leseratte__'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.75
roseybot's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked Christina and her story. There was a lot going on and it was woven together well.
While mysteries aren’t usually my thing, this was pretty good and the setting and characters were interesting and fresh (to me). Definitely suggested for anyone who likes the genre since it’s a setting that usually isn’t used, but totally should be.
While mysteries aren’t usually my thing, this was pretty good and the setting and characters were interesting and fresh (to me). Definitely suggested for anyone who likes the genre since it’s a setting that usually isn’t used, but totally should be.
emanck15's review against another edition
4.0
It was difficult to get through the first couple hundred pages... but the last 100 were so good!
I liked that it was multicultural and could peak student interest in learning more about ongoing conflict in Africa. I also liked that it had a strong female lead.
Interesting and well done. Lost a star as it was hard to get into, but worth it in the end.
I liked that it was multicultural and could peak student interest in learning more about ongoing conflict in Africa. I also liked that it had a strong female lead.
Interesting and well done. Lost a star as it was hard to get into, but worth it in the end.
maisyb2222's review against another edition
4.0
Wizzed through this YA book- a much needed addition to the genre- no dystopian future, vampires or werewolves- this book has heart and brains and soul. Tina is a perfectly balanced combination of fight and street smarts, vulnerability and flaws. Yes, there is some cheese, there is a boy and a best friend and an ‘unexpected’ twist but without it the story would perhaps be too devastating to bear.
I liked going into this book with no expectations and very little idea of the plot or setting but becoming quickly enthralled. I can see a film adaptation in its future although it may not live up to the scenes created in my head by the words on the paper.
I liked going into this book with no expectations and very little idea of the plot or setting but becoming quickly enthralled. I can see a film adaptation in its future although it may not live up to the scenes created in my head by the words on the paper.
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
5.0
What I Liked
It is clear that Anderson has deep knowledge of the culture and rich setting of Kenya and East and Central Africa. Although she is American, her bio says that she has spent 10 years living in Africa, and this shows through her writing.
My favorite part about City of Saints & Thieves is that it portrays each character as first and foremost a real person, and their nationality or color second... or even third on a list of priorities. Most books with settings in Africa make the main African characters as "African" as they possibly can, which creates this image of them as "other" to an American or Western reader. Tina and Boyboy and Kiki and even Bug Eye and Mr. Omoko are African, but most of the time, I was picturing them as normal people that could live anywhere. The setting just happened to be within the clamor and rich culture of East Africa.
I loved the settings. The ugali and orange Fanta and reporters eating chicken down to the glistening bone. Instead of focusing on poverty, it was just there, not to be pitied, not to be weighing down the novel. It was just a part of life.
A murder mystery, teenage thief, action novel that takes place in East Africa and is for the most part culturally accurate? Sure, I'll take that any day!
The ending floored me too. So worth the read.
What I Didn't Like
As someone who spends a lot of time either in East Africa, particularly Kenya with a bit of Tanzania, or around East African people, I can say with certainty that a flamboyantly gay secondary character would not exist in the fictional equivalent of Kibera slums. I get that this is a YA novel meant for an American audience, but to be authentic, there would NOT be a boy walking around with feminine perfume, painted nails, etc. in any East African city I have ever visited. Anderson touches briefly on persecution of Boyboy for being homosexual, but that would be an understatement. LGBT people are currently still stoned or completely excommunicated from communities in Kenya. It's just not an accepted part of society, whatsoever, so it was distracting that there was a main character that just wouldn't actually work in this setting. This wasn't enough for me to remove a star from my review, because I loved City of Saints & Thieves, but Boyboy being so "out" was distracting to me.
It is clear that Anderson has deep knowledge of the culture and rich setting of Kenya and East and Central Africa. Although she is American, her bio says that she has spent 10 years living in Africa, and this shows through her writing.
My favorite part about City of Saints & Thieves is that it portrays each character as first and foremost a real person, and their nationality or color second... or even third on a list of priorities. Most books with settings in Africa make the main African characters as "African" as they possibly can, which creates this image of them as "other" to an American or Western reader. Tina and Boyboy and Kiki and even Bug Eye and Mr. Omoko are African, but most of the time, I was picturing them as normal people that could live anywhere. The setting just happened to be within the clamor and rich culture of East Africa.
I loved the settings. The ugali and orange Fanta and reporters eating chicken down to the glistening bone. Instead of focusing on poverty, it was just there, not to be pitied, not to be weighing down the novel. It was just a part of life.
A murder mystery, teenage thief, action novel that takes place in East Africa and is for the most part culturally accurate? Sure, I'll take that any day!
The ending floored me too. So worth the read.
What I Didn't Like
As someone who spends a lot of time either in East Africa, particularly Kenya with a bit of Tanzania, or around East African people, I can say with certainty that a flamboyantly gay secondary character would not exist in the fictional equivalent of Kibera slums. I get that this is a YA novel meant for an American audience, but to be authentic, there would NOT be a boy walking around with feminine perfume, painted nails, etc. in any East African city I have ever visited. Anderson touches briefly on persecution of Boyboy for being homosexual, but that would be an understatement. LGBT people are currently still stoned or completely excommunicated from communities in Kenya. It's just not an accepted part of society, whatsoever, so it was distracting that there was a main character that just wouldn't actually work in this setting. This wasn't enough for me to remove a star from my review, because I loved City of Saints & Thieves, but Boyboy being so "out" was distracting to me.
haygurlhay's review against another edition
5.0
It's rare to find a book that combines political history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and war crimes against peoples, a young adult novel featuring a complex FEMALE-identified protagonist, a kaleidoscope of emotions and a mystery all in one book.
Natalie C. Anderson's book was riveting from the start, setting us up with the ability to understand what is at stake at first glance, then weaving us through parts of Christina's "Tina aka Tiny Girl" journey to discover her mother's killer. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook- the narrator Pascale Armand truly brings you into the world of Tina and the adjacent characters, none who are throwaways or caricatures, from Michael, the boy she suspects is linked to her killer, her closest friend Boy-Boy, a fiercely queer and mad genius hacker, and others, making each character's mannerisms distinct and authentically African.
No spoilers, but this book truly had me in tears and laughs, gasping and wondering how else Tina will change the more she finds out about her mother's past and legacy.
Natalie C. Anderson's book was riveting from the start, setting us up with the ability to understand what is at stake at first glance, then weaving us through parts of Christina's "Tina aka Tiny Girl" journey to discover her mother's killer. If you can, I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook- the narrator Pascale Armand truly brings you into the world of Tina and the adjacent characters, none who are throwaways or caricatures, from Michael, the boy she suspects is linked to her killer, her closest friend Boy-Boy, a fiercely queer and mad genius hacker, and others, making each character's mannerisms distinct and authentically African.
No spoilers, but this book truly had me in tears and laughs, gasping and wondering how else Tina will change the more she finds out about her mother's past and legacy.
mommamel11's review against another edition
4.0
Lately I have been reading a lot of what I would call "caper" books for middle school/high school readers. This book is my favorite so far. Set in Kenya, Tina is a young girl living with a street gang. She plans to use the gang to seek revenge on the man who killed her mother. Complications and twists ensue. The action was only slightly unbelievable. The Kenyan/Congo locations were unfamiliar to me and thus really interesting.
girlreading's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the Kenyan setting and the fact that the author seemed to have done a lot of research into what they were writing about but for me, the thriller/mystery aspect was a bit lacking. I was hoping for an intense, page turning read and unfortunately that's not what I got. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this but as someone who loves a thriller with a lot of tension and keeps me guessing, I was a bit disappointed. That being said, it was an enjoyable read, just not the read I was hoping for. It's also worth mentioning that I'm very much in a 'reading slump' right now, so that may well have affected my overall enjoyment of this book!