A review by riften
Hello Mum by Bernardine Evaristo

sad medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

JJ's letter to his mum after his murder is uncomfortable to read - admittedly I am one of the interlopers JJ derides for catching the train out of the estate every evening - but it's hard not to think it over after finishing, shuffle through what could have been done or who could have stepped in to dispel the tragedy. Although knife violence is relevant as ever, the dialogue and cultural references of 2010 straddle that awkward space between 'retro' and 'cringe'. I'm unsure how it will be received by students today, but it's certainly fast and absorbing enough for reluctant readers.
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