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trini_tessa's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this one a lot! First the cover is gorgeous and I loved that the author is Canadian but has such a mixed ethnic background (as so many people do these days). One of the questions she addresses most in life and this book is what (or who) am I? Something we all struggle with but for someone of mixed race ancestry there are definitely extra layers. Not feeling like she belonged anywhere was a big part of her life > she traces her family’s history and takes a 23 and me DNA test trying to get some answers but ultimately finds race is both real and a construction. I liked how she divided the book into sections focusing on different features (hair, eyes, lips, skin, DNA, etc) and all the ways those things were issues for her growing up. Also really enjoyed that she turned to books for many of her answers > her love of literature shines through in these pages. Love that she has a Guelph connection too > her Veterinarian father trained at the OVC (but had to board and work on farms because no one would take a Black boarder in the city!). Very smartly written and I highly recommend it.
juicygreenmom's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
lugalante's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book read my mind, sometimes it read what my mind hadn’t even thought yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Colonisation, Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Police brutality, Ableism, and Gun violence
lori_reads_everything's review against another edition
4.0
"On the day He was to create justice
God got involved in making a dragonfly
And lost track of time."
When Tessa McWatt was a child, she was asked, "What are you?". In this book she presents her hypothesis, observations and findings on race, identity, and who we are in relation to one another. This book is a perfect balance of poetic and informative, challenging you to grow and think and feel along with her. It is also an in-depth look at the history of racism, the issues still faced today, and hopes for the future.
While I find it hard to sum this book up neatly and put a bow on in, I will say that I very much enjoyed it.
God got involved in making a dragonfly
And lost track of time."
When Tessa McWatt was a child, she was asked, "What are you?". In this book she presents her hypothesis, observations and findings on race, identity, and who we are in relation to one another. This book is a perfect balance of poetic and informative, challenging you to grow and think and feel along with her. It is also an in-depth look at the history of racism, the issues still faced today, and hopes for the future.
While I find it hard to sum this book up neatly and put a bow on in, I will say that I very much enjoyed it.
robblar_'s review
4.0
Absolute bargain for 99p on Kindle.
An excellent piece on mixed racial identity, using anatomy as the focus of racialisation and the search for belonging.
Really enjoyed.
An excellent piece on mixed racial identity, using anatomy as the focus of racialisation and the search for belonging.
Really enjoyed.
girlfriday4's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
carolinethereader's review against another edition
5.0
A teacher singles out eight year old Tessa McWatt with the question "what are you?" The class has just been asked if they know what 'Negro' means and a young boy turned to point at Tessa. Tessa feels ashamed and embarrassed but doesn't understand why. How can something as complex as family history be condensed to a one-word answer?
Shame on Me is such a fascinating reflection on race, belonging and identity. It is deeply personal- part memoir and part examination of racial issues. The chapter headings are human anatomy based and are used as a way to 'dissect' race and McWatt's experiences with it. She uses personal stories and wider historical writings on slavery and movements against racism. All of this makes such an interesting book that I loved reading. She writes wonderfully and combines her stories with her reflections and observations on racial identity effortlessly. I'd love to come back to this another time because it really was enjoyable.
Shame on Me is such a fascinating reflection on race, belonging and identity. It is deeply personal- part memoir and part examination of racial issues. The chapter headings are human anatomy based and are used as a way to 'dissect' race and McWatt's experiences with it. She uses personal stories and wider historical writings on slavery and movements against racism. All of this makes such an interesting book that I loved reading. She writes wonderfully and combines her stories with her reflections and observations on racial identity effortlessly. I'd love to come back to this another time because it really was enjoyable.