A review by probablyjenna
It's a Privilege Just to Be Here by Emma Sasaki

challenging funny reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

It’s A Privilege Just to be Here has a blurb that says it’s for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Such A Fun Age, and I am here to say I fully support this endorsement! This book is a perfect companion to both of those novels, while also bringing its own singular voice to the table.

The story follows a veteran teacher Aki Hiyashi-Brown who works at a very prestigious private school in Washington DC; she initially took the job so she’d be able to send her own daughter, Meg, to the school, something that would have been impossible without the faculty discount/financial aid. However, in Meg’s junior year a racist message is graffitied onto one of the school buildings, and it brings a lot of the school’s more insidious beliefs and practices to light. Aki finds herself, a Japanese-American woman, caught between wanting her initial desire to simply be grateful to be present at such a prestigious institutions, and her daughter’s adamant demands to take a stand.

I absolutely devoured this book, and am blown away that it’s a debut novel. It is clever, hard hitting, and quietly provocative. Aki’s struggle is so well written; the relationship between her and Meg feels real and frustrating. You are supposed to feel mad at points in this book; I loved Emma Sasaki’s ability to draw out a moment so readers could truly feel it.

The audiobook was superb! The narrator did a fantastic job and I’d definitely listen to more books narrated by her.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year and I can’t wait to see what else Sasaki creates!