Reviews

This is a book that everyone should read because it shows a side of immigrants / immigration that is often ignored. It shows first-person experience of war, trauma, fear.. it shows through the eyes of a child who is ignorant and innocent. It shows through the eyes of parents and caretakers who try everything to remain brave, who would do anything to protect their children. When people think of immigrants, specially from Africa or Mexico (as written from a U.S. perspective), you don't hear about what they've come from, only what the news spouts. It's important to realize that many people are fleeing and just want to be safe. They don't want to leave, but they have to. And it is important to read about what is left behind, and how difficult it is being in the U.S. and feeling isolated because you are no longer sure of where you belong.. being told you are not from the U.S., you left Liberia and thus different, you do not belong anywhere. That, too, is what needs to be understood.

erboe501's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

I loved Wayetu Moore's novel She Will Be King, so I knew this book would be beautifully told. What I didn't expect was to be so engrossed in the action in Parts 1 and 3, even though I knew Moore made it out of the Liberian Civil War by virtue of her writing the memoir. What came across so clearly and lovingly was her portrayal of her father and other family members. What a tribute to a man who saved his family, while never losing tenderness toward this children.

charliebnl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

kirsten0929's review against another edition

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4.0

[2020] Notes to self… The first third of the book was told from a child’s point of view (generally not my preferred perspective), the author as a five year old at the onset of the civil war in Liberia. The final third was from the mother’s perspective as she returned to Liberia to rescue her family. Together these were the real story (the middle third felt like filler). Very powerful.

lulu_readsalot's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

A wonderful, sad, stressful book.
I had no idea about Liberian history. This book encouraged me to look deeper.
It is amazing how her dad and grandma made EVERYTHING possible to protect Wayétu and her siblings from the war, both from bodily harm as from the psychological trauma: guns firing were dragons fighting!
Her mother risking EVERYTHING to come to her family's aid and make sure they make it out safe.
The women soldiers who, yes... took advantage of an opportunity to make money, but also saved countless lives! The people who got out because of them and their families, the futures that they ensured. Brave women.
It is heartbreaking how we keep doing harm to each other in exchange of power, the power to continue to do harm.
This is a story that people should know about!
Wonderful book! I am really glad I read it.

paperbacksandpourovers's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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