takidodo's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Deportation, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
Minor: Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, and Suicide
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Vomit, Pregnancy, Deportation, Medical content, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault, Car accident, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Cultural appropriation, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual content
sorcha's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Addiction, Physical abuse, and Grief
Minor: Deportation, Infidelity, Child death, Alcohol, Vomit, Death of parent, Racism, and Rape
busyblackbookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Behold the Dreamers balances the optimism that may flow from moving to the United States with the harsh realities of the immigration system, economic strife, and racism. Running through the book as well is an examination of gendered dynamics both in the Jonga and Edwards families, and the reader is directly shown the tension between the myth of a "post-racial America" in the wake of President Obama's election and the very lived experiences of Black people—specifically, Black immigrants—in the U.S. The novel also shows the ways in which non-immigrant U.S. residents are generally oblivious to the challenges and inequities of the immigration system, and how Black people's needs and desires are often set aside in favor of [wealthy] white individuals' interests.
This is a book in which, while one set of characters is certainly much, much easier to sympathize with, none of the characters are terribly likable—but Mbue constructs these characters well despite their lack of likability because none of the characters fall "flat" in terms of their complexity. The one thing, however, that was a bit strange to me was a particular plot point that felt rather sudden, forced, and unrealistic given the character’s traits (IYKYK).
I definitely enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading Mbue's new book, How Beautiful We Were!
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Grief
kayleighhatesbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy
hkropp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Xenophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
machenn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Addiction and Domestic abuse
ifersinklings's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Vomit