BookLife Review: Maame by Jessica George

London, Ghanaian immigrants, coming of age, death of a parent, sexual awakening

I don't know if I loved this book because of Jessica George’s beautiful, raw and honest writing, relentlessly peeling away the self-protective layers and swirling emotions surrounding Maddie a/k/a Maame ("woman" in Twi) as she navigates her 25, 26 year old life as a dutiful daughter of Ghanaian immigrants in London and the death of her father, or because I so intensely identify with the toxic, too-early adult responsibilities hoisted up this young woman.

The author ambitiously tackles themes of black identity, coming of age and sexual awakening, grief, depression, death of a parent and fractured mother daughter dynamics arising from an absent parent. Even though these are HUGE topics, the story is nonetheless intimate. The characters artfully and fully developed with the sparest of language. The gentle explorations of romance are not trite or formulaic. The author takes us on the heroine’s emotional ride, a wrong relationship before one that may be right, an overdue separation from her parents, and the missteps young people make in their eagerness for independence. She allows the heroine to make mistakes and be flawed and real. She draws a mother who is at once bold and selfish and loving, a brother who is all out selfish (likely masking his own fear and resentment). The family is messy, deliciously so. Friends are complicated, old ones loyal, newer ones a mix.

Overall, the character’s arc is real, painful and satisfying. Maame gets a "must read", very satisfying read from me.