A review by octobermontoya
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

adventurous dark emotional funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Pet follows Jam, a black transgirl, living with her parents Bitter and Aloe, in a sort of utopia city named Lucille. The city is a utopia because it has been rid of all 'monsters' (people who do wrong/cause harm, think those who uphold white supremacy). The book starts off when some of Jam's blood is accidentally spilled on a recent painting her mother was working on, breathing life into the character in the painting - this is Pet, and they are hunting for a monster (despite the premise that monsters no longer exist). Pet grapples with the idea that harm doesn't cease to exist just because you refuse to acknowledge it. Further, harm isn't just out there, it's in here too. Pet was a really nuanced, creative, enjoyable YA book. I enjoyed that Jam's transness was just part and parcel of the story, not some sort of tragic centerpiece and that sign language was used regularly, which again, was just a normal part of the communication between characters. I wish I had a young person in my life who would be interested in this book! 
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