Reading with Patrick instantly grabbed and captivated me. Kuo's story of Patrick is both joyful and heartbreaking. Her nuanced writing captures his humanity as well as his struggle within the boundaries of his race, his class, and his environment. She doesn't try to smooth out the negatives and only talk about the positives. Rather, there is an honesty to the writing that feels raw and emotional.
There are so many things I loved about this book. Its testament to the power of books and teachers is absolutely uplifting. There is also a thoughtful exploration of how much nurture plays into a young person's life versus the environment they were born into. In addition, Kuo raises interesting points around the plea bargain and how it denies justice to poor uneducated blacks.
This book isn't just an outward catalog of external happenings, but also an introspective for Kuo. It captures her uncertainty and frustrations when things are not going the way she expects, and honestly accesses her motivation and influence in her students' lives. Her writing is lyrical and graceful, incorporating poems and snippets of Patrick's writing into the narrative.
This book moved and touched me for all the reasons above and so much more. It is definitely one of my favorite books this year.
Readaroo Rating: 4 stars
0 comments:
Post a Comment