Pet

Pet
Akwarke Emezi
Make Me a World/Random House, 2019
208 pages
Grades 8-Up
Science Fiction

Jam is a black trans girl with selective mutism. She lives with her parents Aloe and Bitter in a town called Lucille, where formally monsters roamed the streets and were hunted by angels. Now the angels are still among the townsfolk but there is no reason to hunt. Or is there? Bitter spends days painting something mysterious in her workshop. Jam wanders in late at night and accidentally drips blood on the art work, bringing the creature in the painting to life. This creature, Pet, is like nothing Jam has ever seen and is able to communicate with her telepathically. Pet says that they are here to hunt a monster and Jam is to aid it in its quest. Jam is not sure exactly what Pet is, but she knows that she cannot tell her parent's about it. Only Jam can communicate with or see Pet. The monster in which has brought Pet to Lucille lives in the house of Jam's best friend Redemption. Could Pet be wrong? Redemption's family is loving and kind. A monster couldn't be lurking in its midst, could it?

Emezi creates a modern folktale about the monsters in our midst for Christopher Myers' new imprint Make me a World. Young readers may have a hard time relating to this newly conceived time and place of monsters and angels, but if they give it a try and stick with it, the rewards will pay off. Jam is an unusual character with whom many readers will sympathize and applaud her growth as the story continues and she finds her strength and voice. Character names are important and interesting and will give the reader more to ponder while reading this deceivingly rich tale. The narration feels like we are dropped into a timeless folktale and remains consistent throughout the telling. Emezi demonstrates that monsters lurk in the most obvious places and it is up to all of us to expose them, even if we don't have the help of a magical creature. Jam makes the tough choices, even if she is in danger of losing her best friend and getting in trouble by her beloved parents. A carefully penned little book with a lot to say, this will best be enjoyed by thoughtful readers.