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jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Freedom can manifest in different forms and finding what that means in actuality is central to Kaitlyn Greenidge’s Libertie.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Libertie Sampson is a free-born Black girl with dark skin living Brooklyn during the Reconstruction-era whose mother, a talented and practicing physician with light skin, has a vision of their future working together side-by-side. Libertie, however, is drawn more toward the arts than science and desires something beyond the life that her mother envisions for her and has sent her to school for. Upon returning home from a year of education, Libertie finds that a young Haitian man, Emmanuel, has been working with her mother and he soon proposes to her, offering assurances that on the island they will be equals; however, after arriving she learns that she’s still his subordinate despite his words and future plans otherwise. Struggling to come to terms with her life in a new place and what she truly wants from life, Libertie begins to piece together what freedom means for herself and Black women now and in the future and takes action to make that freedom a reality.
The story ambitiously delves into topics of identity and forging a path within the world that leads you to a satisfying life as it explores what constitutes freedom and the challenges of prejudice faced as a Black woman in this time of change within society, especially when placed in contrast with those in her circle, including her own mother, who are able to pass. Though her mind is continually exploring ideas and concepts of freedom and what she desires in life, Libertie’s outward actions do not match up with her internalized life for so long, despite the strong, if stoic, role model she has had in her mother as a woman who makes things she wants happen, which is a rather infuriating experience as a reader, especially when the story is closely focused on her internal observations; coupled with this is an unbelievability of the rapidity of her romantic relationship with Emmanuel, which felt rushed and underdeveloped given the massive changes in livelihood it presented and seemed to serve as more of a method of being able to include his family’s dramas to explore issues more compellingly. The format of the narrative being presented in longer sections with frequent breaks within the text that shift the narrative focus slightly was an adjustment to make from a more traditionally chapter-divided story.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Libertie Sampson is a free-born Black girl with dark skin living Brooklyn during the Reconstruction-era whose mother, a talented and practicing physician with light skin, has a vision of their future working together side-by-side. Libertie, however, is drawn more toward the arts than science and desires something beyond the life that her mother envisions for her and has sent her to school for. Upon returning home from a year of education, Libertie finds that a young Haitian man, Emmanuel, has been working with her mother and he soon proposes to her, offering assurances that on the island they will be equals; however, after arriving she learns that she’s still his subordinate despite his words and future plans otherwise. Struggling to come to terms with her life in a new place and what she truly wants from life, Libertie begins to piece together what freedom means for herself and Black women now and in the future and takes action to make that freedom a reality.
The story ambitiously delves into topics of identity and forging a path within the world that leads you to a satisfying life as it explores what constitutes freedom and the challenges of prejudice faced as a Black woman in this time of change within society, especially when placed in contrast with those in her circle, including her own mother, who are able to pass. Though her mind is continually exploring ideas and concepts of freedom and what she desires in life, Libertie’s outward actions do not match up with her internalized life for so long, despite the strong, if stoic, role model she has had in her mother as a woman who makes things she wants happen, which is a rather infuriating experience as a reader, especially when the story is closely focused on her internal observations; coupled with this is an unbelievability of the rapidity of her romantic relationship with Emmanuel, which felt rushed and underdeveloped given the massive changes in livelihood it presented and seemed to serve as more of a method of being able to include his family’s dramas to explore issues more compellingly. The format of the narrative being presented in longer sections with frequent breaks within the text that shift the narrative focus slightly was an adjustment to make from a more traditionally chapter-divided story.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
atsundarsingh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the writing. The voice was great for both Libertie and her mother, and the emotion was compelling.
heidilreads's review against another edition
4.0
Not a genre I usually pick, but this story kept me interested
terraturtles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sarahchoi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jkplayswithyarn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
lovelykd's review against another edition
3.0
Libertie is a free-born, dark-skinned (this is relevant), Black girl living in Brooklyn--during the Reconstruction Era. Her mother is a physician--with light enough skin she's able to somewhat "pass" and also able to treat both races--and she'd like Libertie to become a doctor as well.
However Libertie, having seen how white folks treat those in her community, doesn't want to be a part of the medical profession--plus, it becomes clear early on that Libertie is more interested in understanding the complexities of people than fixing the physical ailments that befall them.
As the story progresses, Libertie attends university and meets a couple of young women who'll end up, inadvertently, introducing Libertie to a new way of thinking; she grows enamored of their passion, for their craft and each other, and comes to the realization that she wants a similar freedom for herself: the freedom to love, be loved, and allow your passions to become an extension of who you are in the world.
Flummoxed by how to let her mother know how she feels, Libertie instead rushes into a marriage that is doomed from the start, and discovers that, in the end, you can only run so far and so long before you run back into the self you'd hoped to avoid.
The story lags a bit in the middle--as Libertie stumbles and feels her way through her first year of college--and it ends far too abruptly; however, overall, it's a story about one girl's journey from sheltered, coddled, girl into a self-aware, independent, fearless woman.
Libertie's development was slow--painfully so at times--and that made her unlikable. However, the strong women around her, and there are many, truly become the catalyst for her eventual evolution. I just wish we'd been able to see more of the "after?" of such development.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ for this Advanced Reader Copy. Opinion is my own
However Libertie, having seen how white folks treat those in her community, doesn't want to be a part of the medical profession--plus, it becomes clear early on that Libertie is more interested in understanding the complexities of people than fixing the physical ailments that befall them.
As the story progresses, Libertie attends university and meets a couple of young women who'll end up, inadvertently, introducing Libertie to a new way of thinking; she grows enamored of their passion, for their craft and each other, and comes to the realization that she wants a similar freedom for herself: the freedom to love, be loved, and allow your passions to become an extension of who you are in the world.
Flummoxed by how to let her mother know how she feels, Libertie instead rushes into a marriage that is doomed from the start, and discovers that, in the end, you can only run so far and so long before you run back into the self you'd hoped to avoid.
The story lags a bit in the middle--as Libertie stumbles and feels her way through her first year of college--and it ends far too abruptly; however, overall, it's a story about one girl's journey from sheltered, coddled, girl into a self-aware, independent, fearless woman.
Libertie's development was slow--painfully so at times--and that made her unlikable. However, the strong women around her, and there are many, truly become the catalyst for her eventual evolution. I just wish we'd been able to see more of the "after?" of such development.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ for this Advanced Reader Copy. Opinion is my own
habituallyheidi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
allison_sirovy's review against another edition
4.0
Good book, just not a great book. I feel like it started out as a young adult book but then changed into an adult book.