Elisabet Velasquez

Gr 8 Up—Sarai, a Puerto Rican teen growing up in Bushwick, Brooklyn, struggles with poverty, her Mami's mental
illness, the gentrification of her neighborhood, and more. Through the poems in this debut novel in verse, Sarai finds
her voice as she asks questions and learns to celebrate herself.

Deals with poverty, drug use, teen pregnancy, racism, and gentrification. In my opinion, the poetry format gave me as a reader a little more emotional separation from the trauma. Overall, not bad.

I listen to Velasquez read her book. Wow! This one packed a punch, the things that Sarai goes through and writes about in her 16 years. It's not for the faint of heart. But Velasquez drops the trauma interspersed in powerful poetry. There is struggle with identity, life options, and poverty. But there is also hope and joy.

A powerful debut with a voice so raw, so loud, and so emotional, it begs to be heard, and man did I hear it. Through all the trials and tribulations, there is still hope that maybe, just maybe, it is still worth it. I was downright crying reading this book, but I love it.