A review by georgiasbookescapes
Bugs by Whiti Hereaka

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Bugs is a 16 year old Māori girl. Her best friend is Jez. It’s always been the two of them. Bugs and Jez, Jez and Bugs. Now Stone Cold has started at their school and has taken an interest in Jez. What unravels is varying social commentaries on friendships, class and race. 

This book was rough for me to start with, yes I eat meat, but hearing about animals being murdered is something I struggle with, which occurs to rabbits in this book. What started unfolding became a book I struggled to put down. The expectations of success and failure because of who you were born into the family of, something I struggle to appreciate as different from my white and privileged family I was born into. If you can handle a first person written story from a 16 year old, get onto this book as quick as you can!