A review by booksteader
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense 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? No

4.0

This book should be on every young person's must-read list. Jam, a 15 year-old Black trans girl is selectively mute, loved and celebrated by her entire family and community, and is on a mission to save her friend Redemption from the monsters he cannot see. Pet, a "monster" who comes alive from one of Jam's mother's paintings, helps her in this war. Part fantasy, part coming-of-age, part mystery, this book teaches valuable lessons about friendship, bravery, and truth. As Pet says when introducing itself to Jam at the beginning, "The first step to seeing is seeing that there are things you do not see." The eye-opening lesson that concludes this book will punch you in the gut and remind every reader that monsters can slip into even the most perfect world if we're not careful to watch and admit they exist.
 ðŸ‘¾ðŸ‘¾ðŸ‘¾ðŸ‘¾ Would recommend, especially to young people 10 years and over. 
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