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As if Born to You
When thirteen-year-old Zuri begins cutting herself, psychologist Ana is called in to help. Is the troubled girl trying to relieve the tension of being black in a predominantly white private school? And how healthy is Zuri’s relationship with Helen, the white single mom who adopted her?
Struggling to soften Zuri’s defences during the course of the therapy, Ana must piece together the puzzles of both Helen and her daughter, including the truth of what happened to Zuri’s biological mother.
But reckless, alcoholic Ana carries within her an old trauma of her own.
In Susan Newham-Blake’s moving novel, two women, equally damaged by the past and its secrets, discover that healing sometimes lies in unexpected places.
Struggling to soften Zuri’s defences during the course of the therapy, Ana must piece together the puzzles of both Helen and her daughter, including the truth of what happened to Zuri’s biological mother.
But reckless, alcoholic Ana carries within her an old trauma of her own.
In Susan Newham-Blake’s moving novel, two women, equally damaged by the past and its secrets, discover that healing sometimes lies in unexpected places.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 3, 2020
Read this book in one sitting, one of the best in 2019.
September 13, 2019
I had a chance to ask Susan a few questions about the book . . .
Tell us a little bit about how “As If Born to You” came to be. When did you first get the idea to write it? How did everything come together from there?
After my first non-fiction novel Making Finn I wanted to write a fiction novel and originally wrote a story about a woman who gets handed a baby at a petrol station. The idea just popped into my head. Once it was written, however, I was not happy with it and it was never published. In the meantime I also adopted a little girl and so As if Born to You is an attempt at re-writing the original story and exploring the cross-racial adoptees experience.
Full Interview: www.sthembilm.com
Tell us a little bit about how “As If Born to You” came to be. When did you first get the idea to write it? How did everything come together from there?
After my first non-fiction novel Making Finn I wanted to write a fiction novel and originally wrote a story about a woman who gets handed a baby at a petrol station. The idea just popped into my head. Once it was written, however, I was not happy with it and it was never published. In the meantime I also adopted a little girl and so As if Born to You is an attempt at re-writing the original story and exploring the cross-racial adoptees experience.
Full Interview: www.sthembilm.com
January 23, 2021
What an engaging read I kept wanting to know what happens next. Every twist was thought provoking. It is one of those books that will stay on my mind for a while.
August 5, 2020
This book explores themes on family, relationships, friendships and race relations. We are all the sum of our experiences rings true for all the characters in this novel as it explores how our attitudes play a crucial role in how we respond challenges thrown our way. The story of Ana is fascinating as she gives us a glimpse of her work but find one client’s life story so compelling that it unsettles her and she finds herself more involved beyond her professional boundaries. Zuri, the subject of Ana’ fascination is trying to make sense of her world; being black and raised by a white mother and wondering why her own mother did not want her. This is an easy and enjoyable read.
July 3, 2020
A moving novel that will resonate with one for a long time!
September 30, 2021
Really great read! Love the storyline, which is intriguing and so well written!
April 13, 2024
Have you thought of how challenging adoption must be, to both the adopter and the adoptee? Now imagine transracial adoption.
‘As If Born To You’ is a heavy book letting us in to the lives of two women: Zuri and Ana.
Zuri is a 13yo brown skinned girl adopted by a white single mother- Helen, she finds herself in a predominantly white school and is battling an identity crises. To relieve the tension, Zuri begins cutting herself. Psychologist Ana is called in to help.
Ana is a psychologist whose life is chained by the chains of alcohol, she finds herself more drawn to Zuri’s case due to her own old trauma she had buried.
This is a story that covers a myriad of heavy themes; transracial adoption, self-identity, self-harm, addiction, homosexuality and healing (just to name a few).
‘As If Born To You’ is perfectly plotted with a twist that will have your heart breaking over and over again, though I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I would have loved to read of everyone’s emotions and thoughts post the arrest, especially Zuri and Helen’s.
A definite bookclub pick😁♥️.
‘As If Born To You’ is a heavy book letting us in to the lives of two women: Zuri and Ana.
Zuri is a 13yo brown skinned girl adopted by a white single mother- Helen, she finds herself in a predominantly white school and is battling an identity crises. To relieve the tension, Zuri begins cutting herself. Psychologist Ana is called in to help.
Ana is a psychologist whose life is chained by the chains of alcohol, she finds herself more drawn to Zuri’s case due to her own old trauma she had buried.
This is a story that covers a myriad of heavy themes; transracial adoption, self-identity, self-harm, addiction, homosexuality and healing (just to name a few).
‘As If Born To You’ is perfectly plotted with a twist that will have your heart breaking over and over again, though I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I would have loved to read of everyone’s emotions and thoughts post the arrest, especially Zuri and Helen’s.
A definite bookclub pick😁♥️.
August 15, 2019
I really don’t want to spoil the book, but the crux of it is that Zuri needs to talk to somebody. Will that somebody be Ana? What secret is Zuri keeping? What does Ana need from Zuri to help her on her own path towards healing? There’s just so much to unpack in this book…and in the end, the reason you started reading it, will have nothing to do with the how it ends.
This was a well written, well paced book. There’s tragedy, there’s secrets, there’s history, there’s hope….there’s a lot! Also, this was a really quick and easy read. I loved the author’s writing style, as well as the character development….I thought it was done well.
I’m rating this book a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. The only reason I’m docking 0.5 stars, is I wanted more at the end. I wanted the book to continue for another 100 pages!
Full review here: https://anordinarygal.co.za/2019/08/a...
This was a well written, well paced book. There’s tragedy, there’s secrets, there’s history, there’s hope….there’s a lot! Also, this was a really quick and easy read. I loved the author’s writing style, as well as the character development….I thought it was done well.
I’m rating this book a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. The only reason I’m docking 0.5 stars, is I wanted more at the end. I wanted the book to continue for another 100 pages!
Full review here: https://anordinarygal.co.za/2019/08/a...
September 17, 2019
Kept me turning pages obsessively. Susan has a knack for capturing the nuances of human interactions, and the story is compelling to say the least. Besides being a damn good read, the book raises very pertinent issues about adoption in general and cross-cultural adoption specifically. I found myself by turns feeling sympathy, irritation, understanding and loss of patience with Zuri's adoptive mother, and Zuri's anguish is tangible throughout. The twist in the tail is a jolt that might leave some readers disappointed, but it's a necessary twist. Well worth a read.
August 27, 2019
What I enjoyed about the book was its gaze into issues that are present and existing. And, aside from its relevance , it was also a good read - it was worth the time.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews