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A review by amygo
Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices by Mitali Perkins
5.0
Being able to talk about race with a sense of humor requires sensitivity, intelligence, and a commitment to truth, all of which are in this collection of short fiction, memoir, and poetry.
My favorite of them all is a memoir piece by Mitali Perkins, called "Three-Pointer," which describes how Mitali and her sisters got educated in the "Guy Game" in America. In it she talks about how her and her sister gave each other points for guys asking them out, compliments, and a kiss. Mitali also talks about how race affected the way she could play the game:
"I didn't get why I immediately ranked so low on the social ladder, but in retrospect it's not hard to figure out. I would have crushed the
competition in a Fresh Off The Boat poster contest. I was the whole FOB package- parents with lilting accents, super-strict father who didn't
accept grades less than an A, house that perpetually smelled like turmeric and cardamom, ultra-traditional mother whose idea of party garb
was six-and -half yards of silk saree and a forehead dot that mesmerized our neighbors. Plus, my skin was a color writers usually describe with
food products like chocolate and coffee. At least my metaphors were addictive and tasty, right (p.45)?"
I think the best audience for this is high school kids, but there are also a few stories here that would also be appropriate for middle schoolers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a way to open up discussions about race in a nonthreatening and relatable way.
My favorite of them all is a memoir piece by Mitali Perkins, called "Three-Pointer," which describes how Mitali and her sisters got educated in the "Guy Game" in America. In it she talks about how her and her sister gave each other points for guys asking them out, compliments, and a kiss. Mitali also talks about how race affected the way she could play the game:
"I didn't get why I immediately ranked so low on the social ladder, but in retrospect it's not hard to figure out. I would have crushed the
competition in a Fresh Off The Boat poster contest. I was the whole FOB package- parents with lilting accents, super-strict father who didn't
accept grades less than an A, house that perpetually smelled like turmeric and cardamom, ultra-traditional mother whose idea of party garb
was six-and -half yards of silk saree and a forehead dot that mesmerized our neighbors. Plus, my skin was a color writers usually describe with
food products like chocolate and coffee. At least my metaphors were addictive and tasty, right (p.45)?"
I think the best audience for this is high school kids, but there are also a few stories here that would also be appropriate for middle schoolers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a way to open up discussions about race in a nonthreatening and relatable way.