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kaynova's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
This is my second book by Safia Elhillo and once again, I am completely speechless. Books, poetry or otherwise, have a way of showing that the girl is at fault for engaging with an older person, usually a man, but in this book, we see it as a multitude people to blame. Her community, her peers, the expectations of being a girl in society, society's views on girlhood to womanhood, and the actual abuser. It brought me so much joy to see Horus taken down for being an abuser, for being a pedo, preying on young, talented girls and using them. I also loved seeing Samira evolve as time went on, reflected with her choices as well and realized we have all been there before, someway.
Though I am an adult, I remember wanting people to see me as an adult while I was a child and hating the dismissal of family and friends, who say it's to protect me but no one actually saying what they are protecting me from. So in this book, I teetered between wanting to shield Samira from this man and his manipulation--his thief of her youth--, and seeing myself in her. Knowing what it's like to not have your own parent defend you against people who's seeing from the outside in. Knowing what it's like to chase after love when no one else was giving it to you. Seeing her use her words to defend herself gave me relief; it healed parts of me I didn't know was broken.
Again, Safia does a great job of making you become one with her characters, through the ups and the downs. I will always be a fan of hers.
Though I am an adult, I remember wanting people to see me as an adult while I was a child and hating the dismissal of family and friends, who say it's to protect me but no one actually saying what they are protecting me from. So in this book, I teetered between wanting to shield Samira from this man and his manipulation--his thief of her youth--, and seeing myself in her. Knowing what it's like to not have your own parent defend you against people who's seeing from the outside in. Knowing what it's like to chase after love when no one else was giving it to you. Seeing her use her words to defend herself gave me relief; it healed parts of me I didn't know was broken.
Again, Safia does a great job of making you become one with her characters, through the ups and the downs. I will always be a fan of hers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual assault
hoperaleigh's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
5.0
I'm on a marathon of novels in verse on audio, and I'm totally okay with that. Though not necessarily an easy read, this book was an in-depth look at the way some adult men prey on teenage girls. Looking at this situation from Samira's point of view, who has been constantly rejected by her community and is just looking for acceptance, the betrayal at the end is especially heartbreaking.
The way the Persephone myth is woven throughout this text works so well to drive that point home, that these men prey on teen girls because they're vulnerable and they find them to be easy targets. Elhillo's verse is also beautiful, and as always, I recommend listening to novels in verse, especially when they are read by the author. This is a quick read, but one that really packs a punch.
The way the Persephone myth is woven throughout this text works so well to drive that point home, that these men prey on teen girls because they're vulnerable and they find them to be easy targets. Elhillo's verse is also beautiful, and as always, I recommend listening to novels in verse, especially when they are read by the author. This is a quick read, but one that really packs a punch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual violence
Minor: Violence
thatblondiebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
dannee_13's review against another edition
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Violence
lokiisreading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you so much to randomhousekids and netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc.
I got approved and finished the book in the same day!
I truly have a soft spot for books written in verse. There’s something very powerful and beautiful about books written in verse, and Bright Red Fruit is THEE perfect example of this.
Samira was a great character. I sympathized and empathized with her character wholeheartedly. Being a young girl who is yearning for love, and once given an inkling of such latches on for better or worse. Shutting out those who are her backbone thinking she is mature enough to understand the complexity of being manipulated, and used by a man much older than her. I felt those moments where the desperation for the attention, to be seen, and to placed as special superseded her rationality.
We also get to read Samira’s poetry, my favorite one that I keep going back to is ‘What I’ve Learned’ it’s a heart wrenching piece that we see Samira truly reflect on her position on love as it pertains to her experience. Ugh it was amazing.
My absolute favorite part of reading was the parallels of Samira’s story being told with bits and pieces of the story of Persephone (bright red fruit! Get it? It’s a pomegranate!!).
YES! It was so beautifully done. The comparisons of how both are seen and how their actions are scrutinized , the relationships between both of their mothers, and the men they fell for.
I’m going to also read Safia Elhillo’s other books Home is Not A Country, and Girls That Never Die. I have high hopes for them since this was so good.
✨ For more reviews and content follow me on Ig @lokiisreading ✨
✨ For more reviews and content follow me on Ig @lokiisreading ✨
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
misanthropic_bibliophile's review
emotional
reflective
fast-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
5.0
*thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book*
Safia Elhillo is one of my favorite poets and I absolutely love her other YA novel-in-verse Home is Not a Country. Thus, I hoped Bright Red Fruit would be just as good.
Have no fear, past me. IT IS JUST AS GOOD.
The story is very poignant and raw and I devoured it in one sitting. It’s about Samira, a young Sudanese-American girl who is a poet, navigating rumors spread about her being a “bad girl” and her strict mother when she meets a fellow poet who is not as he seems. She has to fight for her voice and her words, but risks losing some of the most important people in her life as a result. There are lots of references to Persephone and that motif is explored in a way I’ve never seen before and resonates through the story in a really cool way.
One of my favorite things about the book was Samira’s relationship with her mother. It was complex and emotional and extremely realistic. You could feel it shift and grow over the course of the book as both of the characters do the same. All of the character relationships in the book were very well-done, but that one was by far the best-crafted.
Samira herself is such a well-done and relatable main character. I watched her make questionable decisions but I couldn’t judge her for it because of the situations she was in. Elhillo portrays her without looking down upon her or shaming her for her choices. She is created with so much care and empathy. Her character arc is well done and the way it echoes through all of her relationships in the book (her friends, her mom, her aunt) makes it resounding and impactful.
And of course, the writing is absolutely breathtaking. There were so many lines that I had to just read over and over again to completely soak up the words. Safia Elhillo is such a master of her craft.
If you loved Home is Not a Country, you HAVE to read Bright Red Fruit. And if you’re a fan of books like The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo or Muted by Tami Charles, this book is definitely for you. And if you’re looking for a Sudanese author to support, it’s about time you read Safia Elhillo 🇸🇩
(I am adding content warnings below because this book deals with heavy topics)
Safia Elhillo is one of my favorite poets and I absolutely love her other YA novel-in-verse Home is Not a Country. Thus, I hoped Bright Red Fruit would be just as good.
Have no fear, past me. IT IS JUST AS GOOD.
The story is very poignant and raw and I devoured it in one sitting. It’s about Samira, a young Sudanese-American girl who is a poet, navigating rumors spread about her being a “bad girl” and her strict mother when she meets a fellow poet who is not as he seems. She has to fight for her voice and her words, but risks losing some of the most important people in her life as a result. There are lots of references to Persephone and that motif is explored in a way I’ve never seen before and resonates through the story in a really cool way.
One of my favorite things about the book was Samira’s relationship with her mother. It was complex and emotional and extremely realistic. You could feel it shift and grow over the course of the book as both of the characters do the same. All of the character relationships in the book were very well-done, but that one was by far the best-crafted.
Samira herself is such a well-done and relatable main character. I watched her make questionable decisions but I couldn’t judge her for it because of the situations she was in. Elhillo portrays her without looking down upon her or shaming her for her choices. She is created with so much care and empathy. Her character arc is well done and the way it echoes through all of her relationships in the book (her friends, her mom, her aunt) makes it resounding and impactful.
And of course, the writing is absolutely breathtaking. There were so many lines that I had to just read over and over again to completely soak up the words. Safia Elhillo is such a master of her craft.
If you loved Home is Not a Country, you HAVE to read Bright Red Fruit. And if you’re a fan of books like The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo or Muted by Tami Charles, this book is definitely for you. And if you’re looking for a Sudanese author to support, it’s about time you read Safia Elhillo 🇸🇩
(I am adding content warnings below because this book deals with heavy topics)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault
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