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A review by blogginboutbooks
On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Méndez
4.0
If I had been browsing at a library or bookstore, I never would have picked up ON THESE MAGIC SHORES. The cover is...not very appealing. The story, however, has a lot to recommend it and I'm glad the book came to my attention via The Whitney Awards. While I didn't end up absolutely loving it, I enjoyed it overall.
Story-wise, ON THESE MAGIC SHORES covers a lot of ground. It hits on some tough themes—poverty, discrimination, fear of deportation, parental abandonment, children with too much responsibility, etc. As Minnie struggles, she also learns the value of friendship, asking for help, forgiveness, and being grateful for what you have, even if it isn't much. The tale teaches a lot of lessons, some more subtle than others. Although the prose and transitions between scenes are sometimes choppy, the story is engaging and compelling, with enough going on to keep it interesting. As for the magical realism sprinkled throughout, it worked for me.
Character-wise, Minnie and her sisters are sympathetic heroines. Minnie often acts like a victim-y brat, which makes her difficult to like at times. She does grow and change because of her struggles, but her prickly personality is still a little hard to take. Other characters (Maverick, for instance) act inconsistently, but they're generally a likable lot.
Overall, ON THESE MAGIC SHORES is a heart-felt, enjoyable read. It's eye-opening, empowering, and empathy-inducing. While the story's flow isn't always smooth, it's well-written enough to be both appealing and touching. I liked it overall. If I could, I would give the book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
Story-wise, ON THESE MAGIC SHORES covers a lot of ground. It hits on some tough themes—poverty, discrimination, fear of deportation, parental abandonment, children with too much responsibility, etc. As Minnie struggles, she also learns the value of friendship, asking for help, forgiveness, and being grateful for what you have, even if it isn't much. The tale teaches a lot of lessons, some more subtle than others. Although the prose and transitions between scenes are sometimes choppy, the story is engaging and compelling, with enough going on to keep it interesting. As for the magical realism sprinkled throughout, it worked for me.
Character-wise, Minnie and her sisters are sympathetic heroines. Minnie often acts like a victim-y brat, which makes her difficult to like at times. She does grow and change because of her struggles, but her prickly personality is still a little hard to take. Other characters (Maverick, for instance) act inconsistently, but they're generally a likable lot.
Overall, ON THESE MAGIC SHORES is a heart-felt, enjoyable read. It's eye-opening, empowering, and empathy-inducing. While the story's flow isn't always smooth, it's well-written enough to be both appealing and touching. I liked it overall. If I could, I would give the book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.