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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such an amazing and enthralling read, touches on deep topics like police brutality, immigration containment, family struggles, Haitian voodoo. Came out around the same time as they hate you give; the same premise but touches on a lot of touchy topics. If I could scrub my memory of this book and read it over and over again, I would.
Fabiola watches her mother disappear into the bowels of the airport. She can't cross into America with her. Instead, Fabiola must navigate American life with her aunt and cousins on her own, making sense of a new world and new life in Detroit whilst remaining true to her mother and her Haitian roots. She races into her first love, deals with the issues brought up by struggling through the poverty line in the US, and also the racial tensions between the people in her new neighborhood and the police. She must decide whom to trust, remaining true to her family and her heart, along with sorting out her path in this new and different land. Fabiola's voice is clear, determined and yet, still tinged with the confusion and turmoil of being a young woman growing into her own. A beautiful story with magical realism and elements of Fabiola's Haitian heritage woven throughout.
*3,5 stars*
I'm very conflicted about this book, I'm not sure how I feel. It was a quick read but I had a hard time getting into it because I didn't like the main character, I found her naive, irritating and judgemental specially at the beginning. As a character-driven reader, it's very hard for me to enjoy a book if I don't like the main character.
Nonetheless, I found all the other characters interesting and I really wish I could have spent more time with the main character's cousins because they seemed like complex and fascinating characters and I would have loved to know more about them. Because of my interest in the secondary characters, I really liked the little snippets that were present throughout the book that told a little bit of the story of each one of them. Also, this book has really complex relationships between the characters that I really enjoyed reading about.
I was nervious about picking up this book for two reasons, I had heard that:
a) this book was full of girl hate, which it's true but I think it's very realistic because of the context these girls are in, the constant danger and the need to proof you're strong so other people will leave you alone.
b) this book didn't handle the topic of abusive relationships very well, and I think this one may be true, I think it didn't sugar coat it and it show how messy being in that situation is, but all the characters knew it was happening and even if they kind of tried to talk to the girl about it, they pretty much dismissed it as "that's how they (the couple) are" and the resolution to the whole situation is messy and it left me with the feeling that the book didn't rejected the situation in a strong enough way for it to be clear that abuse is wrong and it's not justifiable in any situation.
Also, the synopsis made it sound like the fact that the main character's mother was detained by U.S. immigration was a big part of the story, when it really wasn't. It's mentioned often but it felt more like a plot device than anything else, that's there only to move the plot forward. I wish there was more of this aspect present in the book, nonetheless, I think the depiction of the life of an immigrant and the cultural shock it represent living in a country that it's not your own was very well done.
Lastly, the other big issue with this book is that the ending is rushed and it was a deus ex machina that was an easy way out of a very complicated situation that would have had a very different outcome in real life.
I'm very conflicted about this book, I'm not sure how I feel. It was a quick read but I had a hard time getting into it because I didn't like the main character, I found her naive, irritating and judgemental specially at the beginning. As a character-driven reader, it's very hard for me to enjoy a book if I don't like the main character.
Nonetheless, I found all the other characters interesting and I really wish I could have spent more time with the main character's cousins because they seemed like complex and fascinating characters and I would have loved to know more about them. Because of my interest in the secondary characters, I really liked the little snippets that were present throughout the book that told a little bit of the story of each one of them. Also, this book has really complex relationships between the characters that I really enjoyed reading about.
I was nervious about picking up this book for two reasons, I had heard that:
a) this book was full of girl hate, which it's true but I think it's very realistic because of the context these girls are in, the constant danger and the need to proof you're strong so other people will leave you alone.
b) this book didn't handle the topic of abusive relationships very well, and I think this one may be true, I think it didn't sugar coat it and it show how messy being in that situation is, but all the characters knew it was happening and even if they kind of tried to talk to the girl about it, they pretty much dismissed it as "that's how they (the couple) are" and the resolution to the whole situation is messy and it left me with the feeling that the book didn't rejected the situation in a strong enough way for it to be clear that abuse is wrong and it's not justifiable in any situation.
Also, the synopsis made it sound like the fact that the main character's mother was detained by U.S. immigration was a big part of the story, when it really wasn't. It's mentioned often but it felt more like a plot device than anything else, that's there only to move the plot forward. I wish there was more of this aspect present in the book, nonetheless, I think the depiction of the life of an immigrant and the cultural shock it represent living in a country that it's not your own was very well done.
Lastly, the other big issue with this book is that the ending is rushed and it was a deus ex machina that was an easy way out of a very complicated situation that would have had a very different outcome in real life.
American Street was the opposite of everything I normally look for in a book. It is set in the real world. It deals with hard topics. And it doesn't have the happiest of all the endings. Also, there is no magic.
And still I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
The voice of Fabiola, the main character, is so well done! Her voice isn't generic, it isn't how I view the world. It is unique to her, a young woman from Haiti, an immigrant experiencing life in the US for the first time. Her prayers, her beliefs in magic and spirits was fascinating.
Really the whole cast is awesome. Dray is disgusting. Kasim is sweet. And the cousins have SO MUCH personality.
But I think the best part of American Street, is that is was a window into a life that I will never know. The world of Fabiola and her cousins wasn't an easy one. They struggled with poverty, violence, and death. It was sad but also, empowering to see them fight for themselves and for each other.
And still I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
The voice of Fabiola, the main character, is so well done! Her voice isn't generic, it isn't how I view the world. It is unique to her, a young woman from Haiti, an immigrant experiencing life in the US for the first time. Her prayers, her beliefs in magic and spirits was fascinating.
Really the whole cast is awesome. Dray is disgusting. Kasim is sweet. And the cousins have SO MUCH personality.
But I think the best part of American Street, is that is was a window into a life that I will never know. The world of Fabiola and her cousins wasn't an easy one. They struggled with poverty, violence, and death. It was sad but also, empowering to see them fight for themselves and for each other.
Update! Full review: http://www.bookishrealmreviews.com/2017/03/american-street-by-ibo-zoboi.html
Ya'll I read this book in a day! haha I'm surprised. I literally started it yesterday morning and finished it yesterday night. It was the type of book that pulled you in and refused to let you go. I loved that! The writing was gritty meaning there was explicit language and also terms that maybe not everyone would be comfortable with, but to be honest this book was written in a way that made you understand the lifestyle of teens in Detroit. There isn't a whole bunch of love and fluffy things that happen in this book. The writer doesn't hold your hand and try to make you feel comfortable. She makes everything real and I could appreciate that. This is like no other YA novel I've ever read to be honest. I've seen a lot of these elements in urban fiction, but definitely not in YA and I like that she pushed the envelope and challenged readers with the content that makes them feel uncomfortable and content that is outside the box. The only thing that I had a problem with is the fact that this book tried to tackle too many issues at one time. If she would have focused on one central issue I think I probably would have enjoyed it more.
Ya'll I read this book in a day! haha I'm surprised. I literally started it yesterday morning and finished it yesterday night. It was the type of book that pulled you in and refused to let you go. I loved that! The writing was gritty meaning there was explicit language and also terms that maybe not everyone would be comfortable with, but to be honest this book was written in a way that made you understand the lifestyle of teens in Detroit. There isn't a whole bunch of love and fluffy things that happen in this book. The writer doesn't hold your hand and try to make you feel comfortable. She makes everything real and I could appreciate that. This is like no other YA novel I've ever read to be honest. I've seen a lot of these elements in urban fiction, but definitely not in YA and I like that she pushed the envelope and challenged readers with the content that makes them feel uncomfortable and content that is outside the box. The only thing that I had a problem with is the fact that this book tried to tackle too many issues at one time. If she would have focused on one central issue I think I probably would have enjoyed it more.
4.5 Stars
What I Loved:
* The magical realism. I think this might be my first experience with magical realism, and it was beautiful.
* Fabiola's vodou culture. It's something I was completely unfamiliar with, and I really appreciated how it brought her so much peace and clarity. I would have loved even more detail about it.
* I loved the themes of family and loyalty. I loved how fiercely Fabiola's cousins protected each other, even though I didn't always love their methods.
* I loved the mini vignettes where we saw the perspectives of secondary characters. My personal favourite was the one about the house on American Street.
What I Missed (POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW):
* I appreciated how Zoboi included issues such as drugs and abusive relationships. I think it's important to show these issues in literature for young adults, but I didn't love the resolutions, particularly with the emotionally/physically abusive relationship that existed.
* I would have liked more resolution with Fabiola's mother's detainment.
What I Loved:
* The magical realism. I think this might be my first experience with magical realism, and it was beautiful.
* Fabiola's vodou culture. It's something I was completely unfamiliar with, and I really appreciated how it brought her so much peace and clarity. I would have loved even more detail about it.
* I loved the themes of family and loyalty. I loved how fiercely Fabiola's cousins protected each other, even though I didn't always love their methods.
* I loved the mini vignettes where we saw the perspectives of secondary characters. My personal favourite was the one about the house on American Street.
What I Missed (POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW):
* I appreciated how Zoboi included issues such as drugs and abusive relationships. I think it's important to show these issues in literature for young adults, but I didn't love the resolutions, particularly with the emotionally/physically abusive relationship that existed.
* I would have liked more resolution with Fabiola's mother's detainment.
This novel has been on my TRB list for awhile and since it’s this month’s pick in one of my book clubs decided to finally read it. American Street is a YA (young adult) and debut novel by author Ibi Zoboi. While reading this novel I could clearly picture this story playing out in real time. I enjoyed the poetry addition to the story as well as how the author who is a Haitian native drew from her own experiences when writing this novel.
I would definitely recommend this book to others to read.
I would definitely recommend this book to others to read.
Engaging and heavy with moments of pure joy. The magical realism is understated and beautiful.