A review by jurizprudence
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

are monsters under your bed, or just hiding in plain sight?

such an impactful and important read about seeing past the mundane illusions that in-denial societies have set and addressing abuse in all its horrifying, oftentimes deceitful visages. i am astounded by how thought-provoking, profound, and heartbreaking this novella was, how excellent and diverse the representation of identity was written, and how for a limited number of pages, it was able to effectively unpack and discuss heavy topics without being too explicit. i absolutely loved the whimsical language and prose; i grew attached to the main characters—jam, pet, and redemption—and it's silly but i want to protect them; and i appreciated the metaphors of good/angels and bad/monsters, knowing that this could be easily read and interpeted by younger readers. i just know that i will still spend time thinking about this on the days to come—in fact, this story and its messages will certainly stay with me forever.
 
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