A review by teoekstrom
Secret Son by Laila Lalami

4.0

As I'm shortly headed to Morocco, I'm trying to read up on the country. Lalami grew up in Morocco and has written a compelling story about Youssef, a young man who struggles with issues of national, cultural, and class identity. The story is strongest when focused on Amal, a secondary character who moved to America and has to grapple with connections to her old land. The end, unfortunately, is the weakest--while compelling plot developments kept me hooked, it felt sudden and perhaps untrue to the characters.