On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.
But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.
Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?
Book Review:
After reading The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas (my last post), I really wanted to read something else that had a strong sociopolitical plot. American Street was a great choice. It deals with a US born daughter being split from her Haiti-born mother as they attempt to move back into the US. Fabiola has to live in a new city, in a new country, with family that she barely knows, while her mother is held in detention. She starts school, faces a dangerous situation, and even falls in love.
With the current political climate, immigration is very up in the air, no one can predict where the process is headed, good or bad. I felt that this gave a unique perspective on the situation and still included those YA tropes that I believe still make a novel interesting. What I really enjoyed is that the main character, who happened to be born in the US but was raised in Haiti, is rediscovering herself through this new land but does not stray from her culture and values. I love that we, as readers, get to watch as she discovers love and fear.
I also really enjoyed that Zoboi chose to write such a profound immigration story from a non-Spanish speaking nation. I feel that it is important, especially at this point in time, to remind people that not all immigrants come from Mexico or are terrorists.
Pages: 336 Rate: 4/5
Favorite Quote:
"When she turns on the light, the first thing to greet me are the shelves and shelves of books and more books. I want to stop and hug her and give her a big kiss on the cheek. With this many books I can make this place my home."
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