Reviews

I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir by Malaka Gharib

mdevlin923's review against another edition

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2.0

Graphic memoir of what it's like growing up in the United States with immigrant parents.

mitskacir's review against another edition

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5.0

I absolutely loved this. Gharib’s tone and expressive doodles were perfectly matched to be both irreverent and poignant. Her mixed-race experience carries greatly from my own, but I still felt such a strong connection to her. The more narratives of mixed-race people I read, the more I come to feel that, although nothing is universal and there is no such thing as “mixed-race culture”, there are profound understandings, desires, and insecurities that many of us share. Highly recommend this beautiful and joyful read.

emilychau's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

eliora_margaret's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

3.5

syddieff's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

3.75

keitacolada's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.25

weeohh's review against another edition

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3.0

Enjoyable read! Middle school me would have LOVED this (which means that I, in turn, loved it)

fbroom's review against another edition

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5.0

This was really fun

diana_reads_and_reads's review against another edition

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3.0

Covered too much ground too quickly for me to feel invested in her story. 

melodys_library's review against another edition

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5.0

I felt this book so much. Feeling like an outsider in your own country is a real feeling, and the search for your own identity and a sense of belonging are paramount.

I felt like I grew up alongside Malaka, on the quest for my own dream and sense of self.
“What’s so wrong with being brown?
My pledge to be the real me: ✅ Stop pretending I like eating sandwiches for lunch.”