Book Recommendation: Starfish

Book Recommendation: I recently came across Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman by accident, and I was so glad I did! I usually have to wait ages for the books I want to become available via the Overdrive app through the Austin Public Library. So sometimes I start scrolling randomly through the library app to see if there’s something that is available. I’m so glad this gem of a book crossed my path!

Starfish is a young adult novel, although the themes felt very adult to me. The main character, Kiko, grapples with a toxic relationship with her narcissistic mother. She also struggles with feelings of otherness as a bi-racial young woman (Japanese and white). There are also conversations about anxiety and sexual abuse.

I normally struggle with books that include sexual abuse, but the references in this book weren’t too heavy for me. The story was quite engaging. I cared about the characters and wanted to find out how their lives would unfold.

And the book was an easy read, which is definitely a bonus during a time of stress in our real lives. My biggest complaint is that I finished it too quickly. That’s definitely a good sign in a book recommendation!

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