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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I tend to shy away from books like this, for the mere fact that I am a social worker and have to work with broken systems and injustices quite often. In my world of escapism, I tend to avoid the same types of things that I deal with in real life.
That being said, this book is absolutely incredible. It did not feel preachy like there was a hidden agenda. It didn’t feel like it was trying to make me lean one way or another. It felt like it just telling the story of an immigrant trying to find a better life, a family of women trying to make a living, and the difficult lives of minorities in the city of Detroit, rather than being a book on social justice. There is a social justice aspect, white flight, police brutality, immigration, addiction, but they’re written about in such a way that makes it “easy” to read about, if such topics can ever be “easy.” The characters being to light a new compassion that I think so many readers, and people in general, would benefit from. I read this book for book club, and I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it, but I devoured it in two sittings.
- I want to hold onto this bit of discomfort between us for a while. This is how I will get to know him, get to know what makes him angry or sad.
- My mother is the one who will make my life complete here, not him.
- If hot red is for anger and rage, pink is the color of a soft burning – hot enough to light up the dark corners of sadness and grief, but cool enough to be tender, innocent, open.
That being said, this book is absolutely incredible. It did not feel preachy like there was a hidden agenda. It didn’t feel like it was trying to make me lean one way or another. It felt like it just telling the story of an immigrant trying to find a better life, a family of women trying to make a living, and the difficult lives of minorities in the city of Detroit, rather than being a book on social justice. There is a social justice aspect, white flight, police brutality, immigration, addiction, but they’re written about in such a way that makes it “easy” to read about, if such topics can ever be “easy.” The characters being to light a new compassion that I think so many readers, and people in general, would benefit from. I read this book for book club, and I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it, but I devoured it in two sittings.
- I want to hold onto this bit of discomfort between us for a while. This is how I will get to know him, get to know what makes him angry or sad.
- My mother is the one who will make my life complete here, not him.
- If hot red is for anger and rage, pink is the color of a soft burning – hot enough to light up the dark corners of sadness and grief, but cool enough to be tender, innocent, open.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for the audiobook version. Robin Miles pulls off a difficult narration of this complex YA novel, with a main character speaking in the first person with a Haitian accent and dialogue with inner city Detroit characters, and imbues life and personality into each character beyond Ibi Zoboi's beautiful words.
This novel took me on a crazy ride: emotionally complex, overloaded with issues, layered with magical elements, and both powerful and timely in the context of current events today, most notably immigration detention injustices and the Black Lives Matter movement. I was hoping for more development of the storyline with Fabiola's mother, and it seemed like her aunt was mostly an afterthought in the storyline. I loved and wanted more from Pri, Donna, and Chantal, and I loved Kasim's character. The occasional digressions into other character's perspectives felt disjointed at times, and it felt like the novel ended terribly abruptly after an apocalyptic tragedy, followed by a shocking plot twist that was briefly mentioned but then dropped, making unclear how Fabiola's character had developed and adapted. Nevertheless, it still was a powerful and enjoyable read.
This novel took me on a crazy ride: emotionally complex, overloaded with issues, layered with magical elements, and both powerful and timely in the context of current events today, most notably immigration detention injustices and the Black Lives Matter movement. I was hoping for more development of the storyline with Fabiola's mother, and it seemed like her aunt was mostly an afterthought in the storyline. I loved and wanted more from Pri, Donna, and Chantal, and I loved Kasim's character. The occasional digressions into other character's perspectives felt disjointed at times, and it felt like the novel ended terribly abruptly after an apocalyptic tragedy, followed by a shocking plot twist that was briefly mentioned but then dropped, making unclear how Fabiola's character had developed and adapted. Nevertheless, it still was a powerful and enjoyable read.
fast-paced
I’m not usually a fan of magical realism, but this book is beautiful and heart-breaking. It is gritty in its portrayal of life on the streets of Detroit. There is so much to learn about Haitian vodou culture. The dialogue and character development are so real that it’s absorbing. Overall, this text would be accessible to students and also provide them opportunities for analysis and debate.
this book is written so beautifully, so powerfully. the language in the book is written with really amazing metaphors, and the magic of the book is woven with reality, so it's mysterious and hard to tell what's real.
i love kasim and fabiola's relationship so much, they were so cute together. it made me so happy, i could just read a book full of their interactions.
her relationship with her cousins was interesting too. everyone had so much depth, even characters that weren't that important to the plot, like her aunt. i enjoyed the backstories of the characters, they gave more of an insight into their characters.
it is such a powerful, entrancing, mysterious, and heart-wrenching book. i don't think anyone could get through without crying.
i love kasim and fabiola's relationship so much, they were so cute together. it made me so happy, i could just read a book full of their interactions.
her relationship with her cousins was interesting too. everyone had so much depth, even characters that weren't that important to the plot, like her aunt. i enjoyed the backstories of the characters, they gave more of an insight into their characters.
it is such a powerful, entrancing, mysterious, and heart-wrenching book. i don't think anyone could get through without crying.
Stirring coming of age drama within the Haitian diaspora and immigrant community in Detroit, with great voice and many layers of relevance to our current era. It would braid well with "The Hate U Give."
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 .