American Street Book Review by Ibi Zoboi

 

Written by Ibi Zoboi

Published by Balzer and Bray in 2017

ISBN: 978-0062473042

Plot Summary: Fabiola is a Haitian immigrant who moves back to the US where she was born. Immigration police take Fabiola's mother into custody as they think she is planning on staying here illegally. Fabiola is forced to move up north to Detroit where her aunt and cousins live. She doesn't like American school but her cousins are doing well so she spends her time with them. One of her cousin's boyfriend's name is Dray and he's a drug dealer. Fabiola is approached by a detective saying that he can help her mom if she can find evidence against him but as she is searching she finds out that her aunt and cousins are the ones that are into the illegal activities. Kasim is Fabiola's love interest and also the friend of Dray as well. Kasim shows up at the party where they are planning on busting Dray for selling drugs and when Fabiola hears this she tries to go to the party to stop it. Kasim is killed by the cops but because of her help, her mother is released and they go pick her up in New Jersey to reset their lives. 

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers): This story goes into many pressing topics of today including immigration, drugs, and what it means to be a family. Fabiola learns what it means to be an immigrant and also what it means to stick up for your family no matter what. She tells the dectective that even though she could help, she won't be giving up her family. This story could be the "new" American Dream as people struggle to make ends meet and will do whatever they can to get ahead in life. There is a mighty struggle in Detroit and Fabiola and her aunt and cousins are doing what they can to get ahead in life. Fabiola never gives up on her heritage as she uses traditional Creole words like Matant instead of Aunt. There are many characteristics that help us know that this is a story that is true to their Haitian culture. Fabiola is divided in her heritage as she decides what she wants to do and be as an immigrant and is divided in her loyalty to family or to the law. This is a powerful story of making the hard choices and not knowing what you chose is correct or not. 

Reviews: Kirkus Review

Fabiola Toussaint is a black immigrant girl whose life is flipped upside down when she moves to Detroit, Michigan, from her homeland of Haiti and her mother is detained by ICE, leaving her to go on alone. Though Fabiola was born in the U.S., she has lived in Haiti since she was an infant, and that has now left her unprepared for life in America. In Detroit, she lives with her aunt Marjorie and her three thoroughly Americanized cousins, Chantal, Primadonna, and Princess. It’s not easy holding on to her heritage and identity in Detroit; Matant Jo fines Fabiola for speaking Creole (though even still “a bit of Haiti is peppered in her English words”), and the gritty streets of Detroit are very different from those of Port-au-Prince. Fabiola has her faith to help keep her grounded, which grows ever more important as she navigates her new school, American society, and a surprising romance—but especially when she is faced with a dangerous proposition that brings home to her the fact that freedom comes with a price. Fabiola’s perceptive, sensitive narration gives readers a keen, well-executed look into how the American dream can be a nightmare for so many. Filling her pages with magic, humanity, tragedy, and hope, Zoboi builds up, takes apart, and then rebuilds an unforgettable story.

This book will take root in readers’ hearts. (Fiction. 14-adult)

Connections: Students can learn more about immigration from Haiti and the Caribbean islands through the U.S. government website in order to learn how to advocate and help them. https://www.uscis.gov/CHNV

More books by Ibi Zoboi

Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix ISBN 978-0062564047

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich ISBN: 978-0399187353

Punching the Air ISBN: 978-0062996480


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