A review by jelundberg
Secret Son by Laila Lalami

4.0

Once again, Lalami brings Morocco to life as a vibrant conflicted country, with a deep heritage in both the East and West. Youssef el-Mekki is a Casablancan slum-dweller on his way to uni; smart and resourceful, and fatherless, or so he thinks. Lalami's prose is thoughtful and evocative, revealing her setting as similar to the wildly lively cities of India or Turkey. There are no easy answers for her characters, and hearts and lives are easily broken. A wonderful follow-up to Hope & Other Dangerous Pursuits.