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themadmadmadeline's review
3.0
A thoughtful and well-written coming of age story, Miss Black America is touching and rich. Chambers captures the life of an adolescent girl coming into her own as a poor black girl in Harlem without the guidance of her mother. While I'm not a big fan of "heavy" coming of age stories usually, Chambers weaves a beautiful story filled with gorgeous language representative of both the time and place. Her voice shines through this novel, and imagery which she paints is stunning.
While this book is typically a novel used in an ethnics studies class, I just picked it up randomly from a roommate reading it for a class, and I absolutely loved it. This novel should be utilized in high school literature classes as well as college classes.
While this book is typically a novel used in an ethnics studies class, I just picked it up randomly from a roommate reading it for a class, and I absolutely loved it. This novel should be utilized in high school literature classes as well as college classes.
sonia_reppe's review
4.0
This is a novel that reads like a memoir that reads like a novel. Really-I thought it was a memoir until just now. The Bronx, 1980: the protagonist is recalling that first year without her mom. It's just her and her dad, the magician. I love the father character, very colorful and fully presented. From the pov of an 11-yr old, the tone is earnest, a little hard-edged, earthy. The story is framed by issues and pop culture of the time.
skipjack's review
3.0
Beautiful writing, although slowly became apparent that there wouldn't be a central plotline - just a series of small events. That isn't my favorite type of book; I prefer a strong plot. But every time, just as I was getting frustrated, there'd be that one sentence that was just perfect and brilliantly sharp. The last few pages, in and of themselves, added a star.
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