It wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed it. The writing style took a little getting used to but once I did, it was a great story. I'm trying to actively broaden the things I read and see the work from other perspectives. This was an excellent way to see what growing up as an immigrant in America was like for some people. 

I can't overstate how beautifully written this book is. The prose is stunning, creative, and original - I can't think of any other book I've read that's written in the collective "we" voice. I love the theme of female friendship and the exploration of the beauty and melancholy of a shared history between friends. 

“We leave, we leave, we leave. We always leave. It is in our blood to leave. But perhaps it’s also in our blood to return” (pg. 137)

Synopsis: A collection of short stories and think pieces of what it’s like growing up as women of color from the dregs of Queens, New York.

likes:
- pacing -- quick read
- representation: there is no one specific race/ethnicity that was prominent in this book since it was narrated as if it was a consensus of all types of women of color -- i thought it was a cool concept. the author also perfectly portrayed the guilt WOC feel when they leave their homes and childhood friends behind to pursue a degree, which is something i resonate deeply with

dislikes:
- i wish the chapters were much longer, but i think this is a great piece of literature to start with then delving into the topic of race, diversity, and inclusivity (i would <b>LOVE</b> to see this being taught in schools!!)

comments:
i wanted to hate this book at first b/c i thought it was going to be a rupi kaur-esque (idc for rupi kaur) x house on mango street type of book, but it’s not like that at all!

This book is a symphony.

Evoking a strong sense of place in the "dregs of Queens" and told from the plural perspective of the eponymous brown girls, Andreades’s debut novel is gorgeous and gratifying. The book’s short length belies its power and range. Lively vignettes narrated by a collective voice articulate the nuances & complexities bound up in the lived reality of brown girls in Queens. Andreades highlights the tensions of growing up within this community: balancing expectations and gratitude, ambition and rootedness, confidence and humility. The tone is unfettered, honest, and compassionate. 

Particularly notable is the way Andreades rejects the idea of caricature while also managing to tell a story from a collective narrator. In fact, this writing device turned the disconnected girls and women Andreades wished to represent into a tapestry. I never got the sense that she was flattening or stereotyping, rather imbuing with humanity and value every varied experience, saying, “This? This is us. Oh, and that? That, too.” 

Brown Girls would be an excellent choice for those who enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other or Infinite Country. I strongly recommend the audiobook thanks to masterful narration by Tashi Thomas.