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Where the Guava Tree Stands
In Where the Guava Tree Stands, Mina’s world is turned upside down when her family leaves the sun-soaked shores of St. Kitts for the bustling streets of Orlando. Through lyrical and heartfelt poems, Mina navigates the challenges of a new culture, grapples with homesickness, and finds strength in her family’s love and resilience.
As the guava tree her father plants grows tall, Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
"Readers' Favorite calls Where the Guava Tree Stands by Leah T. Williams a powerful poetry collection that perfectly captures the experience of belonging and identity. With a 5-star rating, the review 'Leah T. Williams’ collection is the perfect ode to optimism and love of self alongside roots, resilience, and growth. Very highly recommended.'"
"Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Where the Guava Tree Stands by Leah T. Williams explores the immigrant experience through the eyes of a young girl, Mina, who moves from St. Kitts to Orlando. This emotionally charged collection of narrative poems addresses identity, belonging, and adaptation, skillfully depicting the raw emotions of Mina’s journey. The guava tree symbolizes her connection to her roots as she navigates the unfamiliar aspects of her new environment. Williams beautifully captures the essence of leaving one's homeland to forge a new path in a different world. A must-read for anyone interested in stories of migration, identity, and family. Rated 5 stars."
As the guava tree her father plants grows tall, Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
"Readers' Favorite calls Where the Guava Tree Stands by Leah T. Williams a powerful poetry collection that perfectly captures the experience of belonging and identity. With a 5-star rating, the review 'Leah T. Williams’ collection is the perfect ode to optimism and love of self alongside roots, resilience, and growth. Very highly recommended.'"
"Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Where the Guava Tree Stands by Leah T. Williams explores the immigrant experience through the eyes of a young girl, Mina, who moves from St. Kitts to Orlando. This emotionally charged collection of narrative poems addresses identity, belonging, and adaptation, skillfully depicting the raw emotions of Mina’s journey. The guava tree symbolizes her connection to her roots as she navigates the unfamiliar aspects of her new environment. Williams beautifully captures the essence of leaving one's homeland to forge a new path in a different world. A must-read for anyone interested in stories of migration, identity, and family. Rated 5 stars."
- GenresPoetryMiddle Grade
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
505 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 31, 2025
This book is a collection of poetry written in a single person perspective Mina’s the child world is turned upside down when her family leaves the sun-soaked shores of St. Kitts for the bustling streets of Orlando.
Through lyrical couplets and heartfelt poems, Mina is writing herself to try to navigate the challenges of a new culture of Orlando with her family, by showing off her culture of ST.Kitts with pride and honour, grapples with homesickness of calm and peace to city of traffic, loud sound and future opportunities say city never sleep, and finds strength in her family’s love and resilience, against people, government and community who doesn't accept them earlier but they make there way . Although being immigrants was a challenge, the fight was a long battle to show that they belong here because of hardwork, consistency and love for people around them.
As the guava tree is symbolic in the poetry, which shows that the guava tree is back at St.Kitts and her father plants which he brings along grows tall in front of her shows the family heritage is kept , Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places only if one believes and want to take it forward to let there generation knows where we came from and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
Being from a family whose siblings reside in foreign countries i can relate to what Mina said and by far with easy diction it's one of the best Poetry books i came across
Through lyrical couplets and heartfelt poems, Mina is writing herself to try to navigate the challenges of a new culture of Orlando with her family, by showing off her culture of ST.Kitts with pride and honour, grapples with homesickness of calm and peace to city of traffic, loud sound and future opportunities say city never sleep, and finds strength in her family’s love and resilience, against people, government and community who doesn't accept them earlier but they make there way . Although being immigrants was a challenge, the fight was a long battle to show that they belong here because of hardwork, consistency and love for people around them.
As the guava tree is symbolic in the poetry, which shows that the guava tree is back at St.Kitts and her father plants which he brings along grows tall in front of her shows the family heritage is kept , Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places only if one believes and want to take it forward to let there generation knows where we came from and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
Being from a family whose siblings reside in foreign countries i can relate to what Mina said and by far with easy diction it's one of the best Poetry books i came across
June 19, 2025
One author’s love letter to St. Kitts.
🌴
Young Mina’s life dramatically shifts when her family moves from the sun-drenched island of St. Kitts to the busy streets of Orlando, FL. As Mina adjusts to her new country, new friends, new culture and school, she clings to memories of home and finds comfort in the guava tree her father plants in their yard.
🌴
I was deeply moved by the emotional honesty and lyrical beauty of @kittiwriter1 writing. Each rhyming poem felt like a window into Nina‘s heart, capturing the confusion, grief, and eventual hope that accompanies such a big life change. The symbolism of the guava tree was especially powerful – it grounded the story and served as a quiet reminder that roots can be transplanted and still grow strong. Florida friends: this is a great MG book to add to your collection (or anyone’s!)
CW: immigration
🌴
Young Mina’s life dramatically shifts when her family moves from the sun-drenched island of St. Kitts to the busy streets of Orlando, FL. As Mina adjusts to her new country, new friends, new culture and school, she clings to memories of home and finds comfort in the guava tree her father plants in their yard.
🌴
I was deeply moved by the emotional honesty and lyrical beauty of @kittiwriter1 writing. Each rhyming poem felt like a window into Nina‘s heart, capturing the confusion, grief, and eventual hope that accompanies such a big life change. The symbolism of the guava tree was especially powerful – it grounded the story and served as a quiet reminder that roots can be transplanted and still grow strong. Florida friends: this is a great MG book to add to your collection (or anyone’s!)
CW: immigration
May 26, 2025
A very beautiful, powerful story. I'm normally not one for novels in verse, but this one caught my eye and I had to try. I'm very glad I did! The sweet family dynamic was heartwarming and I loved learning more about St. Kitts.
Sometimes it got confusing because it felt like things weren't necessary happening in chronological order. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I listened to the audiobook but I am definitely planning on getting a physical copy one day. The writing was amazing and I would love to highlight some beautiful parts.
4.5 ★
Sometimes it got confusing because it felt like things weren't necessary happening in chronological order. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment.
I listened to the audiobook but I am definitely planning on getting a physical copy one day. The writing was amazing and I would love to highlight some beautiful parts.
4.5 ★
June 19, 2025
Where the Guava Tree Stands is a novel in verse that tells the story of Mina and her parents as they move from St. Kitts to Orlando, Florida. It shows the struggles they face from getting used to a new country, dealing with immigration and becoming citizens, and most importantly, how they stick together as a family while learning to thrive in their new home. It's lonely for them at times, but it is also fun and exciting as they get to show parts of the island life to Mina's school friends through food, clothing, and dancing.
Throughout this story, you can see the love that the author has for St. Kitts through the way they describe the beauty of the island, and how the main character in the book misses the food, the ocean, and even the monkeys that steal all the guavas from her family's tree.
P.S. this one is available on Kindle Unlimited through the end of the month!
Throughout this story, you can see the love that the author has for St. Kitts through the way they describe the beauty of the island, and how the main character in the book misses the food, the ocean, and even the monkeys that steal all the guavas from her family's tree.
P.S. this one is available on Kindle Unlimited through the end of the month!
June 20, 2025
5/5 !!!!!
April 16, 2025
I loved Mina's story. The growth that came from newly immigrated to the US to a year later is great. I really enjoy the way the author portrayed the friendship between Mina and Chloe. The way the family embraced Chloe and involved her in the traditions from St. Kitts really warmed my heart.
I do not love the rhyming verse style. It was distracting to me; I much prefer free verse.
I do not love the rhyming verse style. It was distracting to me; I much prefer free verse.
August 31, 2025
4.5/5 This book is so heartwarming! A coming-of-age story that will definitely stick with you, and so beautifully written. The author’s intention shines through.
August 27, 2025
Since the start of the year, I’ve been reading a lot of novel-in-verse - my all-time favorite genre. I thought this book would be like those novel-in-verses I gobbled up so far this year. But this book has a completely different rhythm. And so it took me a while to know the dance. It’s poems that tell a story in a steady rhyme scheme. You have to take your time. Although this book didn’t bite the way I want books to bite, it certainly made me think about . . . . me. I’m an immigrant to my own homeland. Does that make sense? Unlike the guava trees in the story, I grew branches first, before I grew roots. I never had time to grow roots, which was a good thing. I kept moving from one school to another: never establishing long-lasting friendships in my formative years. So at least, I didn’t have to rip myself from the land all the time. But here I am, in an island called Mindanao: my Mom’s home. Now, I didn’t have to bring McDonalds and Burger King, and Slurpy along with me like the protagonist in the story had to with her Kittitian culture - which she brought to Orlando, Florida. It’s only when I was in Mindanao did I establish roots. I kept my American branches though. And so, just like the protagonist of the story, I live in some kind of symbiosis of two cultures. Which is weird and cool at the same time. You can imagine a chimera like me sticking out like a sore thumb. Is it possible: my roots was formed in a different place from where my branches formed? And it was my branches that formed first. Anyway, these are the kinds of questions or notions that popped up while I was reading this book.
Now, of course, poetry has an image, and nearing the finish line, I kept asking myself, what is this story trying to paint? I see two worlds and a bridge, and that bridge is love. And where there is love, there is hope. But there is also the image of a guava tree that grows in a foreign land. But the tree grows as long as there is love. Then there is the image of balance. A balance between two worlds - a balance between old and new. A balance of roots and branches (growing deeper and wider at the same time). A tree can symbolize resilience, struggle, & slow meaningful growth. It takes an awful lot of time for a tree - even a guava - to grow. And yes, there are trees that are immigrants too (exotic species). And until now, to be honest, I am still looking for home (even if i’m carrying it somewhere within). I’m still trying to define it. But this story: Where The Guava Tree Stands, tells us all that love is a part of it no doubt. We are like the trees and as the sun is for the tree, love is for us. May my leaves turn towards it.
Now, of course, poetry has an image, and nearing the finish line, I kept asking myself, what is this story trying to paint? I see two worlds and a bridge, and that bridge is love. And where there is love, there is hope. But there is also the image of a guava tree that grows in a foreign land. But the tree grows as long as there is love. Then there is the image of balance. A balance between two worlds - a balance between old and new. A balance of roots and branches (growing deeper and wider at the same time). A tree can symbolize resilience, struggle, & slow meaningful growth. It takes an awful lot of time for a tree - even a guava - to grow. And yes, there are trees that are immigrants too (exotic species). And until now, to be honest, I am still looking for home (even if i’m carrying it somewhere within). I’m still trying to define it. But this story: Where The Guava Tree Stands, tells us all that love is a part of it no doubt. We are like the trees and as the sun is for the tree, love is for us. May my leaves turn towards it.
July 4, 2025
Dear Reader,
I wrote Where the Guava Tree Stands because I wanted to capture the quiet strength it takes to hold on to where you come from while trying to make sense of where you’ve landed. Like Mina, I know what it means to straddle two worlds—to carry the warmth of the Caribbean in your bones while learning how to move through a place that doesn’t always feel like home.
This book is deeply personal. It’s a love letter to St. Kitts, to the kids who’ve ever felt out of place, to families who start over with nothing but courage and each other. The guava tree became a symbol for me—of roots, of growth, and of finding belonging, even when it feels impossible.
If you read it, I hope Mina’s journey stays with you. I hope it makes you laugh, reflect, and maybe feel a little less alone.
If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review and telling a friend. Your support truly helps stories like this find their way to the people who need them most.
Thank you for reading,
Leah T. Williams
www.leahtwilliams.net
Follow me @kittiwriter1 for more stories and updates.
I wrote Where the Guava Tree Stands because I wanted to capture the quiet strength it takes to hold on to where you come from while trying to make sense of where you’ve landed. Like Mina, I know what it means to straddle two worlds—to carry the warmth of the Caribbean in your bones while learning how to move through a place that doesn’t always feel like home.
This book is deeply personal. It’s a love letter to St. Kitts, to the kids who’ve ever felt out of place, to families who start over with nothing but courage and each other. The guava tree became a symbol for me—of roots, of growth, and of finding belonging, even when it feels impossible.
If you read it, I hope Mina’s journey stays with you. I hope it makes you laugh, reflect, and maybe feel a little less alone.
If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review and telling a friend. Your support truly helps stories like this find their way to the people who need them most.
Thank you for reading,
Leah T. Williams
www.leahtwilliams.net
Follow me @kittiwriter1 for more stories and updates.
June 25, 2025
So I really liked the story told through poetry and the consistency of the narrative as we see through Mina's eyes the world of an immigrant coming to the US. I felt the fear as she wrote about the process at various points and remembered watching my childhood best friend adjust to the US after she came over with her mom at the age of 8. What I found difficult was the format. At first the rhyming was great, made it easy and had a cadence, but as I continued forward, I found it got tedious and then I was reading to get through it because there was never a change, never a difference within the style and sometimes the words chosen to make the rhyme work didn't quite fit. So solid story and good conveyance of the emotions and struggle but this style of poetry is just not for me.
June 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
⸻
Told through lyrical verse, Where the Guava Tree Stands follows Mina, a young girl navigating the complexities of growing up as an immigrant in America. As she finds joy and safety in her family’s love and her St. Kitts roots, Mina must also confront the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding immigration status and identity. With tenderness, strength, and cultural pride, this powerful story captures what it means to grow, belong, and hold on to home — even when it feels like it’s slipping away.
⸻
First off, I’m beyond honored that the author, Leah T. Williams, personally reached out and sent me a copy of this book. It means so much — and this story is an absolute gift.
Where the Guava Tree Stands is raw, poetic, and profoundly moving. Told from the perspective of Mina, a child who understands far more than the world gives her credit for, the book gives voice to the lived experiences of countless immigrant children. I was so struck by how deeply this story resonated — the balance between childhood innocence and the weight of very adult realities like immigration status and fear of the unknown.
As an immigrant myself, I felt deeply connected to Mina’s story. Her experience — the blending of two cultures, the pressure of carrying so much emotional weight at a young age, and the quiet strength in keeping traditions alive — resonated with me on such a personal level. Some passages felt like reading fragments of my own story.
I especially loved the way Mina and her family honor their heritage. Their connection to St. Kitts remains central, yet they also navigate and embrace American culture — not by abandoning one for the other, but by blending both in harmony. That theme of cultural duality is something so many readers will see themselves in.
This story is timely, necessary, and beautifully told. The verse format adds emotional depth without losing clarity, making every page impactful. It’s a book that demands to be read, discussed, and remembered — especially in these times of crisis.
⸻
Told through lyrical verse, Where the Guava Tree Stands follows Mina, a young girl navigating the complexities of growing up as an immigrant in America. As she finds joy and safety in her family’s love and her St. Kitts roots, Mina must also confront the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding immigration status and identity. With tenderness, strength, and cultural pride, this powerful story captures what it means to grow, belong, and hold on to home — even when it feels like it’s slipping away.
⸻
First off, I’m beyond honored that the author, Leah T. Williams, personally reached out and sent me a copy of this book. It means so much — and this story is an absolute gift.
Where the Guava Tree Stands is raw, poetic, and profoundly moving. Told from the perspective of Mina, a child who understands far more than the world gives her credit for, the book gives voice to the lived experiences of countless immigrant children. I was so struck by how deeply this story resonated — the balance between childhood innocence and the weight of very adult realities like immigration status and fear of the unknown.
As an immigrant myself, I felt deeply connected to Mina’s story. Her experience — the blending of two cultures, the pressure of carrying so much emotional weight at a young age, and the quiet strength in keeping traditions alive — resonated with me on such a personal level. Some passages felt like reading fragments of my own story.
I especially loved the way Mina and her family honor their heritage. Their connection to St. Kitts remains central, yet they also navigate and embrace American culture — not by abandoning one for the other, but by blending both in harmony. That theme of cultural duality is something so many readers will see themselves in.
This story is timely, necessary, and beautifully told. The verse format adds emotional depth without losing clarity, making every page impactful. It’s a book that demands to be read, discussed, and remembered — especially in these times of crisis.
June 27, 2025
I don’t usually reach for poetry collections, so when the author reached out to me and asked if I’d consider reviewing Where the Guava Tree Stands, I was hesitant at first. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
What makes this book stand out is how it uses poetry not just to express emotion, but to tell a full, vivid story. Through a series of interconnected poems, we follow a family from St. Kitts as they immigrate to Orlando, Florida, and navigate the challenges of starting over in a new land. The writing is heartfelt and evocative, carrying the weight of cultural memory, longing, and the fight to belong.
There’s a beautiful tension throughout—between holding on to the past and embracing the present, between fear and hope. The family's constant fear of deportation is especially poignant given the current climate in the U.S., and it adds urgency and emotional depth to the story.
This book deserves more recognition. It’s a touching, necessary work that bridges cultures and genres. Even if poetry isn’t your usual read, Where the Guava Tree Stands is worth your time. It surprised me—in the best possible way.
What makes this book stand out is how it uses poetry not just to express emotion, but to tell a full, vivid story. Through a series of interconnected poems, we follow a family from St. Kitts as they immigrate to Orlando, Florida, and navigate the challenges of starting over in a new land. The writing is heartfelt and evocative, carrying the weight of cultural memory, longing, and the fight to belong.
There’s a beautiful tension throughout—between holding on to the past and embracing the present, between fear and hope. The family's constant fear of deportation is especially poignant given the current climate in the U.S., and it adds urgency and emotional depth to the story.
This book deserves more recognition. It’s a touching, necessary work that bridges cultures and genres. Even if poetry isn’t your usual read, Where the Guava Tree Stands is worth your time. It surprised me—in the best possible way.
August 29, 2025
Four and a half stars
This #novelinverse is told through Mina’s perspective as she moves from St. Kitts to Florida with her family. The story follows Mina as she goes to school, makes friends and adjusts to the differences between St. Kitts and Florida. Her one constant is her supportive family. As they build a life in Florida, her parents encourage her to embrace her past and present.
Mina is a relatable middle schooler who participates in school events, plays on sports teams and wants to fit in. She is proud about who she is and where she comes from, and doesn’t shy away from sharing her culture with her new friends, who love to learn more about her culture. Her relationship with her grandma, though miles away, is beautiful to see throughout the story.
I enjoyed watching Mina share her culture with her friends through foods, dances, and sports. She blends her new experiences with her old experiences has she tries to navigate her new surroundings.
Who will like it?
✅ Fans of novels-in-verse
✅ Fans of realistic fiction stories
✅ Fans of strong female protagonists
This #novelinverse is told through Mina’s perspective as she moves from St. Kitts to Florida with her family. The story follows Mina as she goes to school, makes friends and adjusts to the differences between St. Kitts and Florida. Her one constant is her supportive family. As they build a life in Florida, her parents encourage her to embrace her past and present.
Mina is a relatable middle schooler who participates in school events, plays on sports teams and wants to fit in. She is proud about who she is and where she comes from, and doesn’t shy away from sharing her culture with her new friends, who love to learn more about her culture. Her relationship with her grandma, though miles away, is beautiful to see throughout the story.
I enjoyed watching Mina share her culture with her friends through foods, dances, and sports. She blends her new experiences with her old experiences has she tries to navigate her new surroundings.
Who will like it?
✅ Fans of novels-in-verse
✅ Fans of realistic fiction stories
✅ Fans of strong female protagonists
September 20, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy. This does not influence my opinion.
Where the Guava Tree Stands is a novel in verse telling the story of immigrating to the USA and finding one’s place without losing home, told through the eyes of a child.
The story is told in rhyme, and in order to stick with it, the author had to sometimes use awkward phrasing, which disrupted my reading flow. But thanks to the rhyming, most of this novel in verse is very rhythmic, which I enjoyed.
I enjoyed watching Mina grow and share both her roots as well as learn new things.
While this book does not ignore the hardships and racism immigrants and POC face in the US, its spirit is still very uplifting and hopeful, which at times like these feels very needed.
All in all a good read.
Where the Guava Tree Stands is a novel in verse telling the story of immigrating to the USA and finding one’s place without losing home, told through the eyes of a child.
The story is told in rhyme, and in order to stick with it, the author had to sometimes use awkward phrasing, which disrupted my reading flow. But thanks to the rhyming, most of this novel in verse is very rhythmic, which I enjoyed.
I enjoyed watching Mina grow and share both her roots as well as learn new things.
While this book does not ignore the hardships and racism immigrants and POC face in the US, its spirit is still very uplifting and hopeful, which at times like these feels very needed.
All in all a good read.
July 17, 2025
Thank you @kittiwriter1 for the opportunity to read your book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
My thoughts:
Where the Guava Tree Stands follows the early life of Mina. Her family has immigrated to Orlando, FL from a very small island in the Caribbean. Mina faces many challenges and homesickness. Her family helps her navigate her new life.
Her story is told through a series of poems.
Through everything, Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places. That home can be found if you let it happen.
Mina’s story brings us insight into:
Identify
Belonging
Adaptation
This is a wonderful book to share with middle grade students.
My thoughts:
Where the Guava Tree Stands follows the early life of Mina. Her family has immigrated to Orlando, FL from a very small island in the Caribbean. Mina faces many challenges and homesickness. Her family helps her navigate her new life.
Her story is told through a series of poems.
Through everything, Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places. That home can be found if you let it happen.
Mina’s story brings us insight into:
Identify
Belonging
Adaptation
This is a wonderful book to share with middle grade students.
September 8, 2025
✨ Thank you to Leah T. Williams (@kittiwriter1) for reaching out and sharing a link to her beautiful audiobook, Where the Guava Tree Stands. 🌿🎧
This heartfelt YA novel in verse follows young Mina and her parents as they leave their home in St. Kitts to start over in Orlando. It captures the excitement, anxiety, and unfamiliarity of moving to a new country—and does so with lyrical, tender writing.
Through Mina’s eyes, we experience new foods, schools, friendships, and the quiet ache of homesickness. This is such an important and timely read—perfect for helping readers build empathy for immigrant families and the journeys they face today. 💛
This heartfelt YA novel in verse follows young Mina and her parents as they leave their home in St. Kitts to start over in Orlando. It captures the excitement, anxiety, and unfamiliarity of moving to a new country—and does so with lyrical, tender writing.
Through Mina’s eyes, we experience new foods, schools, friendships, and the quiet ache of homesickness. This is such an important and timely read—perfect for helping readers build empathy for immigrant families and the journeys they face today. 💛
July 2, 2025
Thank you to Leah T. Williams for sharing her middle-grade novel in verse with me. I think with the political climate that we are in right now, this book is more important than ever. You can’t help but love Mina, an immigrant from St. Kitts! But you are on the edge of your seat every time there is a knock on the door there is fear that it is ICE coming to take Mina and her family away despite coming to the US legally. I loved learning more about St. Kitts culture and seeing Mina with a friend who wanted to learn more about Mina and was a constant supporter of her. This book would work well for middle schoolers.
June 9, 2025
An absolutely delightful read. "Where the Guava Tree Stands" follows the early life of Mina, a young girl whose family has immigrated to the United States from St Kitts (an Island in the Caribbean). Told through a series of poems, Mina relays her fears about leaving her home, fitting in to a new culture, making friends, and her family's fears about attitudes to migrants (even though they have green cards). A must read.
July 10, 2025
What a wonderful middle grade story that’s written in verse, about a family who emigrates from the Caribbean to Orlando Florida. Told in the voice of the young daughter. It took me a second to get used to reading the story in verse but once I did it was smooth sailing. A wonderful read about the mixed feelings children and families in general feel about leaving one home to make a new home in a foreign land and all the joys and fears that it brings. A good read.
August 11, 2025
I got the Audiobook to review from the author.
Really enjoyable book about hope and creating a new place to call home. This story hits close to home as an Islander living abroad.
I was pleasantly suprised on how well the chapters being poems moved the story along so seamlessly. I went in blindly. Only remembering the name of the book.
Really enjoyable book about hope and creating a new place to call home. This story hits close to home as an Islander living abroad.
I was pleasantly suprised on how well the chapters being poems moved the story along so seamlessly. I went in blindly. Only remembering the name of the book.
June 3, 2025
A cleverly crafted, optimistic story of family and home— I loved these characters!
August 13, 2025
Where the Guava Tree Stands is a beautifully written, heartfelt collection that captures the immigrant experience with lyrical grace, emotional depth, and an enduring sense of hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2025
Caribbean: St. Kitt's
December 4, 2025
I think that a younger reader would definitely get a lot more out of this than me, which is in no way a criticism, as it’s aimed at younger readers! There was a lot to like in this one. I enjoyed Mina’s relationships with those around her, and the way that Williams portrays Mina’s closeness with her family and schoolfriends. In particular, Mina’s letters to and from her grandmother, who remains in Saint Kitts, were moving and showed Mina’s internal struggle between immersing herself in her new life in the US and her nostalgia for her childhood home. Her friendship with Chloe, who she meets at her new school, is also very endearing, and I think that a younger reader would really appreciate seeing such an open, joyful friendship represented on the page.
(Full review at The Global Women's Library.)
(Full review at The Global Women's Library.)
May 31, 2025
This book is a collection of poetry written in a single person perspective Mina’s the child world is turned upside down when her family leaves the sun-soaked shores of St. Kitts for the bustling streets of Orlando.
Through lyrical couplets and heartfelt poems, Mina is writing herself to try to navigate the challenges of a new culture of Orlando with her family, by showing off her culture of ST.Kitts with pride and honour, grapples with homesickness of calm and peace to city of traffic, loud sound and future opportunities say city never sleep, and finds strength in her family’s love and resilience, against people, government and community who doesn't accept them earlier but they make there way . Although being immigrants was a challenge, the fight was a long battle to show that they belong here because of hardwork, consistency and love for people around them.
As the guava tree is symbolic in the poetry, which shows that the guava tree is back at St.Kitts and her father plants which he brings along grows tall in front of her shows the family heritage is kept , Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places only if one believes and want to take it forward to let there generation knows where we came from and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
Being from a family whose siblings reside in foreign countries i can relate to what Mina said and by far with easy diction it's one of the best Poetry books i came across
Through lyrical couplets and heartfelt poems, Mina is writing herself to try to navigate the challenges of a new culture of Orlando with her family, by showing off her culture of ST.Kitts with pride and honour, grapples with homesickness of calm and peace to city of traffic, loud sound and future opportunities say city never sleep, and finds strength in her family’s love and resilience, against people, government and community who doesn't accept them earlier but they make there way . Although being immigrants was a challenge, the fight was a long battle to show that they belong here because of hardwork, consistency and love for people around them.
As the guava tree is symbolic in the poetry, which shows that the guava tree is back at St.Kitts and her father plants which he brings along grows tall in front of her shows the family heritage is kept , Mina learns that roots can thrive in unexpected places only if one believes and want to take it forward to let there generation knows where we came from and that home is not just where you start, but where you build. A poignant story of identity, belonging, and the enduring bonds that connect us across oceans and generations.
Being from a family whose siblings reside in foreign countries i can relate to what Mina said and by far with easy diction it's one of the best Poetry books i came across
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