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samkv 's review for:
American Street
by Ibi Zoboi
This had the potential to be such a good story, but the main conflict got lost among all the girl drama, boy drama, and shady business drama. The main conflict about getting Fabiola's mother out of the detention center is built entirely on details told to the reader, not shown. Fabiola and her mother have a deep, sisterly connection (or so we're told), but she is not even a character in the book! This really makes it difficult to connect with Fabiola's willingness to do anything (including listening to a man she believes is Papa Legba rather than her own family members) to get her back.
The whole story is way unbalanced, with most of the story revolving around the drama of their neighborhood in Detroit and a fake-feeling love story, rather than Fabiola's adjustments to America or pain at losing her mother. The beginning felt like starting 10 minutes into a movie, and the ending felt rushed and incomplete.
That being said, I did finish this in 3 days, so I obviously didn't totally dislike this book. I just hate wasted potential!
The whole story is way unbalanced, with most of the story revolving around the drama of their neighborhood in Detroit and a fake-feeling love story, rather than Fabiola's adjustments to America or pain at losing her mother. The beginning felt like starting 10 minutes into a movie, and the ending felt rushed and incomplete.
That being said, I did finish this in 3 days, so I obviously didn't totally dislike this book. I just hate wasted potential!