Brigid

This probably would have been a four star book, possibly five, due to the lovely prose which involves many wonderful quotes, and a main character who seemingly isn't going to take crap from anyone. (And having a nerdy gay side character doesn't hurt).

But...I have two main issues with this book.

1)The gay side couple is in literally one scene. It feels like they're there to tick of a LGBT+ diversity box, rather to be interesting characters.

1.5)Not a major issue but I do think it's ridiculous that there are three haikus in here, that are not actually haikus because their syllables weren't counted correctly. On page 243, one titled:
“Haiku: The Best Part About Thanksgiving Was When Mami:
Returned my cell,
Until I remember I've
got no one to text. “
(There needs to be another syllable in the first line to get to the proper 5)

On page 265:
“Traditionally
contrasting ideas are
tied together neat.”
(Needs another syllable on line 2 to get to 7)

And on page 266:
“I'm like a haiku,
with different sides
except no clean tie.”
(Which is missing a whole 2 syllables from it's second line. I swear I'm done complaining about literal poetry mechanics, now onto the big issue.)

2)SHE DOESN'T STAND UP FOR HERSELF WHEN HER MOTHER GIVES HER CRAP. AND BY CRAP I MEAN A BEATING.
Something that's been drilled into my brain since I was little (thanks to my mother), is “if anyone ever hits you, EVER, get the fuck out of there.” (Though she excluded the f word when I was younger). Xiomara, the main character is built up to be a fighter, she'll threaten assholes who grope her at school, and beat up assholes who harass her brother, but when her own mother BEATS her, she doesn't call Child Protective Services.

Later, she tells her poetry/English teacher about the attack, to which the teacher says, “You do need to talk to your mom. Really talk to her. And you do need to figure out how to make a relationship with her work.” So, you're a teacher and a student tells you their mother beat them. Do you a)CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES or b)Tell them they need to work it out. If you answered b, you're as morally bankrupt as this teacher, who does nothing after this.

The family does eventually try out family therapy, but not with someone with a psychology degree, oh no, that might actually be helpful, they go to their Church's pastor. Just for context, the entire reason Xiomara's mother beat her, was because she kissed a boy, a completely normal thing, that doesn't cause most atheist, (or any decent religious people) to BEAT THEIR CHILDREN. When Xiomara arrives home, her mother yells that she's a whore, yanks her hair, and hits her. After her beating, Xiomara's mother forces her to kneel ontop of rice infront of a statue of the virgin Mary, as penance. This leaves her with dozens of bruises on her knees. It doesn't matter what religious beliefs, (or lack there of) or ideas about punishing children for “naughty” behaviour, decent people do not intend to cause their children suffering. Any parent who does, deserves to have their children taken from them.

Xiomara should have taken my mother's advice, and gotten the hell away from her's.

This is the most boring book I've ever read, and I've read nearly 1000 page history textbooks cover to cover.

(Also I'm not gonna dive into how problematic this book is, but be aware of that. I think anyone who wants/has to read this book should be aware of the various problematic elements including some period racism, and TW for suicidal ideation and depiction.)

A lot of people think because the author hits enter after every few words, this does not “count” as poetry. And it's perfectly okay to think that. However, poetry is defined as: “literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.” Nothing about format, technically, poetry can be anything. This is definitely a literary work, with plenty of complex emotion, and a simple format. It's okay to disagree, but this definitely “counts” to me.

Everyone can have their opinion, I don't judge that. I ask you don't judge mine, so here it is: It's not the format that matters, it's the content that matters. And here I see a piece of work, that is passionate and truthful, and will likely help a lot of people who have, or are currently facing abuse.