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A review by ssinforshort
Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a well written coming- of-age about a young girl, Selina, living in Brooklyn with her Barbadian parents. Both of her parents are striving for their version of the American dream. While Selina is trying to find out who she is in the midst of their differences, and her changing community.
The first half of the book was tense, and had me on the edge of my bed (since that is where I mostly read this). I tabbed so many pages throughout the book that had great quotes and imagery.
Though the second half was slower, and I wished that it picked up more, my biggest issue was the homophobia. Selina says homophobic things about a boy in her community that she believes is gay.
In the end, I think this novel illustrates that the American dream is a machine that you become a part of, or you get crushed by. And if you want neither of those options, you have to make your own way.
The first half of the book was tense, and had me on the edge of my bed (since that is where I mostly read this). I tabbed so many pages throughout the book that had great quotes and imagery.
Though the second half was slower, and I wished that it picked up more, my biggest issue was the homophobia. Selina says homophobic things about a boy in her community that she believes is gay.
In the end, I think this novel illustrates that the American dream is a machine that you become a part of, or you get crushed by. And if you want neither of those options, you have to make your own way.