This elegantly-written memoir tells the amazing, complex story of Wayetu Moore escaping the war in Liberia as a young girl, and navigating her new life in America. Moore does not ask for sympathy, but tells her story straight and true. Her love for her family carries her through the most harrowing times in a civil war, as well as the added trauma of becoming a "black girl" in a racist US. Inspirational. ( )

parts of this were really well done and i do think it's an important history to tell (i've learned a little of this liberian history from a handful of books i've read, but not from school). there were pieces that needed more exposition or shouldn't have been included, though, especially in the second section when she's an adult in america. i thought including her child perspective in the first part of the book was a risky choice, but she mostly handled that well. it really was the second part that i had the most trouble with. i was really surprised and pleased to find the third part was her mother's story and voice, as that really helped put the entire picture together. especially as the first part was told from the child, who really didn't understand much, it really helped the reader to see her mother's story.

the second section, where she is an adult in america and also when she is starting to try to research this history and return to liberia is one where she needed to go deeper in every aspect. it is lacking because she doesn't. i almost didn't understand why she even included this section, because it simply isn't explored or excavated enough.

i would read her fiction because she is a talented writer. this just didn't work quite as well as it could have. ( )

nonfiction, autobiographical (author retraces her family's traumatic escape from war-torn Liberia when she was 5 y.o.)

It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but I enjoyed the author's journey in piecing together the fractured memories. If you have the patience to stick with it, it's worth it. ( )

Really wanted to like it but cannot get into the writing style ( )

I wasn't sure how she would make the parts fit together, and then I got to the last section and it all worked, especially the last paragraphs. It was so suspenseful and tense at times. I loved her use of the child's perspective -- so strong in images. It was agonizing to read in many ways. And yet so joyful. I want to re-read. ( )