A review by whothehelliskaitlin
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

5.0

This book is an excellent portrayal of the struggle of displaced immigrants in the U.S. and at the same time an excellent critique of the typical "African experience" story. The book follows the life of a young girl named Darling as she grows up from living in struggling Zimbabwe to living in Michigan. It is told from Darling's perspective so while the writing may seem simple and straight-forward at times, at the same time it is compelling and her perspective adds a unique experience and insight to the story. I found myself continuously turning the page so that I could see what Darling and her friends would get up to next and at the same time it was not always easy to read the real life hardships that were portrayed in the novel. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read modern African literature and to anyone who is trying to expand their library into new spaces of literature.