Details

Length: 289
Story Build: Slow
Character development: Fair
Age Recommendation: 8th and up
Reasoning: language; sexual content briefly mentioned

Summary and Review

I was quite excited to read this novel because Zoboi wrote American Street, which was a really exciting and magical read about a Haitian immigrant coming to the US. I figured some of that magic might also be found in Pride. I have read the original Jane Austin text as well as a modern retelling a few years ago. I was really intrigued to see a YA version that included characters that were teenagers with a setting of Bushwick in Brooklyn, New York. 

To be honest, I was underwhelmed with the plot. However, I think that has a lot less to do with Zoboi’s writing and more to do with just the original story of Pride and Prejudice. Zoboi’s take on it did a nice job holding true to the actual storyline, so if you really like your teen love story, then this is for you. 

Like I said, set in New York, the story centers around two families– the Benitez and Darcy families. Zuri, her four sisters, and her parents have lived in this small apartment in Bushwick since she was born. She loves Bushwick and her neighborhood. To her, it is a large part of her identity. When the wealthy Darcy family moves into a newly constructed mansion across the street, she immediately becomes guarded. She doesn’t believe that their sons, Ashley and Darius, fit in or should ever fit in as they could never understand what it’s like to be truly “hood.” 

Zuri has a few passions— getting into Howard University, her family, and poetry/ rapping. Fun fact, Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X, Clap When You Land, and With the Fire on High) wrote Zuri’s lyrical moments! How cool is that? Anyway, while her sisters become enamored with the Darcy boys, she remains firm that they don’t fit with her vision of Bushwick. 

However, as the summer progresses, those initial thoughts will be tested, and she will begin to question if you have to truly be in a place to have it stay with you, what it means to be “hood”, and if first assumptions are really fair. 

Zoboi does a nice job of crafting the Benitez family and the different siblings’ personalities. She also weaves in Haitian heritage and creates a vivid depiction of Bushwick for her reader to visualize. Furthermore, Acevedo’s lyrical poetry is an added bonus as she is a terrific painter of words.

Celebrations

Zoboi’s beautiful imagery is definitely a highlight. Her descriptive word choice and her lyrical phrasing help the setting to be quite vivid.

Hesitations

I just wish Darius had been sussed out a bit more as well as the relationships in the novel. These parts felt highly underdeveloped, but I think that may be an issue I have with the original characters and plot as well….