American Street (Readers' Advisory)
AMERICAN STREET by Ibi Zoboi
Cultural diversity in literature has never been more important than it is now. People all over the country and the world are becoming increasingly aware of the depth of systemic racism and are urgently seeking ways to develop critical awareness to challenge oppressive narratives and to seek out underrepresented voices. Karen Jensen, librarian and inclusivity advocate, notes that “It would be good to acknowledge upfront that an able bodied, white cishet neutral is assumed in society and in publishing…” (Brock 2019, pp. 12). Our national demographics and student populations are more culturally diverse than ever, but the publishing industry has lagged behind, and diverse characters and authors remain disproportionately underrepresented. As Jensen goes on to emphasize, “inclusive collections are the goal because all patrons deserve representation.”
But why does representation matter? Richard Delgado argues (Hughes-Hassell 2013) that counter-stories, the stories of people that are not often told, can cause marginalized groups to become visible, both to themselves and the broader society. Delgado enumerates the impacts: “By telling (and hearing) counter-stories, members of marginalized groups: gain healing from becoming familiar with their own historic oppression and victimization; realize that they are not alone; that others have the same thoughts and experiences; stop blaming themselves for their marginal position; and construct additional counter-stories to challenge the dominant story.”
Furthermore, representation matters because it provides readers a window into lives different from their own, creating empathy for each other. Aisha Saeed, president of strategy at We Need Diverse Books, argues that "Reading about others and finding the common humanity within us all is the most effective way to eradicate racism” (Hunter 2015).
But as Jensen reminds us, “not all representation is good representation” and there is a difference “between stories about a culture and stories by someone of that culture” (Brock 2019, pp. 12-13). The grassroots campaigns #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #OwnVoices have begun to make a positive impact on representation in publishing, causing literary agents and librarians to be more aware of stereotypes and harmful tropes, seeking to feature voices from within cultural groups rather than outsiders who might capitalize on their partial understanding, flattening cultures into stereotypes and single-story narratives.
Ibi Zoboi, the author of American Street, is an excellent example of the #OwnVoices movement. Born in Haiti, Zoboi immigrated to the United States, and she profoundly captures the complexity and nuance of Haitian-American identities. In American Street, Fabiola was born in the US before growing up in Haiti, returning to the US as an immigrant witnessing life in Detroit for the first time. Her Haitian-American cousins are thoroughly assimilated into American culture, and the contrast between their perspectives is both humorous and touching. This demonstrates the complexity of cultural identity, highlighting that members within a cultural group are not monolithic.
Fabiola’s perspective is informed by the Vodou tradition, and so her vision of Detroit and its cast of characters is transformed by her faith. She recognizes Papa Legba in the homeless man on the street who sings riddles that guide her through her struggles. She sees the warrior, Izili-Danto, lwa of vengeance and rage, in the face of her cousin and in herself when she must be brave and fierce. Baron Samedi, lwa of the dead, looms ominously in Dray, Donna’s dangerous boyfriend. In contrast, Fabiola’s cousins offer her the cultural literacy of Detroit’s West Side, instructing her on what to do to survive. In this juxtaposition, Zoboi’s voice and perspective highlights the diverse cultural identities of Haitian-Americans and the ways in which they overlap with the broader Black community.
“Zoboi pulls no punches when describing the dangerous realities of the girls’ lives, but tender moments are carefully tucked into the plot as well. This story is many things. It is a struggle for survival. It is the uncovering of one’s bravest self. And, most significant, it is the coming together of a family.” Julia Smith for Booklist
“Mixing gritty street life with the tenderness of first love, Haitian Vodou, and family bonds, the book is at once chilling, evocative, and reaffirming.” Publishers Weekly
Although I’ve already used this title in another Readers’ Advisory, I couldn’t resist pairing it with American Street due to its focus on Haitian experience and perspectives. Readers who loved Zoboi’s novel for its magical realism and inclusion of Vodou magic will find that In Darkness is a captivating and brutal look at life in Haiti. The novel is narrated by a young man trapped under the rubble of a hospital after the 2010 earthquake, an event referenced by Zoboi in her story. It also explores the history of Toussaint Louverture, the man who led the Haitian Revolution (and the historical figure from whom Fabiola Toussaint gets her name). Although Nick Lake is a white, British man and not an example of #OwnVoices, the treatment of Haitian life and history seems well-researched and the two novels would make an excellent pair for discussion.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
I chose this verse novel because it explores the relationship between two sisters, one living in the Dominican Republic and one living in New York City. They do not know of each other’s existence until the tragic death of their father. This seems to be a logical pairing with American Street because it deals with the intersection of multiple cultural identities within a family as well as the impact of tragedy and family secrets. Acevedo is also an example of #OwnVoices as she writes about Dominican-American experiences and identities.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi
In this anthology of short fiction, a collection of authors explore the wide diversity within Black American communities. “Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.” This collection of #OwnVoices authors features some of the major names in YA literature such as Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone, creating an affirming and inclusive vision of the many ways to be Black in America.
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
Although this selection may seem like an unusual pairing with American Street, this powerful graphic memoir portrays the experience of a Vietnamese family fleeing South Vietnam in the 1970s. Bui’s story chronicles her family’s journey of love, sacrifice, fear, and understanding as they make a new life in the United States. The immigrant experience is as diverse as the number of immigrant people, yet the courage of survival and the evolution of identity forms a common thread.
Brock, R. (2019). Young adult literature in action. Libraries Unlimited.
Bui, Thi. (2017). The best we could do: An illustrated memoir. Harry N. Abrams.
Hughes-Hassell, S. (2013). Multicultural young adult literature as a form of counter-storytelling. Library Quarterly, 83(3), 212-228.
Hunter, S. (2015). Promoting diversity at your library. Booklist, 111(11), 43.
Lake, Nick. (2012). In darkness. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Zoboi, I. (2017). American Street. Balzer+Bray.
Zoboi, I. (Ed.). (2019). Black enough: Stories of being young and black in America. Balzer+Bray.
But why does representation matter? Richard Delgado argues (Hughes-Hassell 2013) that counter-stories, the stories of people that are not often told, can cause marginalized groups to become visible, both to themselves and the broader society. Delgado enumerates the impacts: “By telling (and hearing) counter-stories, members of marginalized groups: gain healing from becoming familiar with their own historic oppression and victimization; realize that they are not alone; that others have the same thoughts and experiences; stop blaming themselves for their marginal position; and construct additional counter-stories to challenge the dominant story.”
Furthermore, representation matters because it provides readers a window into lives different from their own, creating empathy for each other. Aisha Saeed, president of strategy at We Need Diverse Books, argues that "Reading about others and finding the common humanity within us all is the most effective way to eradicate racism” (Hunter 2015).
But as Jensen reminds us, “not all representation is good representation” and there is a difference “between stories about a culture and stories by someone of that culture” (Brock 2019, pp. 12-13). The grassroots campaigns #WeNeedDiverseBooks and #OwnVoices have begun to make a positive impact on representation in publishing, causing literary agents and librarians to be more aware of stereotypes and harmful tropes, seeking to feature voices from within cultural groups rather than outsiders who might capitalize on their partial understanding, flattening cultures into stereotypes and single-story narratives.
Ibi Zoboi, the author of American Street, is an excellent example of the #OwnVoices movement. Born in Haiti, Zoboi immigrated to the United States, and she profoundly captures the complexity and nuance of Haitian-American identities. In American Street, Fabiola was born in the US before growing up in Haiti, returning to the US as an immigrant witnessing life in Detroit for the first time. Her Haitian-American cousins are thoroughly assimilated into American culture, and the contrast between their perspectives is both humorous and touching. This demonstrates the complexity of cultural identity, highlighting that members within a cultural group are not monolithic.
Fabiola’s perspective is informed by the Vodou tradition, and so her vision of Detroit and its cast of characters is transformed by her faith. She recognizes Papa Legba in the homeless man on the street who sings riddles that guide her through her struggles. She sees the warrior, Izili-Danto, lwa of vengeance and rage, in the face of her cousin and in herself when she must be brave and fierce. Baron Samedi, lwa of the dead, looms ominously in Dray, Donna’s dangerous boyfriend. In contrast, Fabiola’s cousins offer her the cultural literacy of Detroit’s West Side, instructing her on what to do to survive. In this juxtaposition, Zoboi’s voice and perspective highlights the diverse cultural identities of Haitian-Americans and the ways in which they overlap with the broader Black community.
Synopsis Rationale:
The underlying tension of the novel is the separation of Fabiola from her mother, an aching absence that influences her choices and her evolving identity. But the separation is more than a plot device; it represents the desperate longing for home and familiarity, a longing which is filled by her devotion to her Vodou faith, her spiritual connection to her mother and to Haiti.Selected Quote:
I chose the quote about Papa Legba because it represents the magical realism Zoboi infuses in her narrative. It also represents the tension between her emerging Detroit self and her Haitian roots, layers of meaning and identity constantly in flux: “what was just a smooth hip-hop song now sounds like heavy conga drums…” (Zoboi pp. 141). Her relationship with Kasim also grounds her in the humanity of adolescence and blossoming love. Though Kasim is not the focus of the quote, their romance is an essential gravity that pulls Fabiola to a new understanding of herself and who she is becoming.Book Reviews:
“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.” Kirkus Reviews“Zoboi pulls no punches when describing the dangerous realities of the girls’ lives, but tender moments are carefully tucked into the plot as well. This story is many things. It is a struggle for survival. It is the uncovering of one’s bravest self. And, most significant, it is the coming together of a family.” Julia Smith for Booklist
“Mixing gritty street life with the tenderness of first love, Haitian Vodou, and family bonds, the book is at once chilling, evocative, and reaffirming.” Publishers Weekly
Related Reads:
In Darkness by Nick LakeAlthough I’ve already used this title in another Readers’ Advisory, I couldn’t resist pairing it with American Street due to its focus on Haitian experience and perspectives. Readers who loved Zoboi’s novel for its magical realism and inclusion of Vodou magic will find that In Darkness is a captivating and brutal look at life in Haiti. The novel is narrated by a young man trapped under the rubble of a hospital after the 2010 earthquake, an event referenced by Zoboi in her story. It also explores the history of Toussaint Louverture, the man who led the Haitian Revolution (and the historical figure from whom Fabiola Toussaint gets her name). Although Nick Lake is a white, British man and not an example of #OwnVoices, the treatment of Haitian life and history seems well-researched and the two novels would make an excellent pair for discussion.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
I chose this verse novel because it explores the relationship between two sisters, one living in the Dominican Republic and one living in New York City. They do not know of each other’s existence until the tragic death of their father. This seems to be a logical pairing with American Street because it deals with the intersection of multiple cultural identities within a family as well as the impact of tragedy and family secrets. Acevedo is also an example of #OwnVoices as she writes about Dominican-American experiences and identities.
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi
In this anthology of short fiction, a collection of authors explore the wide diversity within Black American communities. “Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.” This collection of #OwnVoices authors features some of the major names in YA literature such as Jason Reynolds and Nic Stone, creating an affirming and inclusive vision of the many ways to be Black in America.
The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui
Although this selection may seem like an unusual pairing with American Street, this powerful graphic memoir portrays the experience of a Vietnamese family fleeing South Vietnam in the 1970s. Bui’s story chronicles her family’s journey of love, sacrifice, fear, and understanding as they make a new life in the United States. The immigrant experience is as diverse as the number of immigrant people, yet the courage of survival and the evolution of identity forms a common thread.
References:
Acevedo, E. (2020). Clap when you land. Quill Tree Books.Brock, R. (2019). Young adult literature in action. Libraries Unlimited.
Bui, Thi. (2017). The best we could do: An illustrated memoir. Harry N. Abrams.
Hughes-Hassell, S. (2013). Multicultural young adult literature as a form of counter-storytelling. Library Quarterly, 83(3), 212-228.
Hunter, S. (2015). Promoting diversity at your library. Booklist, 111(11), 43.
Lake, Nick. (2012). In darkness. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Zoboi, I. (2017). American Street. Balzer+Bray.
Zoboi, I. (Ed.). (2019). Black enough: Stories of being young and black in America. Balzer+Bray.
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