A review by misterintensity
Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn

4.0

Patsy has long dreamed to emigrate from Jamaica to the United States. She finally emigrates when her visa comes through but her emigration plans doesn’t include her five year old daughter. Patsy follow Patsy and the daughter she left behind as she attempts to build a new life. This novel alternates between the point of views of Patsy and her daughter Tru. Despite leaving her daughter behind with no real intention of ever sending for her, readers do get an understanding of Patsy’s motivations. Readers also get a look of Tru’s family situation as she moves in with her biological father and his family. The strongest parts of the novel is when both mother and daughter reflect upon the lack of relationship they have with each other and its effect, especially Tru’s heartbreak over her abandonment. Equally effective is the supporting characters that Dennis-Benn creates, each of whom have a story of their own which affects the larger mother-daughter story. It’s easy to get immersed in this story of love and abandonment but the novel ends too abruptly. Still it’s a testament to the author that even after quite a lengthy book, as a reader you still want more.