Reviews

Caucasia by Danzy Senna

dinasamimi's review against another edition

3.0

I didn't like this as much as I liked New People. The story started out strong and petered out slowly for me. By today's standards, this would be considered YA given the protagonist. Senna has an uncanny ability to communicate a very specific multiracial experience and discuss the familial dynamics of passing.

timhering's review

adventurous informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

4.0

misskrechel's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

alliekcav's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lindsiemcknight's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A sweet story about sisterhood, race, and childhood. I LOVED the characters and the story moved along at a great pace.

The beginning was a little long. I preferred the second part much more, but overall it was a great read!

sleepingsaha's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I couldn't put this down -- I was so fully absorbed in Birdie's story and stayed up late to finish this. I loved the relationship between Birdie and Cole, and was also very impressed by how Senna wrote such complex adult characters that I had to sympathize with, even reluctantly.

erklel's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

beautifully written, with complex, flawed, deeply observed characters. i loved birdie’s voice. lots to say about the presentation and performance of Race as well as a tender look at the process of growing up and the undeniable urge to belong.

i can’t believe this was written in 1999 — it feels perfectly modern.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism

Minor: Homophobia

reikista's review

2.0

The compelling story of a girl whose white mother and black father were part of the Black Freedom Movement in the late 60s and 70s, and who is torn from her life when her mother has to go on the run from the Feds, and loses touch with her father and sister.

Looks at questions of identity, race, biracialism, Black politics, passing, history of the back movement in the 60s and 70s, Boston wasps, racial politics in the eastern seaboard.

jvord777's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

jackiecantread's review

4.0

birdie lee you have my heart