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arayo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying and Pregnancy
ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I was pulled in by this memoir very quickly. The changing pace between the times before, during, and after were so distinct in the storytelling that it felt like I was there. The perspective from when she was just a toddler and experiencing this horrific war was still so vivid even though told from a child’s perspective. Then the shift after the family gets to the US and the challenge to an identity that was not questioned in Liberia and having to deal with that in addition to the memories of the past. I just felt all of it in such a visceral way. Understanding the chaos of dating as well and how even our romantic choices are so informed by our trauma or can create misgivings stemming from our past.
I was just immersed in this story. I also loved the reflections from her mother’s perspective I’m having to go back to find her family where she was already in the US. It felt harrowing just the same even though her anxiety was from such a different perspective. Her father 🥹🥹. I loved Wayétu’s relationship with him and the memoir also felt a lot like a love letter to her parents and grandmother. I’ve never really read much about Liberia and look forward to reading more about the country and more books from Wayétu Moore. So good. So heartbreaking. But left me with hope all the same.
I was just immersed in this story. I also loved the reflections from her mother’s perspective I’m having to go back to find her family where she was already in the US. It felt harrowing just the same even though her anxiety was from such a different perspective. Her father 🥹🥹. I loved Wayétu’s relationship with him and the memoir also felt a lot like a love letter to her parents and grandmother. I’ve never really read much about Liberia and look forward to reading more about the country and more books from Wayétu Moore. So good. So heartbreaking. But left me with hope all the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, and Rape
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Rape, Blood, and War
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Terrifying to think these things really happened. It was difficult to get through this book, but for all the right reasons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Abandonment, and War