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japamela's review against another edition
5.0
I loved her writing style and brilliant descriptions. As a kid who grew up around the same time, all of her vivid references were familiar for me, but in a very different scenario. I often don't like when authors jump around in time, but for a memoir like this, it really worked. It felt like she was telling you the story naturally and as she remembered things, she'd bring them up. This is not the type of book that you can pick up and put down or you will forget those points that will come back later in the book.
sara126's review against another edition
5.0
will wring your heart out again and again and again. díaz breaks down girlhood into what it is: rage, growth, and regaining control in a world that was not built for you. this memoir is everything it needed to be. did i cry 5 different times? maybe
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
What a powerful read (or listen in my case).
It helps to be bilingual, and if you are bilingual and not familiar with the Puerto Riqueño patois you might need an urban dictionary kind of place though I imagine Google would do.
As an educator I totally want to invite Ms. Díaz to talk to my students. She has such a powerful voice.
As a history teacher I wish more was spent on Puerto Rican history which she delves into in the 4th part, but she covers a lot of the Puerto Rican diaspora in Miami (which of course surprised me as I know more of the Puerto Rican diaspora in NY and upstate).
As a required reporter it killed me that no one got her help sooner. I feel that her teachers were criminal in not doing anything (a bit of a small spoiler here: except the one that encouraged her to submit the piece that won the prize). That is what keeps away the 5th star, which is no shade on the author but to read about abuse repeatedly is just a hard go, to read about a child getting abused and homophobia in the military was just depressing. But the fourth part and the final note were very uplifting. Sad to find out that it wasn't actually the author's voice, but you can't get too greedy.
It helps to be bilingual, and if you are bilingual and not familiar with the Puerto Riqueño patois you might need an urban dictionary kind of place though I imagine Google would do.
As an educator I totally want to invite Ms. Díaz to talk to my students. She has such a powerful voice.
As a history teacher I wish more was spent on Puerto Rican history which she delves into in the 4th part, but she covers a lot of the Puerto Rican diaspora in Miami (which of course surprised me as I know more of the Puerto Rican diaspora in NY and upstate).
As a required reporter it killed me that no one got her help sooner. I feel that her teachers were criminal in not doing anything (a bit of a small spoiler here: except the one that encouraged her to submit the piece that won the prize). That is what keeps away the 5th star, which is no shade on the author but to read about abuse repeatedly is just a hard go, to read about a child getting abused and homophobia in the military was just depressing. But the fourth part and the final note were very uplifting. Sad to find out that it wasn't actually the author's voice, but you can't get too greedy.
prispapi's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide attempt
lidiaaa222's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Lesbophobia, Drug abuse, Cursing, Transphobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Racial slurs, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Classism, Grief, Outing, Bullying, and Infidelity
mercedesb's review against another edition
3.0
An important story. I think we always need more real stories from voices society doesn’t listen to.
Unfortunately, I found it a little repetitive and hard to follow as the book wore on. I found myself feeling a little numb and overwhelmed.
But I loved the Puerto Rican representation and pride that imbued the whole story.
Unfortunately, I found it a little repetitive and hard to follow as the book wore on. I found myself feeling a little numb and overwhelmed.
But I loved the Puerto Rican representation and pride that imbued the whole story.
theoverflowingbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
In Jaquira Diaz’s debut book, Ordinary Girls, she chronicles her life growing up on the streets of Puerto Rico and Miami Beach. Originally published last year and winning awards like the 2019 Whiting Award in Nonfiction, this memoir is poignant, engaging, and a book that everyone should read at some point in their lives.
Diaz’s story is a truly inspiring tale of a juvenile delinquent who seems like she wouldn’t amount to anything, yet defied the odds and turned her life around. The way she recalls her younger self and the things she did with both fondness and frustration is heartbreaking. However, the way she weaves the story of dealing with her schizophrenic mother, neglectful father, two abuelas (one loving and the other not so much), and friends she considered family, into a memoir/nonfiction piece is amazing.
The descriptions and historical background of Puerto Rico mixed with Diaz’s own life stories shows her Puerto Rican pride and how she is a culmination of all of the things that happened in the past. However, being defined by these things isn’t necessarily a bad thing sometimes. She takes the phrase “ordinary girls” and uses it to describe the simplicity of what life was like for her back then and how it wasn’t ordinary at all, but to her it was. Despite being a street fighter, runaway, and high school dropout, Diaz candidly expresses how she takes those labels, along with her struggles with drug abuse and depression, and tries to make sense of her identity and strove to be ordinary, or what she assumes “ordinary” to be. The way Diaz tells her story is unlike any other memoir I’ve read and it is fascinating to read about what it was like for her to grow up in the projects.
If you’re looking for an own-voices story or a book that will allow you to live someone else’s life for a short time, then this book is a must-read! This novel is inspiring, raw, and novel-esque in the way it’s told. The paperback version will be released on June 16th and it is definitely one to keep an eye out for.
Diaz’s story is a truly inspiring tale of a juvenile delinquent who seems like she wouldn’t amount to anything, yet defied the odds and turned her life around. The way she recalls her younger self and the things she did with both fondness and frustration is heartbreaking. However, the way she weaves the story of dealing with her schizophrenic mother, neglectful father, two abuelas (one loving and the other not so much), and friends she considered family, into a memoir/nonfiction piece is amazing.
The descriptions and historical background of Puerto Rico mixed with Diaz’s own life stories shows her Puerto Rican pride and how she is a culmination of all of the things that happened in the past. However, being defined by these things isn’t necessarily a bad thing sometimes. She takes the phrase “ordinary girls” and uses it to describe the simplicity of what life was like for her back then and how it wasn’t ordinary at all, but to her it was. Despite being a street fighter, runaway, and high school dropout, Diaz candidly expresses how she takes those labels, along with her struggles with drug abuse and depression, and tries to make sense of her identity and strove to be ordinary, or what she assumes “ordinary” to be. The way Diaz tells her story is unlike any other memoir I’ve read and it is fascinating to read about what it was like for her to grow up in the projects.
If you’re looking for an own-voices story or a book that will allow you to live someone else’s life for a short time, then this book is a must-read! This novel is inspiring, raw, and novel-esque in the way it’s told. The paperback version will be released on June 16th and it is definitely one to keep an eye out for.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
This was a hard, fascinating, raw read. I had to stop every now and then to let out some anger at men, cops, and the U.S. before I could continue reading. My eyes were further opened to the cruelty of colonialization in general and of Puerto Rico in particular.
wilcoxrobynne's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0