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theboricuabookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
5.0
A lump in your throat, tears at your eyes the whole time kind of read. Samira just wants *more* out of her life and finds it through poetry. I know I will not have the words to properly explain or recommend this book other than intense and necessary. Bright Red Fruit expertly shows how the women in our lives that just want the best for us sometimes have a hard time showing up like we expect or want them to. While not Sudanese-American myself, I am a child of immigrants who many times felt crushed under the weight of being a disappointment or proving to my parents that all the sacrifice and care they put into my upbringing to make sure it was better than theirs was worth it. Even when I felt stifled. Even when I pushed back and kept secrets that would have been better shared was the right thing.
A must read.
A must read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
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
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
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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