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Water in May
Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols believes that the baby she’s carrying will finally mean she’ll have a family member who will love her deeply and won’t ever leave her—not like her mama, who took off when she was eight; or her papi, who’s in jail; or her abuela, who wants as little to do with her as possible. But when doctors discover a potentially fatal heart defect in the fetus, Mari faces choices she never could have imagined. Surrounded by her loyal girl crew, her off-and-on boyfriend, and a dedicated doctor, Mari navigates a decision that could emotionally cripple the bravest of women. But both Mari and the broken-hearted baby inside her are fighters; and it doesn’t take long to discover that this sick baby has the strength to heal an entire family.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2017
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January 26, 2018
"Fifteen years is too young to get arrested for dealing. But it's not too young to become a father. Or a mother. It's not too young to make something that's gonna love you forever."
What a disappointing book everyone!
Let me start off this review by saying that I rarely give a one-star rating. You really have to irritate the shit out of me and/or bored me to hell. With this book, I can say that it deserved my rating. There were so many problematic things about this book that I'll discuss later on what made me give it a low rating. My head just ached for reading this after rolling my eyes countless times I thought I was gonna see the back of my head.
So the basic premise of Water in May is simple: Mari Pujols, a fifteen-year-old Dominican girl is pregnant. She believes that having this baby means that there will finally be someone who will love her deeply and won't leave her. All her life she's been the neglected and unwanted child. Her Mama took off when she was just eight years old and her Papi had been in jail ever since she could remember. She was left (or rather taken in) by her Abuela who she feels unloved by too. Unfortunately still, the doctors discovered that her baby has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and is potentially fatal for the fetus. Together with her best friends, Yaz, Teri, and Heavenly and her on-and-off boyfriend Bertie, Mari faced challenges and decisions for her unborn child who has only half a heart but she undoubtedly loves wholeheartedly.
Sounds good right? I thought so too and now I'm sorely disappointed with it. It's more like a story of a little girl who desperately wants a doll and will do anything to have it even if it's broken.
This book tackles teen pregnancy in a different perspective. The main character Mari unlike so many other teen moms really wanted this baby. Whether it was by accident or she really did manipulate things so she could be pregnant was unclear because the author did not mention it in the book, which is a bummer because it's just one of the tiny aspect that I'm looking for in this book that'll make this story about teen pregnancies more realistic. You know what I mean?
The very first thing that I noticed with this book is how it was written. I always, always check myself on how I'm feeling with the writing style because for me it's just one of those critical things that can make or break a book for me. This was written in Mari's POV and I kid you not, being inside her head was tormenting for me. Seriously. It was like swimming against the angry waves for me. I almost abandoned this book just because of that but I did finish it.
I just hate how this is written in broken English. I know the author probably did it for authenticity because Mari is Dominican and this is in her point of view but for me, Williams could have gotten away with it by solely using that with the characters' conversations. She did not have to like, use that broken English all throughout the book. Every time I read "we was" I feel like I'm chugging a drink full of broken shards of glass. Also, MOST OF THE SENTENCES HERE IN THIS BOOK ARE SIMPLE SENTENCES. I know the author was a doctor and not a professional writer but guuurl, you decided to publish a book. Weren't you even aware of your writing prowess and maybe thought "hey, are my skills enough to wow my readers and keep them reading?" The paragraphs lacked coherence and felt choppy as if someone was crumpling paper on the other end of the line.
My patience was wearing thin.
Another main thing is Mari is such an unlikeable character. I feel like I was supposed to like her and sympathize with her but that was impossible for me because again, she was dumb, annoying and acting like a total bitch 90% of the time. First, she said she's not racist but she is totally racist. I don't think she even knows what that word means. You'd think because she's a minority she'd be all against it but nope. She calls her mother a "white whore" and is ashamed that her mother was white, to begin with. There was also a scene when she was about to give birth and it went like this:
"Ms. Pujols, I'm Dr. Gupta from pediatric cardiology."
No. I shake my head. She is not my baby's heart doctor. She's petite and dark-haired, and a girl. And she has an accent. I do not trust people with accents.
That happened again when Bertie and she made fun of the Indian doctor by imitating her accent and saying that she's incompetent for a doctor. I was like, wtf, you guys are fifteen and what have you achieved in this life to feel like you're better than that doctor?
Also, Mari is the kind of person who, no matter what, will have something mean to say about everyone. The author made a great job of being consistent with that. She despised every female doctor who was working side by side with her baby's heart doctor, Dr. Love whom she lovingly calls Dr. Hottie. She has a crush on him and is weirdly possessive of him. She even demanded that her doctor crush be there for her delivery (even if he was on holiday break) and refuses to be handled by a team of dedicated doctors.
Furthermore, I know she really wanted this baby but even if she say's she's ready, she's clearly not. She lived with her grandma and when she discovered that her Abuela lied to her, she stormed out of the house and lived with her best friend. She just really hates every grown-up around her and won't accept any help they're offering. Mari has no definite plan on how she's going to raise this kid. She doesn't even care about school, has no thoughts of maybe doing some part-time to earn money because they're poor af, skips meals on purpose and just really doesn't think of the child's well-being at all. She thinks she can raise her sick baby all on her own with just love. But honey, love can't just feed you and put a roof over your head.
I do applaud Mari's bravery and unconditional love but she was dumb and exasperating here. I 've read some reviews here in Goodreads regarding this book and I can't for the life of me, understand why people gave it five stars. Like what the hell is wrong with you people? Most of them were given ARCs of the book and is reviewing them for Netgalley and I think they aren't being completely honest with what they said. And it just so happens that I had just watched a documentary on teenage pregnancies days before I dived into this book and now I'm just convinced that my opinions on this book are valid and are backed by facts. Also, I know how hard it is to care for a baby because I do babysit my 4-month-old nephew every day and I'm telling you guys, it's no easy thing to do.
I pity the baby for having Mari as a mother, to be honest.
I did not like the other characters as well. They're all immature and childish and just exhausting. One of her best friends, Heavenly, was dating a much older man. They even said he's like a sugar daddy for her and that they constantly have sex. Again, they're all fifteen-year-olds here. What the actual fuck. Mari's boyfriend and baby daddy, Bertie, was dealing drugs. And oh, Mari shares panties with her friends like it's nothing.
Another ridiculous thing about this book is that the characters did not even worried about the bills. The characters are poor af and the baby needed several surgeries plus constant medical attention. Mari refused to work with a social worker which I know was supposed to help with the bills and all right? But no. And yet, there was no mention of the bills. Like, how was that even possible? Tell me.
It only got a bit better towards the ending where a lot of the talks were about surgeries. The author is a doctor after all and that were the only parts that made sense and I can read without rolling my eyes.
I was hoping this book would be a gem. I was promised of a heartwrenching, realistic medical drama mixed with YA Contemporary. Instead, I got this trash. I feel like this book is even glorifying teenage pregnancies and that it was okay for fifteen-year-olds to have a baby just because they want to have a baby. But having a baby is a huge responsibility. It's not a toy. It's a breathing, living, human being you're bringing into this world. And it will depend on you all the time for everything so you must be ready to give it everything it may need.
This book was just really not worth your time, guys. Find another book.
May 27, 2019
This book was heart wrenching. It tugged at my heartstrings all the way through and made me feel emotions that I wasn’t ready to feel. It was SO GOOD! Such an enjoyable yet heartbreaking read. It has the perfect knack to break your heart and then repair it again.
It is wonderfully written, with characters that show immense depth and the character development is incredibly powerful.
It discusses some very serious topics, topics of which I haven’t seen covered much in YA fiction, and I personally felt they were done really well, with thorough sensitivity. It deals with teenage pregnancy, abortion, birthing, family issues, drugs, alcohol, sexual assault amidst others. It is a very, immensely powerful book and it is one that will stay with me for a long time.
This book truly hit me in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined before going into this. I never anticipated being made to feel this much by this book, but I’m so glad that I read it.
It is wonderfully written, with characters that show immense depth and the character development is incredibly powerful.
It discusses some very serious topics, topics of which I haven’t seen covered much in YA fiction, and I personally felt they were done really well, with thorough sensitivity. It deals with teenage pregnancy, abortion, birthing, family issues, drugs, alcohol, sexual assault amidst others. It is a very, immensely powerful book and it is one that will stay with me for a long time.
This book truly hit me in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined before going into this. I never anticipated being made to feel this much by this book, but I’m so glad that I read it.
Read
October 13, 2017Mari is a half-dominican girl who finds herself pregnant -- and it's not the pregnancy that's the issue. She's quite glad to be pregnant, as she's eager to have someone to call her own, someone who is a solid and stable part of her family. But when a scan of the baby reveals a hold in his heart, everything changes. Does she keep the baby? And if so, how does she find the support to raise a special needs child?
This is a moving and powerful story, and it's clear that this is based on real experiences that the author, who works as a doctor, has seen. It's thoughtful and well-rendered. Mari's heritage plays a huge role in the story, which gives it even more authenticity. There is a glossary of Dominican slang at the beginning of the book which, while helpful, is not necessary. A lot of the slang made perfect sense in context.
The book does fall short a bit on the writing angle. There are numerous times when information is weirdly repeated or echoed. I know that Mari's cat is named Gato, as that's brought up a few times in the first few chapters. The writing smooths out quite a bit later on, but the choppy nature was jarring and took me out of the story.
Pass along to readers who love realistic medical stories, who love books about pregnant teens, and/or want to see a story where one's Dominican/Latina heritage plays a significant role in the story. Solid. Will likely make many readers cry.
This is a moving and powerful story, and it's clear that this is based on real experiences that the author, who works as a doctor, has seen. It's thoughtful and well-rendered. Mari's heritage plays a huge role in the story, which gives it even more authenticity. There is a glossary of Dominican slang at the beginning of the book which, while helpful, is not necessary. A lot of the slang made perfect sense in context.
The book does fall short a bit on the writing angle. There are numerous times when information is weirdly repeated or echoed. I know that Mari's cat is named Gato, as that's brought up a few times in the first few chapters. The writing smooths out quite a bit later on, but the choppy nature was jarring and took me out of the story.
Pass along to readers who love realistic medical stories, who love books about pregnant teens, and/or want to see a story where one's Dominican/Latina heritage plays a significant role in the story. Solid. Will likely make many readers cry.
January 14, 2018
2.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet Books (Abrams&Chronicle) in exchange for an honest review.
Mari Pujols is fifteen and pregnant but she can’t wait to meet her child until she finds out he only has half a heart. Now Mari is facing the toughest choice she can make as a mother - continue with her pregnancy and risk losing her baby at the end of it, or have a termination.
This should have been a very emotional, impactful story and while parts of it definitely were, I think other parts let it down a bit.
Mari is a tough cookie, to sum it all up in one. She is a fighter because she’s had to be and she hasn’t had it easy in life with parents that abandoned her and an abuela who didn’t treat her as well as she should have. And now her baby is sick on top of it all. But she’s just so angry all the time, and at everyone. She lashes out at her boyfriend, her friends, her grandmother (who is a bit of a b to be honest) and it’s sometimes hard to read, or at least it becomes exhausting to read. I definitely understand some of her anger, but I really wanted to shake her a bit and make her calm down, and just listen to people.
One of the best things about this book was Mari’s friendship group. She has three best friends and the four of them really were there for each other and it was a great example of female friendship. I did find some of their conversations a bit troubling in terms of Heavenly seemingly having a much older boyfriend, and at one point Mari plays a trick on Teri’s brother and posts half-naked photos of men on his Facebook page and likes them on his behalf to make it seem like he is gay as if this is a terrible thing.
The author is a paediatric cardiologist so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to Angelo’s condition. It was well-detailed in a way that made it easier for the reader and Mari to figure out what was happening. I didn’t like some of Mari’s opinions on a lot of the nurses (she seemed okay with the male doctors but not the female doctors or the nurses bar one that Dr Love - a male doctor - introduced her to). Some of the doctors and nurses also appeared extremely gruff and rude to Mari and Bertie which I found odd, and would hope would not happen if this was a real life situation.
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet Books (Abrams&Chronicle) in exchange for an honest review.
Mari Pujols is fifteen and pregnant but she can’t wait to meet her child until she finds out he only has half a heart. Now Mari is facing the toughest choice she can make as a mother - continue with her pregnancy and risk losing her baby at the end of it, or have a termination.
This should have been a very emotional, impactful story and while parts of it definitely were, I think other parts let it down a bit.
Mari is a tough cookie, to sum it all up in one. She is a fighter because she’s had to be and she hasn’t had it easy in life with parents that abandoned her and an abuela who didn’t treat her as well as she should have. And now her baby is sick on top of it all. But she’s just so angry all the time, and at everyone. She lashes out at her boyfriend, her friends, her grandmother (who is a bit of a b to be honest) and it’s sometimes hard to read, or at least it becomes exhausting to read. I definitely understand some of her anger, but I really wanted to shake her a bit and make her calm down, and just listen to people.
One of the best things about this book was Mari’s friendship group. She has three best friends and the four of them really were there for each other and it was a great example of female friendship. I did find some of their conversations a bit troubling in terms of Heavenly seemingly having a much older boyfriend, and at one point Mari plays a trick on Teri’s brother and posts half-naked photos of men on his Facebook page and likes them on his behalf to make it seem like he is gay as if this is a terrible thing.
The author is a paediatric cardiologist so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to Angelo’s condition. It was well-detailed in a way that made it easier for the reader and Mari to figure out what was happening. I didn’t like some of Mari’s opinions on a lot of the nurses (she seemed okay with the male doctors but not the female doctors or the nurses bar one that Dr Love - a male doctor - introduced her to). Some of the doctors and nurses also appeared extremely gruff and rude to Mari and Bertie which I found odd, and would hope would not happen if this was a real life situation.
November 2, 2017
This story surprised me and drew me in. As a parent, reading about this kid who has to make a difficult choice that no one of any age could prepare for broke my heart. Mari's story is a refreshing change from the typical YA fare, with well-drawn characters, an unlikely heroine, and a moral/medical dilemma that you just don't run into in many teen books. My library has purchased it, I look forward to discussing it with my adult book club later this month, and I look forward to reading more work by Williams in the future.
September 16, 2017
.3,5/5
Water in May es una novedad que se publica este mes en Inglaterra y ha sido una total sorpresa, porque me he encontrado con una historia tierna, emotiva, dura y muy realista, en la que he ido conociendo poco a poco a su protagonista, Mari, hasta el punto de llegar a encariñarme de ella y sufrir con y por ella.
¿He acabado el libro con ganas de abrazarla muy fuertemente? Pues sí, no lo voy a negar.
Mari Pujols tiene 15 años y está embarazada. Pero mientras que para muchas adolescentes sería un gran problema, para ella es lo mejor que le podría pasar.
Con un padre en la cárcel, una madre que la abandonó siendo niña y criada por una abuela que prácticamente pasa de ella, Mari ve en ese niño esa persona que necesita que la ame incondicionalmente y que nunca la deje.
Pero todos sus planes se desmoronan cuando descubren que el bebé sufre una grave enfermedad en el corazón que pone su vida en peligro.
En este libro la autora no sólo habla del embarazo de riesgo de una adolescente, sino que también utiliza el personaje de Mari para dar voz a un colectivo bastante olvidado, la de los hijos de inmigrantes latinos que viven en Estados Unidos.
Reseña completa: https://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/20...
Water in May es una novedad que se publica este mes en Inglaterra y ha sido una total sorpresa, porque me he encontrado con una historia tierna, emotiva, dura y muy realista, en la que he ido conociendo poco a poco a su protagonista, Mari, hasta el punto de llegar a encariñarme de ella y sufrir con y por ella.
¿He acabado el libro con ganas de abrazarla muy fuertemente? Pues sí, no lo voy a negar.
Mari Pujols tiene 15 años y está embarazada. Pero mientras que para muchas adolescentes sería un gran problema, para ella es lo mejor que le podría pasar.
Con un padre en la cárcel, una madre que la abandonó siendo niña y criada por una abuela que prácticamente pasa de ella, Mari ve en ese niño esa persona que necesita que la ame incondicionalmente y que nunca la deje.
Pero todos sus planes se desmoronan cuando descubren que el bebé sufre una grave enfermedad en el corazón que pone su vida en peligro.
En este libro la autora no sólo habla del embarazo de riesgo de una adolescente, sino que también utiliza el personaje de Mari para dar voz a un colectivo bastante olvidado, la de los hijos de inmigrantes latinos que viven en Estados Unidos.
Reseña completa: https://beingsaray.blogspot.com.es/20...
August 20, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mari is fifteen and when she found out that she was pregnant, she soon grows to love her baby. In him, she sees a chance for a family member who will always love her and never leave her. But when she finds out that her son has a heart condition, it all gets even more complicated.
I quickly grew to sympathize with Mari. Her mother took off when she was seven, her dad is in prison and her grandmother always makes her feel like she's a burden. But she has her girls and her boyfriend, who all support her.
The relationship that I most enjoyed, was the one between Mari, Yaz, Teri and Heavenly, her best friends, as they always hung around together and just had a really close bond, which was really great to read. The one between Mari and her unborn son, where also great to read. You could always tell that she really loved her son.
This is a fascinating contemporary that deals with heavy themes like teen pregnancy, sick babies, absent parents and drugs, all while never slipping in a too dramatic mood. Despite all of this happening, the story still manages to spread hope and it was really nice to see that.
I enjoyed the writing style, even though it was a bit hard to really get into it in the beginning since there's a lot of Spanish slang used as well as weird grammar constructions. On one hand, this definitely gave the story and unique flow and it helped me feel more connected to the characters as the story was told in the way the characters actually thought, but sometimes it was just hard to read.
However, this story is sadly not without flaws. Mari often makes homophobic comments and so in the end, I didn't like her character as much as I did in the beginning. Now, I know, she's 15, but none of her homophobic comments are ever called out and so she just grows more and more unlikeable. Also, the plot was sometimes quite predictable.
All in all, however, this was definitely an interesting book to read and unlike other books, I've read before, but sadly the homophobia heavily detracted from my enjoyment of the book and so I can't rate it higher.
Trigger warnings for homophobic slurs, child death, drug use and sexual assault.
Mari is fifteen and when she found out that she was pregnant, she soon grows to love her baby. In him, she sees a chance for a family member who will always love her and never leave her. But when she finds out that her son has a heart condition, it all gets even more complicated.
I quickly grew to sympathize with Mari. Her mother took off when she was seven, her dad is in prison and her grandmother always makes her feel like she's a burden. But she has her girls and her boyfriend, who all support her.
The relationship that I most enjoyed, was the one between Mari, Yaz, Teri and Heavenly, her best friends, as they always hung around together and just had a really close bond, which was really great to read. The one between Mari and her unborn son, where also great to read. You could always tell that she really loved her son.
This is a fascinating contemporary that deals with heavy themes like teen pregnancy, sick babies, absent parents and drugs, all while never slipping in a too dramatic mood. Despite all of this happening, the story still manages to spread hope and it was really nice to see that.
I enjoyed the writing style, even though it was a bit hard to really get into it in the beginning since there's a lot of Spanish slang used as well as weird grammar constructions. On one hand, this definitely gave the story and unique flow and it helped me feel more connected to the characters as the story was told in the way the characters actually thought, but sometimes it was just hard to read.
However, this story is sadly not without flaws. Mari often makes homophobic comments and so in the end, I didn't like her character as much as I did in the beginning. Now, I know, she's 15, but none of her homophobic comments are ever called out and so she just grows more and more unlikeable. Also, the plot was sometimes quite predictable.
All in all, however, this was definitely an interesting book to read and unlike other books, I've read before, but sadly the homophobia heavily detracted from my enjoyment of the book and so I can't rate it higher.
Trigger warnings for homophobic slurs, child death, drug use and sexual assault.
September 26, 2023
Wow. I didn't know what to expect from this book. I definitely didn't expect to love it though. I found the perspective of this book fascinating. It opened my eyes to things I'm unfamiliar with.
I often found the main character frustrating and selfish, but it also made her REAL and believable.
As a mom, this book was so hard to read, but it also reminded me of how much I have to be grateful for.
Is it the best written book ever written? No. Is it perfect? No. But I learned something by reading it, and I will remember this book.
I often found the main character frustrating and selfish, but it also made her REAL and believable.
As a mom, this book was so hard to read, but it also reminded me of how much I have to be grateful for.
Is it the best written book ever written? No. Is it perfect? No. But I learned something by reading it, and I will remember this book.
July 8, 2017
*4.5 Stars*
Truthfully, I often avoid contemporaries like this. They can tend to be saddening, so I usually stick to the fluffier ones. But the synopsis of this book got me curious, so I knew that I had to read it to see what happens.
Water in May ended up being fabulous! It both broke and touched my heart in all the best ways, and I felt like I could really feel a raw emotional connection to this story.
For a brief synopsis, this book follows the perspective of a girl named Mari. She is only fifteen, but has gotten pregnant with the help of her boyfriend in the hopes of finally feeling appreciated by a family member. For Mari, all is good until she finds out that her baby has a heart defect that could affect its life in the most negative of ways. How will she deal with this so everyone in her life benefits?
Protagonist Mari was honestly such a good character. She was so triumphant and always pushed through her struggles, and instead of feeling ashamed that she was pregnant with an unhealthy fetus at 15, she learned to embrace and appreciate it. Even though it is not typically accepted to become pregnant at such a young age, I was able to sense that Mari only had the best intentions in doing so. The one fault I had with this book, though, was that her family members were unrealistically happy for her when she became pregnant. Shouldn't we expect anger?
The plot was pretty average, but that's okay. It was definitely existent with smoothly executed events that pulled my heartstrings, and I don't expect much more than that.
To conclude, Water in May was absolutely unlike anything I've ever read before. It made me feel the kind of strong emotional connection that I almost never feel when reading books. If you are the type of reader who enjoys contemporaries that shatter your heart and then mend it back together again, then this book is for sure the best match for you!
*I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Truthfully, I often avoid contemporaries like this. They can tend to be saddening, so I usually stick to the fluffier ones. But the synopsis of this book got me curious, so I knew that I had to read it to see what happens.
Water in May ended up being fabulous! It both broke and touched my heart in all the best ways, and I felt like I could really feel a raw emotional connection to this story.
For a brief synopsis, this book follows the perspective of a girl named Mari. She is only fifteen, but has gotten pregnant with the help of her boyfriend in the hopes of finally feeling appreciated by a family member. For Mari, all is good until she finds out that her baby has a heart defect that could affect its life in the most negative of ways. How will she deal with this so everyone in her life benefits?
Protagonist Mari was honestly such a good character. She was so triumphant and always pushed through her struggles, and instead of feeling ashamed that she was pregnant with an unhealthy fetus at 15, she learned to embrace and appreciate it. Even though it is not typically accepted to become pregnant at such a young age, I was able to sense that Mari only had the best intentions in doing so. The one fault I had with this book, though, was that her family members were unrealistically happy for her when she became pregnant. Shouldn't we expect anger?
The plot was pretty average, but that's okay. It was definitely existent with smoothly executed events that pulled my heartstrings, and I don't expect much more than that.
To conclude, Water in May was absolutely unlike anything I've ever read before. It made me feel the kind of strong emotional connection that I almost never feel when reading books. If you are the type of reader who enjoys contemporaries that shatter your heart and then mend it back together again, then this book is for sure the best match for you!
*I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
December 31, 2017
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I received an ARC of Water in May from Netgalley. I was in a contemporary mood, and felt like reading a sad story, so this was just what I was looking for.
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I enjoyed the writing in this book, and the flawless combination of Spanish and English in both the dialogue and the descriptions. English words that Mari didn’t know were italicised, as were the Spanish phrases. This book is very fast-paced, which I thought was great as it allowed the reader to see snapshots of how Mari was dealing with her pregnancy at the different stages.
It was interesting to read about how Mari experiences life as a light-skinned Latina, as I was able to relate to it quite a lot (I am a light-skinned Eurasian). She has had a hard life, and she is only fifteen-years-old. Thus, she makes mistakes, isn’t sure what she wants – after all, she is still a teenager. She grew up so much in just a few months.
The reasoning behind the title Water in May is explained within the text, and in my opinion fits to the flow of the text. I enjoyed having this little tidbit of extra information.
However, there were several aspects that disappointed me. The one that still surprises me after having had some time to think about this book, is how quickly Mari forgave everyone for how they had treated her before and_or during her pregnancy. Her grandmother is very abusive to her during her childhood, and I just was surprised that Mari was able to overlook that. Also, Mari is almost raped by an acquaintance of her grandmother’s boyfriend while a group looks on, and the implications of no one trying to help her at first are dismissed. A character that I absolutely hated was Bertie, because he just never acted as though Mari’s feelings were important, he wanted every other family member from both sides to be happy, and often ignored the fact that Mari wouldn’t be happy about him contacting other family members. It was awful to read that, because it made me so annoyed on Mari’s behalf. He is also so jealous and possessive of Mari, and I wasn’t happy that she says that she thinks this is something positive at the end of the story because it isn’t.
The doctor equates having a penis with the male gender, which is transantagonistic. Mari is very homoantagonistic and this is never addressed by anyone else during the story. There is also casual ableism during the entire story, and it is used by a lot of the characters. There are sex-worker-antagonistic phrases in the text. There is also a passage that shames people who need to use viagra, which I thought was unnecessary. None of these issues were called out in the text.
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The writing was beautiful, however I feel like some issues were not resolved realistically, and there were a lot of microaggressions. Thus, I ended up not having an enjoyable reading experience.
Trigger warnings: attempted rape, death of newborn, surgery on a newborn, transantagonism, ableism, homoantagonism, sex-worker-antagonism.
I received an ARC of Water in May from Netgalley. I was in a contemporary mood, and felt like reading a sad story, so this was just what I was looking for.
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I enjoyed the writing in this book, and the flawless combination of Spanish and English in both the dialogue and the descriptions. English words that Mari didn’t know were italicised, as were the Spanish phrases. This book is very fast-paced, which I thought was great as it allowed the reader to see snapshots of how Mari was dealing with her pregnancy at the different stages.
It was interesting to read about how Mari experiences life as a light-skinned Latina, as I was able to relate to it quite a lot (I am a light-skinned Eurasian). She has had a hard life, and she is only fifteen-years-old. Thus, she makes mistakes, isn’t sure what she wants – after all, she is still a teenager. She grew up so much in just a few months.
The reasoning behind the title Water in May is explained within the text, and in my opinion fits to the flow of the text. I enjoyed having this little tidbit of extra information.
However, there were several aspects that disappointed me. The one that still surprises me after having had some time to think about this book, is how quickly Mari forgave everyone for how they had treated her before and_or during her pregnancy. Her grandmother is very abusive to her during her childhood, and I just was surprised that Mari was able to overlook that. Also, Mari is almost raped by an acquaintance of her grandmother’s boyfriend while a group looks on, and the implications of no one trying to help her at first are dismissed. A character that I absolutely hated was Bertie, because he just never acted as though Mari’s feelings were important, he wanted every other family member from both sides to be happy, and often ignored the fact that Mari wouldn’t be happy about him contacting other family members. It was awful to read that, because it made me so annoyed on Mari’s behalf. He is also so jealous and possessive of Mari, and I wasn’t happy that she says that she thinks this is something positive at the end of the story because it isn’t.
The doctor equates having a penis with the male gender, which is transantagonistic. Mari is very homoantagonistic and this is never addressed by anyone else during the story. There is also casual ableism during the entire story, and it is used by a lot of the characters. There are sex-worker-antagonistic phrases in the text. There is also a passage that shames people who need to use viagra, which I thought was unnecessary. None of these issues were called out in the text.
__
The writing was beautiful, however I feel like some issues were not resolved realistically, and there were a lot of microaggressions. Thus, I ended up not having an enjoyable reading experience.
Trigger warnings: attempted rape, death of newborn, surgery on a newborn, transantagonism, ableism, homoantagonism, sex-worker-antagonism.
December 31, 2023
Mari’s story is one that isn’t often told. Mari is someone most people would see on the streets and would try to ignore because getting to know her would be getting to know how hard life in America can be. But Mari is also someone who is stronger than many of us will ever be. Her story is one that will make readers think about assumptions OR will help readers see a mirror into struggles they may be having in life. Although I hope teens don’t see Mari’s story as an invitation for a teenage pregnancy, I believe the truth of her hardships show the tremendous change a baby brings to life and will show that Mari’s decisions are made out of desperation when there are other paths she could have taken. Some who read the book have said they don’t like Mari as a character, but I found that when Mari was frustrating, it was because she was acting like what she is: a fifteen-year-old girl trying to find her place in this crazy world.
Full review with teaching guide: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Full review with teaching guide: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
September 24, 2017
Maribel Pujols is 15 yrs old and pregnant. She is looking forward to having a baby who will love her unconditionally, unlike her Mama, Papi, Abuela and everyone else in her life. Mari doesn't trust very many people, but she does trust Doc Hottie aka Dr. Joshua Love the pediatric cardiologist that diagnosed her unborn baby with HLHS, a severe heart defect, because he always treats her respectfully and tells her the truth with kindness.
Water in May can be painful to read at times, but it's real. As a heart mom, I appreciated the honest representation of the NICU.You can really tell that the author knows her subject matter, which she should since she is a pediatric cardiologist. I think my only complaint is that I would've liked more. It seemed to wrap up rather quickly and I wish we could have seen more follow up with Mari and her friends and family.
This was a beautiful debut from Ismee Williams, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Water in May can be painful to read at times, but it's real. As a heart mom, I appreciated the honest representation of the NICU.You can really tell that the author knows her subject matter, which she should since she is a pediatric cardiologist. I think my only complaint is that I would've liked more. It seemed to wrap up rather quickly and I wish we could have seen more follow up with Mari and her friends and family.
This was a beautiful debut from Ismee Williams, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
December 13, 2017
Water in May is an astonishing debut, and author Ismée Williams has done the impossible by writing a book that is both readable and important while also managing to be beautiful and profound. In Water in May, Williams gives us Mari Pujols, who is happy to be pregnant at fifteen but also facing an uphill battle with her pregnancy and her home life. Mari pulls us in with her fighting spirit and her unyielding hope. We root for her from the first page to the last. And in the process, laugh and cry right along with her. Water in May broke my heart and warmed it at the same time. A book about friendship, motherhood, family, love, and illness, this is a must-read for readers who love a story about a protagonist who never gives up. I loved this book.
June 14, 2020
Williams's debut YA novel follows Mari, a pregnant Dominican teenager from Washington Heights, who finds out that the baby she is carrying has a very serious congential heart defect. Mari is a complicated character who you will not always like, but you will be cheering her on as she fights for her baby and herself despite the odds.
April 25, 2018
Very sweet, touching story
October 8, 2017
3.75/5 stars
I am SO EXCITED that this book exists!!! This book is very important to me. Here are some thoughts!
• Some context about my life you gotta know before you read this review: My youngest brother, Andrew, was born with a congenital heart defect when I was 6. Andrew had Transposition of The Great Arteries ( read his story here.) But while Andrew is now alive and well, not all babies with congenital heart defects are as lucky. My mother befriended a woman whose child, Colin, had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome- like Mari's baby. Colin passed away at 47 days old. ( read his story here.) My mom and Colin's mom cofounded Colin's Kids in honor of Andrew and in memory of Colin. Colin's Kids funds research related to CHDs and helps families of babies with CHD pay their medical bills. Colin's Kids also makes fleece tie blankets for children with CHDs-- a project I am very involved in. For more info about Colin's Kids, check out www.colinskids.org
• Also, fun fact: My mom was a part of one of Ismée Williams' studies when she had Andrew! Ismée Williams practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in NY when my mom had Andrew there.
• So obviously when I found out about Ismée Williams' new book about a teen pregnant with a baby with a congenital heart defect, I absolutely had to read it. At BookCon, my mom found a few arcs of this book so I got to read it before its release date too!!
• This book captures so many of the moments similar to the ones I remember/my mom has described from when she had Andrew. For example- the silence during the ultrasound when the doctor keeps looking at the heart on the screen and everyone in the room realizes that something is wrong with the baby, when the baby is finally out and the doctors immediately rush them away before the mother can even hold them, friends made in the NICU, etc.
• Mari is Dominican and she and her friends use some Dominican slang in this! I was able to recognize some words I've learned in Spanish class but definitely relied on the glossary in the back (super helpful!). Honestly I recommend using the glossary even if you feel like you understand a word because there are some double meanings (like avión- it doesn't just mean plane.) Yay for diversity :)
• What makes this book so authentic is how there is so much raw emotion. It is so easy to get emotionally invested in this story and to worry, celebrate, and cry with the characters. Even though Mari and I had very little in common besides being 15, I found myself rooting for her and her baby.
• This isn't up there with my favorite books of all time, but I will be recommending this like CRAZY because spreading awareness for CHDs is super important. Congenital Heart Defects affect about 1 in every 100 babies... that's a lot of babies.
• Also, a portion of the proceeds from WATER IN MAY will go toward Colin's Kids and other organizations that fund research to help babies with CHDs and their families! so for real, please buy this book.
• I really hope Ismée Williams keeps writing because she has so much potential! I will absolutely read any books she publishes in the future.
I am SO EXCITED that this book exists!!! This book is very important to me. Here are some thoughts!
• Some context about my life you gotta know before you read this review: My youngest brother, Andrew, was born with a congenital heart defect when I was 6. Andrew had Transposition of The Great Arteries ( read his story here.) But while Andrew is now alive and well, not all babies with congenital heart defects are as lucky. My mother befriended a woman whose child, Colin, had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome- like Mari's baby. Colin passed away at 47 days old. ( read his story here.) My mom and Colin's mom cofounded Colin's Kids in honor of Andrew and in memory of Colin. Colin's Kids funds research related to CHDs and helps families of babies with CHD pay their medical bills. Colin's Kids also makes fleece tie blankets for children with CHDs-- a project I am very involved in. For more info about Colin's Kids, check out www.colinskids.org
• Also, fun fact: My mom was a part of one of Ismée Williams' studies when she had Andrew! Ismée Williams practiced at Columbia University Medical Center in NY when my mom had Andrew there.
• So obviously when I found out about Ismée Williams' new book about a teen pregnant with a baby with a congenital heart defect, I absolutely had to read it. At BookCon, my mom found a few arcs of this book so I got to read it before its release date too!!
• This book captures so many of the moments similar to the ones I remember/my mom has described from when she had Andrew. For example- the silence during the ultrasound when the doctor keeps looking at the heart on the screen and everyone in the room realizes that something is wrong with the baby, when the baby is finally out and the doctors immediately rush them away before the mother can even hold them, friends made in the NICU, etc.
• Mari is Dominican and she and her friends use some Dominican slang in this! I was able to recognize some words I've learned in Spanish class but definitely relied on the glossary in the back (super helpful!). Honestly I recommend using the glossary even if you feel like you understand a word because there are some double meanings (like avión- it doesn't just mean plane.) Yay for diversity :)
• What makes this book so authentic is how there is so much raw emotion. It is so easy to get emotionally invested in this story and to worry, celebrate, and cry with the characters. Even though Mari and I had very little in common besides being 15, I found myself rooting for her and her baby.
• This isn't up there with my favorite books of all time, but I will be recommending this like CRAZY because spreading awareness for CHDs is super important. Congenital Heart Defects affect about 1 in every 100 babies... that's a lot of babies.
• Also, a portion of the proceeds from WATER IN MAY will go toward Colin's Kids and other organizations that fund research to help babies with CHDs and their families! so for real, please buy this book.
• I really hope Ismée Williams keeps writing because she has so much potential! I will absolutely read any books she publishes in the future.
August 20, 2017
Fifteen-year-old Mari Pujols is thrilled to be pregnant. Although she knows things won't be easy for her and her unborn child, she is convinced that the baby will give her a reason to live and be someone who won't leave her. Mari has good reason to have that particular goal and her abandonment issues. After all, her mother left her with her grandmother when she was eight and her father is incarcerated. And her grandmother has her own issues. Still, Mari has her three best friends, Heavenly, Teri, and Yaz, who have each other's backs and provide support no matter what. Although Mari loves Bertie, the father of her child, she isn't sure how committed he is, especially since he runs with a drug dealer. When doctors discover that her fetus has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, essentially missing half of its heart, Mari is faced with a hard decision since the baby will need several surgeries and face a tough life if it survives those surgeries. When almost everyone seems to disapprove of her decision, she decides to hide the truth and couch surf while waiting for the baby to be born. Readers will really fall for the kind-hearted Dr. Love who goes out of his way to help Mari as well as Maggie, the nurse who is dedicated to saving lives. They'll also spend much of the book worrying about what happens next for Mari especially since she seems to have to fight so hard for everything good that is in her life. The author doesn't sugarcoat Mari's experiences or those of some of the other parents of special needs children, but I did feel some concern that teens will read the book and see having a child as a way to feel loved or to matter when feeling good about oneself surely must come from other directions, most notably from within. After all, what happens to Mari if something happens to her baby or after the child grows up? Surely, this book will stir some conversations about choices. Most notably, there seems to be little judgment in the book regarding young parents.
May 18, 2017
When Mari finds herself pregnant, with Bertie's baby, she is supported by her friends as they navigate teenage life and school still.
Her friends, Yaz, Teri and Heavenly accompany her to her twenty one week scan, excited together and find themselves meeting Dr Love, a young good looking doctor.
Then they get told that the healthy baby boy is actually going to need surgery as he will be born with only half a heart.
Bertie and Mari argue and he leaves, Mari gets support from her friends and grandma or abuela, over the situation she and her baby face at first u til she has to move in with her friends secretly. Then she finds out her baby, Angelo is struggling to breathe as his condition worsens the closer to the end of her pregnancy she gets.
The worst happens, at 36 weeks Mari's waters break, perhaps not helped by the stress caused due to an assault attempt which leaves her shocked and distressed.
But just how will Angelo fare coming into life and facing major surgeries straight away?
So emotional, I can't imagine how a young teen would feel dealing with all of this happening but its captured well in here. Anyone with as much support and love around her despite arguments etc is lucky and we know Angelo will be loved by them all even though I read the last part of the book with bated breath over his condition. You don't want to miss out on experiencing this teens pregnancy and the courage and hope she keeps and grows against all Angelo's odds of survival.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
Her friends, Yaz, Teri and Heavenly accompany her to her twenty one week scan, excited together and find themselves meeting Dr Love, a young good looking doctor.
Then they get told that the healthy baby boy is actually going to need surgery as he will be born with only half a heart.
Bertie and Mari argue and he leaves, Mari gets support from her friends and grandma or abuela, over the situation she and her baby face at first u til she has to move in with her friends secretly. Then she finds out her baby, Angelo is struggling to breathe as his condition worsens the closer to the end of her pregnancy she gets.
The worst happens, at 36 weeks Mari's waters break, perhaps not helped by the stress caused due to an assault attempt which leaves her shocked and distressed.
But just how will Angelo fare coming into life and facing major surgeries straight away?
So emotional, I can't imagine how a young teen would feel dealing with all of this happening but its captured well in here. Anyone with as much support and love around her despite arguments etc is lucky and we know Angelo will be loved by them all even though I read the last part of the book with bated breath over his condition. You don't want to miss out on experiencing this teens pregnancy and the courage and hope she keeps and grows against all Angelo's odds of survival.
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!
July 3, 2017
I received this e-arc for an honest review, thank you Amulet Books!
Wow, this book was unique, I mean one is to read about being young and pregnant and trust me, I have read several books which, each of them was so vivid and moving, however, Water in May stands out because the baby to be has complications. I think in the genre, of YA books it's good to see these early pregnancy novels coming back, closing paranormal craze of writing and being more down to earth, although I like those too.
Mari Pajols is longing to have her baby thus she will have someone who will always with her and will love her... Growing up with her grandma hasn't been easy, she has absent parents whom she doesn't remember at all, but she knows her dad loves her. although he's in jail, but he sometimes answers her letters. Mari longs to have love in her world, she is not understood not at home, not in school, and her boyfriend's mother is the most evil person. Sounds something familiar?
I would write a spoiler, but I wont, that's the whole point of reading..just to let you know - this book has heavy content, Spanish in every other sentence and the slang! Oh, as a reader I got to know all Mari's grammar and punctuation errors. I also found this pregnancy sad, because there are pregnancies who are carried at the very young age and they do have these gene issues, something not right during the pregnancy..as a woman in general, I think it is something completely heartbreaking for both parents and does not matter the age, although being more mature we have more stability and we see more than a 15 year old who seeks love.
I was most fascinated by the medical surgery staff roles, completely surprising and down to earth attitude, especially when one is 15 years old...
Wow, this book was unique, I mean one is to read about being young and pregnant and trust me, I have read several books which, each of them was so vivid and moving, however, Water in May stands out because the baby to be has complications. I think in the genre, of YA books it's good to see these early pregnancy novels coming back, closing paranormal craze of writing and being more down to earth, although I like those too.
Mari Pajols is longing to have her baby thus she will have someone who will always with her and will love her... Growing up with her grandma hasn't been easy, she has absent parents whom she doesn't remember at all, but she knows her dad loves her. although he's in jail, but he sometimes answers her letters. Mari longs to have love in her world, she is not understood not at home, not in school, and her boyfriend's mother is the most evil person. Sounds something familiar?
I would write a spoiler, but I wont, that's the whole point of reading..just to let you know - this book has heavy content, Spanish in every other sentence and the slang! Oh, as a reader I got to know all Mari's grammar and punctuation errors. I also found this pregnancy sad, because there are pregnancies who are carried at the very young age and they do have these gene issues, something not right during the pregnancy..as a woman in general, I think it is something completely heartbreaking for both parents and does not matter the age, although being more mature we have more stability and we see more than a 15 year old who seeks love.
I was most fascinated by the medical surgery staff roles, completely surprising and down to earth attitude, especially when one is 15 years old...
February 25, 2018
Loved this! As foreign as young Mari's tumultous journey may sound to some, sadly, it is not far from the reality of many teenaged or young adult mothers in this neighborhood. Dr. Williams' first novel has captured the spunky spirit of this community through humor and compassion, with raw and unfiltered emotion channeled through 15 year old Mari, using the colloquial tongue of the streets of Dominic Harlem. It may be a work of fiction but is an authentic portrayal of the harsh realities facing many youth in these communities as they are forced to grow up far too quickly. It transported me immediately back to my days of residency and fellowship training in this very neighborhood. Felicidades, Dr. Williams!
October 7, 2017
Powerful
It's not often in books where teenage pregnancy is the plot that you follow from the first doctors appointment and throughout focusing on the pregnancy itself. The main character Mari is a strong girl who has been dealt a difficult life as far as family is concentrated. It's easy to see why her being pregnant means everything to her and why she wants to make different choices than her parents did. I found the story very compelling and wanted Mari to have love surrounding her no matter what choices and conflicts came her way.
It's not often in books where teenage pregnancy is the plot that you follow from the first doctors appointment and throughout focusing on the pregnancy itself. The main character Mari is a strong girl who has been dealt a difficult life as far as family is concentrated. It's easy to see why her being pregnant means everything to her and why she wants to make different choices than her parents did. I found the story very compelling and wanted Mari to have love surrounding her no matter what choices and conflicts came her way.
November 11, 2019
I just want to point out that readers who've commented on the grammar of this novel are most likely wh*te people who have never made an effort to go beyond their usual circle of snobby friends. Other than that, this book represents a whole community of young girls, from a Latinx group of friends to a loving, supporting found family. No, I do not advocate or think that teenage pregnancy is the route most teenagers should be on, however, this book deals with it in a positive light and provides a solace for those who may be going through similar issues. Very lovely.
July 30, 2017
Such a powerful book! I lied in bed at night fretting for Mari and her baby. The voice is so strong and engrossing that I was right there with the characters. The medical/hospital scenes sucked me in so much that I had to stop occasionally and take a deep breath. This is a great piece of YA literary fiction.
August 4, 2017
An intense and powerful reading experience.
November 14, 2017
Good
Such a realistic story centered on Hispanic teens. Mari is such a strong main character. The s will be a great discussion for book club!
Such a realistic story centered on Hispanic teens. Mari is such a strong main character. The s will be a great discussion for book club!
December 4, 2017
Review to come
Read
June 16, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Ableism
Homomisia
Transmisia
Sex worker shaming
Attempted rape
Death of a newborn
Surgery
Ableism
Homomisia
Transmisia
Sex worker shaming
Attempted rape
Death of a newborn
Surgery
December 27, 2021
It was written like a wattpad!
September 19, 2017
Our MC, Mari, may only be 15 years old, but she has been through a lot in her short life and she is a fighter. Since her Mama ran off when she was young and her Papi is sitting in Sing Sing; Mari is left living with her Abuela and Abuela's boyfriend 'Toto' (who want as little to do with her as possible. That's all okay though, because she has her faithful girl Tribe (Yaz, Teri and Heavenly) and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Bertie.
This book starts right off with Mari making an appointment with a doctor for an ultrasound in her 20th week of pregnancy. Taking the advice of her normal OBGYN to see a pediatric cardiac specialist for an ultrasound of her little baby. With nothing to worry about, all the girls crowd into the cramped office, excited for Dr. Love (or Dr. Hottie to the girls) to show them Mari's little baby. After a short ultrasound viewed by three doctors, they break the news to Mari - Her baby has HLHS. He only has half a heart.
Not that any of Mari's life has been easy, everything is falling apart when Dr. Love explains that her baby not only needs surgery, but he needs 3 surgeries just to survive. This is Mari's only chance at having one special person who will be her real family and love her no matter what. Having a high risk pregnancy and a baby born with special needs is difficult enough for women who plan for a child in their future. Is it in everyone's best interest to continue the pregnancy? Will Mari's baby even survive the pregnancy? What will happen if the pregnancy makes it to term?
I literally picked up this book this morning and finished it a few minutes ago. My heart ached. I cried a lot. Some of that may have to do with my own personal connections to the book since I have a niece who was born with a heart condition and spent 8 months in the NICU.
One thing I loved about this book was how much culture was poured into it. I am what I would call a middle class white woman from New England; so to read a book about a Dominican girl in NYC really opened my eyes to a different kind of lifestyle. One of my favorite things about this book was the glossary of Dominican slang right at the beginning and the fact that you could pick up most of the words throughout the book contextually.
I also want to give Ismee Williams, our author, a round of applause for her debut novel! Her medical knowledge (she was a pediatric cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center in NYC) and ability to explain medical situations in a way that is easily understood by the populace is what made this book outstanding.
Easily this book is a 5 out of 5. Go get it today. Seriously.
Follow my blog: stairwelllibrarian.wordpress.com/2017...
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/SWLBookReview
And my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stairwell_l...
This book starts right off with Mari making an appointment with a doctor for an ultrasound in her 20th week of pregnancy. Taking the advice of her normal OBGYN to see a pediatric cardiac specialist for an ultrasound of her little baby. With nothing to worry about, all the girls crowd into the cramped office, excited for Dr. Love (or Dr. Hottie to the girls) to show them Mari's little baby. After a short ultrasound viewed by three doctors, they break the news to Mari - Her baby has HLHS. He only has half a heart.
Not that any of Mari's life has been easy, everything is falling apart when Dr. Love explains that her baby not only needs surgery, but he needs 3 surgeries just to survive. This is Mari's only chance at having one special person who will be her real family and love her no matter what. Having a high risk pregnancy and a baby born with special needs is difficult enough for women who plan for a child in their future. Is it in everyone's best interest to continue the pregnancy? Will Mari's baby even survive the pregnancy? What will happen if the pregnancy makes it to term?
I literally picked up this book this morning and finished it a few minutes ago. My heart ached. I cried a lot. Some of that may have to do with my own personal connections to the book since I have a niece who was born with a heart condition and spent 8 months in the NICU.
One thing I loved about this book was how much culture was poured into it. I am what I would call a middle class white woman from New England; so to read a book about a Dominican girl in NYC really opened my eyes to a different kind of lifestyle. One of my favorite things about this book was the glossary of Dominican slang right at the beginning and the fact that you could pick up most of the words throughout the book contextually.
I also want to give Ismee Williams, our author, a round of applause for her debut novel! Her medical knowledge (she was a pediatric cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Center in NYC) and ability to explain medical situations in a way that is easily understood by the populace is what made this book outstanding.
Easily this book is a 5 out of 5. Go get it today. Seriously.
Follow my blog: stairwelllibrarian.wordpress.com/2017...
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/SWLBookReview
And my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stairwell_l...
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