Hardcover, 375 pages
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Published by: Dial Books
Read from: November 11-12, 2021
Stand-alone
Source: Library
TW: sexual assault, abuse, mental illness, drug usage, miscarriage, and pregnancy.
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary, Verse, Representation of Mental Illness or Disabilities, Realistic Fiction, Diverse Authors, Diverse MC, Own Voices, YAAn unforgettable, torrential, and hopeful debut young adult novel-in-verse that redefines what it means to “make it,” for readers of Nicholasa Mohr and Elizabeth Acevedo.
Sarai is a first-generation Puerto Rican eighth grader who can see with clarity the truth, pain, and beauty of the world both inside and outside her Bushwick apartment. Together with her older sister Estrella, she navigates the strain of family traumas and the systemic pressures of toxic masculinity and housing insecurity in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn. Sarai questions the society around her, her Boricua identity, and the life she lives with determination and an open heart, learning to celebrate herself in a way that she has been denied.
When We Make It is a love letter to anyone who was taught to believe that they would not make it. To those who feel their emotions before they can name them. To those who still may not have all the language but they have their story. Velasquez’ debut novel is sure to leave an indelible mark on all who read it.
*MY THOUGHTS*
It took me a little bit to get to this one because I was worried about the verse part. As most of you all know I’m not a huge fan of novels in verse, but after seeing that this is for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, I couldn’t pass it up. And so as soon as my library bought this one, I was able to snag a copy.
When We Make It reads like a memoir. It’s all about Sarai who is “destined” to be stuck in the hood following the same path that her momma did. All while her home is being gentrified and she’s bouncing from home to home. Can she get out without making the same mistakes that her mom and her sister did? Does that even matter?
I LOVED this book for the message alone. Not everyone’s path is the same. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it ends the same but you take a different path to get there. And no matter what, that’s ok. Don’t ever let anyone tell you its not. And that’s what this book is all about. Sarai has had a rough life, and as the book goes on, it gets worse. And the whole time she’s set to prove that she can do better than what she’s been given. And in the end, the last poem really speaks to me….. What if Making it Happens everyday, in all these different ways?
I didn’t care for the drug usage and talking about it so much. As y’all know that’s one of my triggers. But I was able to skip over that information when it came up. And since this was a novel in verse, I was able to still feel like I read it and didn’t miss anything. This made me happy because I was still able to enjoy it.
This isn’t my normal read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. This is definitely one I’m glad I didn’t sleep on. And fun fact, the babies in this book were names that I thought about naming my kid. Since it was a boy, Noah won. Hopefully (if I ever have a girl) I’ll name her Hope!
Overall, I give this
