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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This book was an excellent YA book . The main character is Fabiola. She is an immigrant from Hati . She and her mother are coming to United States . It is a great immigrant story. I enjoyed all the characters. I give this book a four star rating .
I wasn't expecting this book to go down the route that it did. What I liked was how Fabiola used her Haitian Creole background to interpret and make sense of her new American surroundings. Her culture became her lenses for seeing the world and those around her.
I didn't like the storyline with Fabiola's mother, which ended up shaping the entire story. As a whole, there wasn't the resolution that I was looking for. The mother took a backseat for a while to the world of drugs.
Overall the story was well written, it simply wasn't what I was expecting.
I didn't like the storyline with Fabiola's mother, which ended up shaping the entire story. As a whole, there wasn't the resolution that I was looking for. The mother took a backseat for a while to the world of drugs.
Overall the story was well written, it simply wasn't what I was expecting.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A very powerful and captivating coming-of-age story.
We follow Fabiola, a 16-year-old who has recently immigrated from Haiti to Detroit. As she navigates cultural shock, the painful separation from her mother—who is detained by immigration—and the complexities of living with her aunt and cousins, she holds onto her Haitian culture and beliefs while trying to adapt to life in the U.S.
The writing effortlessly immerses you in Fabiola’s journey. The ending is tough but incredibly realistic, leaving a lasting impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent
4.5 stars. My favorite thing about this book is how real it makes the life of Fabiola as she navigates her life in Detroit after growing up in Haiti. I love how she brings her Haitian beliefs and culture with her. I cringed at some of her decisions, but was rooting for her the whole time.
Fabiola and her mother are traveling to Detroit in America from Port au Prince Haiti to be with their family. Unfortunately, Fabiola's mother is detained in New York at immigration. She was only coming on a visa and planned to "extend her visit" while Fabiola who was American born is sent on her way to meet her cousins alone. Fab's cousins are tough and have a reputation; no one messes with the "Three B's." Chantal is the brains; Donna is the beauty; Pri is the brawn. Fab enrolls in their private high school where she learned that all of those English classes Matant (Aunt) Jo paid for in Haiti only got her so far. She makes new friends including Kasim, a sweet hard-working boy who falls head over heels for her and calls her Fabulous. But Kasim is best friend's with Dray, Donna's abusive boyfriend and just plain bad news. A detective strikes a bargain with Fab that if she gets her information about Dray's drug deals, the detective will help Fab's mother. Fabiola often feels lost and confused and finds solace in voodou worshipping praying for her mother and seeking answers to her many questions. She believes Papa Legba or the crazy man everyone else calls Bad Leg who sits at the corner of American Street and Joy Road is there to guide her. But will her iwas be able to help her through the ups and downs of inner city life, or will the 'American dream' consume her spirit?
It was hard for me to get into this book at first. It felt like Fabiola's cousins were set up to be stereotypical inner city Detroit black girls. Then I heard Ibi Zoboi speak as part of a panel and saw the book differently.
It was hard for me to get into this book at first. It felt like Fabiola's cousins were set up to be stereotypical inner city Detroit black girls. Then I heard Ibi Zoboi speak as part of a panel and saw the book differently.
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was an average read for me. i couldn‘t really warm up with the writing style but could read it quite fast nonetheless.
though i have to say that some characters appeared heartless to me (especially in the beginning) iykyk
though i have to say that some characters appeared heartless to me (especially in the beginning) iykyk
Clearly a book that every teen needs to read. There is so much to talk about here and relevant to today. Just . . . Chef’s kiss!
American Street was interesting, original, and often beautiful in its prose. Still, it only struck me as "decent." I appreciated the introduction to creole and voodu as a Haitian spiritual practice. I think it was the base of the story that bothered me, somehow. I'm glad I read it. It just didn't fully resonate with me.
Powerful, raw & authentic read. Fabiola was such a complex character, I was drawn in from the very beginning.