'Girl, it's time to step into your own light and stop being afraid.'
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I enjoyed this book. It was very easy to read, and I got through it very quickly.
The characters were really well-rounded, and the themes of family, heritage and love shone through in the story.
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'The same wisdom I whisper to Babygirl every now and then, a reminder of where, and who, we are from.'
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I really liked Emoni as the protagonist.
She hasn't had the easiest life, and as someone who has lost a parent, this element of the story really resonated with me, and the absence felt quite realistic and believable.
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'Can you miss someone you never met? Of course, the answer is yes. I've made up a story about who my mother was, and I miss that person whether it's how my actual mom would have been or not.'
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Emoni's life experiences and the themes of racism in the book are very realistic. The examples of the micro-aggressions that form part of her daily life will no doubt be eye-opening for some readers.
Her internal debates (and sometimes external with other characters) about her own history and heritage highlight the difficulties of understanding who you are as an individual. This parallels with her teenage Mum experiences and coming of age; of learning who she is and building confidence in herself despite other peoples' judgements of her.
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'I know a name alone can't guarantee new opportunities, but at the very least it'll give her a chance to get in the room, to let other people realize she's someone they want to learn more about.'
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Emoni's character arc was well executed - towards the end of the story her relationships improve with her family, because she bravely chooses to tackle things head on, and keep moving forward.
Her father and grandmother are honest with her because they start to view her as an adult and respect her views and decisions.
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'when you're learning, you need to know the rules before you break them.'
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I would recommend this book to anyone interested in themes of feminism and racism, and anyone who likes young adult genres. I will definitely be reading more of Acevedo's books.
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I enjoyed this book. It was very easy to read, and I got through it very quickly.
The characters were really well-rounded, and the themes of family, heritage and love shone through in the story.
-
'The same wisdom I whisper to Babygirl every now and then, a reminder of where, and who, we are from.'
-
I really liked Emoni as the protagonist.
She hasn't had the easiest life, and as someone who has lost a parent, this element of the story really resonated with me, and the absence felt quite realistic and believable.
-
'Can you miss someone you never met? Of course, the answer is yes. I've made up a story about who my mother was, and I miss that person whether it's how my actual mom would have been or not.'
-
Emoni's life experiences and the themes of racism in the book are very realistic. The examples of the micro-aggressions that form part of her daily life will no doubt be eye-opening for some readers.
Her internal debates (and sometimes external with other characters) about her own history and heritage highlight the difficulties of understanding who you are as an individual. This parallels with her teenage Mum experiences and coming of age; of learning who she is and building confidence in herself despite other peoples' judgements of her.
-
'I know a name alone can't guarantee new opportunities, but at the very least it'll give her a chance to get in the room, to let other people realize she's someone they want to learn more about.'
-
Emoni's character arc was well executed - towards the end of the story her relationships improve with her family, because she bravely chooses to tackle things head on, and keep moving forward.
Her father and grandmother are honest with her because they start to view her as an adult and respect her views and decisions.
-
'when you're learning, you need to know the rules before you break them.'
-
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in themes of feminism and racism, and anyone who likes young adult genres. I will definitely be reading more of Acevedo's books.