Select language, opens an overlay

Comment

Mar 05, 2017NWPLindabear rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a highly topical book given everything that is happening with immigration and refugees in North America. And very readable, although the writing was a bit amateurish at times, which is somewhat fair given this is the author's first book. At times, the dialogue given, particularly when the rich, employer was on the phone, read like a high school play. Being a parent, I kept wondering where the heck Jende and Neni's kids were. They lived in this tiny apartment, but would have these long arguments and the kids would conveniently sleep through them? Yeah, no way. I was also put off by the attempt to make the reader feel sympathetic for the rich family. Rich people have problems too! Right, but it detracted from the more important immigrant story, which was compelling and felt genuinely chaotic. Throughout the book, my gut ached for Jende and Neni and their disparate emotional struggles with trying to stay in the United States. In spite of what I recognize as my own nitpicking with the writing, I would recommend this book and I do look forward to reading more works by this author in the future as her writing develops.