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A review by melirose1998
When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Elisabet Velasquez, you really did that! I sticky tabbed this book so much, and honestly I felt like each page had such an important message. This debut novel in verse makes you think super critically about what it means to make it. What is success, really? Who defines it? Who is allowed to be seen, and who is intentionally erased?
This follows Sarai, her sister Estrella, and their Mami. As I was reading, I came across themes of navigating family trauma, systemic discrimination, housing inequality, poverty, toxic masculinity and machismo. Sarai makes me challenge myself to question society (more than I already do) and whose stories get told, and what the news does and doesn't report. This book taught me a lot more about what it is like to grow up as a young Puerto Rican woman. Elisabet shines light on the experiences of nuyoricans and other "diasporicans," continuously emphasizing the need to talk about history and other stories that aren't talked about in American history books. I identified with some of Sarai's struggles to find her identity when she is seemingly so far removed from island life. My dad has point blank told me "tu no eres Mexicana" and it's like damn... so maybe I'm not? But that's the thing, right? We are allowed to choose what we identify with. We are the ones that get to choose what it means to make it.
I deeply appreciated the vulnerability poured over these pages, and I am so grateful to have met Elisabet this past weekend at the Philly Reading Event. Elisabet is cooler than cool, lol I still can't believe that happened and she signed my book. When we Make it is the type of book that will stay in your thoughts for a lifetime. Please go read this NOW. Or Listen!! Elisabet narrates the audiobook! Also, as I have been taught by my homies on here, #readmorepoetry <3
This follows Sarai, her sister Estrella, and their Mami. As I was reading, I came across themes of navigating family trauma, systemic discrimination, housing inequality, poverty, toxic masculinity and machismo. Sarai makes me challenge myself to question society (more than I already do) and whose stories get told, and what the news does and doesn't report. This book taught me a lot more about what it is like to grow up as a young Puerto Rican woman. Elisabet shines light on the experiences of nuyoricans and other "diasporicans," continuously emphasizing the need to talk about history and other stories that aren't talked about in American history books. I identified with some of Sarai's struggles to find her identity when she is seemingly so far removed from island life. My dad has point blank told me "tu no eres Mexicana" and it's like damn... so maybe I'm not? But that's the thing, right? We are allowed to choose what we identify with. We are the ones that get to choose what it means to make it.
I deeply appreciated the vulnerability poured over these pages, and I am so grateful to have met Elisabet this past weekend at the Philly Reading Event. Elisabet is cooler than cool, lol I still can't believe that happened and she signed my book. When we Make it is the type of book that will stay in your thoughts for a lifetime. Please go read this NOW. Or Listen!! Elisabet narrates the audiobook! Also, as I have been taught by my homies on here, #readmorepoetry <3