseman's films in the wake of his devastating death). And I was struck by how overcrowded the film should be. There is the first time introduction of two of biggest players in the MCU: Spiderman and Black Panther (both fully established in 8 and 11 minutes respectively), the official entrance of Antman as an Avenger, and the cementing of Wanda, Vision and Bucky as good characters outside of their more complicated origin films. Calling back and showing the effect of all previous films and balance Tony and Capt's romantic lives, journeys as heroes and leaders and how they pulled a Burr-Hamilton and switched places in their perspective of government and independence and how they view responsibility as corporate or individual. Add in a villain and his backstory and him ordering breakfast a lot and thematic conversations, relationships and lots of epic fights and a call back to the Edward Norton Hulk and you are still missing plot lines.
And some would argue that Civil War falls on it's overcrowded execution but I would argue that the reason the MCu films fight it out for the highest performing films of each year (and all time) is that they aren't one note. They build on many intersections of story, character and relationship. And For Black Girls Like Me isn't as grand in scope, it is ambitious in showing grounded reality.
The complexity of humanity, identity, family, and growing up. Not shying away from talking about racism, direct and what would be classified as 'polite everyday' racism. The othering. The calling of oreo or shame of being too Black or not Black enough. Adults turning a blind eye or in denial of bullying and hate speech. Of children being bullied and than allowing others to be bullied in order to be accepted. Of being a sister and how that relationship changes as you age. Of parentification or a child having to step up into an adult role. Of Mental Health. Of being a mother with bipolar and having a mother with bipolar. Feeling like Mental Health or trauma is an inescapable destiny. Of homeschooling, and first crushes and navigating a circle where you are the only one of your race. Of feeling like you are losing a friendship and the insecurity of reaching out. And the list is endless and they are each touched on so well even if only for a moment.
I can't wait to read more of Mariama's work! I also love love that this is all discussed in a Middle Grade book so often 'hard topics' are saved for later. But these are situations that are taking place when you are still a kid so they need to be talked about to kids.
Trigger Warnings: racism, use of the n-word, bullying, fatphobia, suicide, Bipolar II,
How their mother (undiagnosed until late in the novel) Bipolar II affects both her and her sister Eve. Eve seeing her mother's diagnosis and manic episodes as destiny and that because she looks like their mother struggles with feeling like people identify her with the 'worst' of their mother. When Keda wishes nothing more to not be questioned or asked about her 'real family' or 'where she was born' She wants to blend and Eve wants to stand out.
I loved that Lockington allowed for both of them to have missteps and wrong opinions but also that their mistakes doesn't change their love or commitment to one another. As someone who couldn't be more different from my siblings and whose opinions couldn't fall further apart. But still remains close to them I appreciated that she included this nuanced exploration of sisterhood. You will never be carbon copies of your siblings whether you are biological, adopted or step siblings but that doesn't mean there can't be a bond that is greater than your differences. I wish I had written it down (as it is not in the quotes) but it was that they were the same tree looking at different skies. That they looked at the same situation with their different stories interpreting it.
I read a review saying that it was overcrowded, that she attempted to tackle too much and I couldn't disagree more. My favourite part of this is that it is intersectional. That though the 'main plot' is Keda finding and embracing what it means to be a Black girl. And more specifically a Black girl in a white family. But Keda's Blackness, or Keda being a transracial adoptee isn't an all encompassing thing. It impacts all areas of her life but those other things impact her life as well. So often stories especially those focused on identity of a minority is put in a vacuum. They become The Black One. The Gay One. The Bipolar One. The list is endless. But though representation is important, when we have representation and only representation with no other struggles or joys or big things we make these character tokens instead of characters. People are more than their most marginalized identity.
Life is messy and overcrowded, it doesn't wait for one crisis to end for another one to begin just ask 2020. And I think storytelling should reflect this. There are bad ways that this can be written but For Black Girls Like Me isn't an example of bad writing.
I just finished rewatching Civil War (I am going through Chadwick Boseman's films in the wake of his devastating death). And I was struck by how overcrowded the film should be. There is the first time introduction of two of biggest players in the MCU: Spiderman and Black Panther (both fully established in 8 and 11 minutes respectively), the official entrance of Antman as an Avenger, and the cementing of Wanda, Vision and Bucky as good characters outside of their more complicated origin films. Calling back and showing the effect of all previous films and balance Tony and Capt's romantic lives, journeys as heroes and leaders and how they pulled a Burr-Hamilton and switched places in their perspective of government and independence and how they view responsibility as corporate or individual. Add in a villain and his backstory and him ordering breakfast a lot and thematic conversations, relationships and lots of epic fights and a call back to the Edward Norton Hulk and you are still missing plot lines.
And some would argue that Civil War falls on it's overcrowded execution but I would argue that the reason the MCu films fight it out for the highest performing films of each year (and all time) is that they aren't one note. They build on many intersections of story, character and relationship. And For Black Girls Like Me isn't as grand in scope, it is ambitious in showing grounded reality.
The complexity of humanity, identity, family, and growing up. Not shying away from talking about racism, direct and what would be classified as 'polite everyday' racism. The othering. The calling of oreo or shame of being too Black or not Black enough. Adults turning a blind eye or in denial of bullying and hate speech. Of children being bullied and than allowing others to be bullied in order to be accepted. Of being a sister and how that relationship changes as you age. Of parentification or a child having to step up into an adult role. Of Mental Health. Of being a mother with bipolar and having a mother with bipolar. Feeling like Mental Health or trauma is an inescapable destiny. Of homeschooling, and first crushes and navigating a circle where you are the only one of your race. Of feeling like you are losing a friendship and the insecurity of reaching out. And the list is endless and they are each touched on so well even if only for a moment.
I can't wait to read more of Mariama's work! I also love love that this is all discussed in a Middle Grade book so often 'hard topics' are saved for later. But these are situations that are taking place when you are still a kid so they need to be talked about to kids.
Trigger Warnings: racism, use of the n-word, bullying, fatphobia, suicide, Bipolar II,
miss_tricia's review
3.0
I'm grateful Lockington wrote this book. As a white woman raising black kids, I'm painfully aware of the ways that "mirrors" for their experience are few and far between.
Through her protagonist, Lockington echoes many of the things I've heard from other adult adoptees, but in a way that's accessible and memorable for younger readers. I'd consider this a great first-read for adults considering transracial adoption; necessary reading for siblings of transracial adoptees; a great resource for students in schools, youth groups, and extracurricular activities with transracially adopted youth; and a gift for transracially adopted youth themselves.
Through her protagonist, Lockington echoes many of the things I've heard from other adult adoptees, but in a way that's accessible and memorable for younger readers. I'd consider this a great first-read for adults considering transracial adoption; necessary reading for siblings of transracial adoptees; a great resource for students in schools, youth groups, and extracurricular activities with transracially adopted youth; and a gift for transracially adopted youth themselves.
shayemiller's review
4.0
This is a painful and powerful story that examines sisterhood, mental health, suicide, and transracial adoption. Makeda (Keda) June Kirkland is black and she was adopted by a white family as a baby. In the opening chapters of this book, her family is making a big move from Maryland to New Mexico. Sadly, this means Keda is leaving behind her best friend, Lena, who happens to be the only other adopted black girl she knows. With an older sister who seems too good for her, a father who has left the country for a while, and a mother who is potentially mentally unstable, Keda struggles to figure out where she belongs. She navigates racism and constant confusion by those who assume she doesn’t belong with her white family. Thankfully, Keda and Lena find a way to continue their conversations through secret messaging. But can this long distance e-friendship carry her through the difficulty that lies ahead? NOTE: This is an #ownvoices novel as Mariama J. Lockington was a transracial adoptee, herself.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
amdame1's review
4.0
Makeda is 11; she's black and was adopted by white parents. She has an older sister, who is also white. Keda often feels out of place in her family even though she loves them. To make matters worse, they are now moving to Albuquerque from Maryland and she has to leave her best friend, Lena, who is also an adopted black girl, and gets what Keda is going through. They have a notebook where they write letters to each other and promise to use it to keep in touch and mail it back and forth. Keda has a hard time in New Mexico - both at home and at school. Nobody seems to realize what Keda facing as everyone is dealing with their own issues.
A sweet and insightful look into the issues that a black girl adopted by a white family would face. Other issues, such as depression and bullying, are also addressed here.
A sweet and insightful look into the issues that a black girl adopted by a white family would face. Other issues, such as depression and bullying, are also addressed here.