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. ( )

A novel in verse set in Bushwick in 1996.

See also: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Quotes

I guess what I'm saying is that I think I'm talented
enough to make it out of here
while avoiding everything
that tries to get in my way. (23)

...because isn't that the worst
thing? To exist so plainly in sight and still be ignored. (45)

...I'm writing my own story
so that I can remember it accurately
in case someone else
tries to tell it for me. (52)

I come from a woman so passionate
the world calls her angry.
Maybe Mami's not angry.
Maybe she just knows what she's worth. (99)

Ms. Rivera once said that
words are usually a red carpet for actions. (137)

"If You Care to Look Closely"
the war on drugs
is also a war on people.
But in Bushwick,
no one cares to look closely. (166)

Never mess with a woman
dressed in the glamour of
her children's hunger. (218)

I think all women have that talent.
To make pain look like art. (237)

How easy it is to love something
for how well it can distract you from your pain. (298)

We're supposed to wanna get outta here.
When we make it, that's what we're supposed to do -
leave.
That's the dream. Make it out of the hood.
No one tells us where we're supposed to go though. (331) ( )