Reviews

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

marbury's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

krisjenner's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

shanhautman's review

3.0

Such buildup to the tragic climax in Fabiola's story...and then, it all ends without completely resolving her feelings for several key characters. I was very disappointed in the ending.

seymone's review

5.0

Haiti; Coming to America; Voodoo; Drugs; Violence; Black Lives Matter; Family; and Love


This novel. Wow. So many textures and sounds. That is what comes to mind.
A young girl from Haiti comes to America, specifically Detroit, and she must fight to survive and save the people she loves. Picking up this novel, I never fathom it would go in the direction that it went. American Street starts with tragedy and ends with tragedy, but there is so much in between. I definitely recommend.

tokagelizard's review

dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-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

Wow. This is one of those books that grips you and doesn't let go. The writing is amazing, the characters very real. Deserving of the awards it has won.
Sad and an emotional trip, but keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved the representation of vodou and the magical realism aspects.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Deportation, Death of parent, and Police brutality

nicolejones911's review

4.0

3.75

jenmulsow's review

challenging dark emotional informative 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

drridareads's review

4.0

I really really liked this book.
I feel like Zoboi has crafted such life like such diverse characters.
I liked how our protagonist; Fabiola infuses her Vodou culture into all her actions and thoughts.
It shows family dynamics, it's importance and talks about "shit you do for fam".
The emotions, loss and pain shown was legit.
What i liked most was how the book refers to so many things problems of immigrants, drugs, lesbian and muslim characters but does not feel preachy at all.

hilaryannbrown's review

4.0

Brave, authentic, and intense. The ending was abrupt for me and I'm still processing whether or not it worked thematically, but the audio book was very well done.

goodem9199's review

3.0

I'm so frustrated with this book. On one hand I loved it, but I also have major problems with so much of it. I think the biggest issue is that I didn't like any of the characters. I need to think more on this one...