A review by klor
Banana Heart Summer by Merlinda Bobis

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The book heavily focuses on 12 year old Nenita, her small neighborhood, and the various people that live around her over the course of a summer. Portrayed through the nostalgic lens of our narrator, people are the heart of this book as well as Nenita's honestly heartbreaking relationship with her family, especially with her mother. I must say, this is one of those books that are tied together by food as a love language and that's something that's ever present in asian households and communities such as this one. As I finish the book, I keep wanting to find out more about these people and follow more of Nenita's life.
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