A review by intonewrealms
PET by Akwaeke Emezi

adventurous inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Lucille seems like a utopia where all the monsters have been put away and all the citizens support each other. I wish everyone could have support like the main character Jam’s parents who, when she spoke for the first time when she was three to express hatred for being called a cute boy, immediately and happily helped her transition to be who she really is. However, this clever little book explores how everything is not as simple as that. Jam only has a conception of angels as the saviours who purified Lucille, but when she does some research she finds that angels can look horrifying, and monsters can look harmless.

When Jam accidentally unleashes a creature from her mother’s canvas, she is pushed to find the monster hiding in her best friend’s house. I like the way Pet talks with repetitive alliterative words. Maybe it’s just the way Pet is performed in the audiobook, but it really gave me the same vibes as the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. I also adore Redemption, Jam’s best friend, and his intense emotions.

A final thing I appreciated in this book was the inclusion of Jam’s selective mutism and the support everyone from her friend to her parents to her librarian gave her by signing to her when she wished to do that rather than to speak.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings