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Echo Brown
The Chosen One
Echo Brown testifies to the disappointments and triumphs of a Black first-generation college student in this fearless exploration of the first year experience.
There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn't keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.
In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.
There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn't keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.
In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.
Audible Audio
First published January 4, 2022
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About the author
Echo Brown
3 books278 followersEcho Unique Ladadrian Brown's early life was marked by the challenges of growing up in poverty. During her senior year of high school, she lived temporarily with an English teacher who recognized her academic potential. Despite this, a guidance counselor discouraged her aspirations for Dartmouth College, citing her background. Undeterred, Brown attended Dartmouth, wrote for the student newspaper, and earned a bachelor's degree in government in 2006.
Under the guidance of David Ford at the Marsh theater in San Francisco, Brown developed her one-woman show, "Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters," which debuted in 2015. The performance addressed various societal and personal challenges, including an incident of racial aggression she faced at Dartmouth.
Brown authored two young-adult novels: Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard and The Chosen One: A First-Generation Ivy League Odyssey, which drew upon her experiences and elements of magical realism. At the time of her death, she was working on the novel A Jazzman’s Blues with actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, who wrote the screenplay of the Netflix movie of the same name.
Under the guidance of David Ford at the Marsh theater in San Francisco, Brown developed her one-woman show, "Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters," which debuted in 2015. The performance addressed various societal and personal challenges, including an incident of racial aggression she faced at Dartmouth.
Brown authored two young-adult novels: Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard and The Chosen One: A First-Generation Ivy League Odyssey, which drew upon her experiences and elements of magical realism. At the time of her death, she was working on the novel A Jazzman’s Blues with actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry, who wrote the screenplay of the Netflix movie of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
May 28, 2022
4.5 stars
Black Girl, Unlimited was my absolutely favorite book in the year that I read it. In this follow-up book, Echo Brown manages to capture all of what made her debut a unique experience, though there are some things about this portion of this biography/magic hybrid that are meaningfully different.
First, because we start Black Girl, Unlimited at the beginning of Echo's story, that book seemed to have a more natural beginning, middle and end. In The Chosen One, it feels like what it is-- picking up a story in the middle and ending it still somewhere in the middle. It felt like it lent itself a little less naturally to the traditional narrative arc you expect because this is a novel. In that way, this feels a little more like the biography it also is. It's a snap-shot book. We are simply looking in at a specific window of time and that may turn some readers off.
Second, this builds in a lot of ways on top of Black Girl, Unlimited, even thematically. We watch Echo unpacking a lot of the trauma we saw her experience in the earlier book. It is also majorly about the way that systems fail people of color, highlighting the advantages that are baked into the system for white people. And because of that, we watch Echo navigate asking for help and contending with being "the chosen one" and the sort of pressure that gets put upon anyone who does break out of certain levels of poverty or disadvantage.
Once again, I'm left in awe of Echo Brown's voice and the way she has chosen to share her story. The blend of magical realism, the beautiful language, the clear-eyed view of her own experiences-- these are books that just beg to be experienced.
cw: rape (in the past), child abuse, drug abuse, alcohol use, mental illness, ptsd, emir, drowning, racism, generational trauma, hallucinations
March 7, 2022
Before getting into this review, I just want to preface this and say that The Chosen One was not a bad book by any means, and just because there were parts that made the book less enjoyable for me, I don’t want this to keep anyone from reading it, because the conversations had in this book are really important, especially when talking about racism, mental illness, sexual assault, and financial inequality. The story was also really interesting, and I especially liked it in the beginning, but as the book went on, I became a little confused, and was constantly jarred out of the book trying to figure out which scene I was reading, which part was magic, and what was actually real.
One of the main things that drew me to this book was the use of magical realism to explain Echo Brown’s time in college and work through her trauma, but unfortunately, those were the parts that took me out of the book the most. None of it was ever fully explained, and while it became a little clearer what the meaning of the Chosen Ones and the Keepers were in the end, I still didn’t understand the Star Wars references or what their relevance to the magical realism was. I do think the concept of using magical realism as a way for Echo to process her trauma was really neat; I just feel it could have been executed better.
Still, Echo was a fantastic protagonist to read about. Despite all of the odds stacked against her, she was determined to prove herself to her family, her friends, and to the world. Even so, she also realized just how much she craved approval from others, and how much people’s spiteful opinions were really getting to her. Watching her work through these internal conflicts was one of my favorite parts of the story. Since The Chosen One was also technically a memoir, I could really see where the author’s personal experiences played into the narrative. If this book had taken more of a fictional memoir approach and left out the magical realism, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more, because the scenes without the confusing magic parts were well done and developed, but with the inclusion of both, it became a little jarring and stilted.
Even so, I’m not disappointed I read this one. As I said before, there were some really important discussions and topics covered in this book, and for that reason alone, I will recommend this book to anyone interested.
Thank you to NetGalley, TBR and Beyond Tours, and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
One of the main things that drew me to this book was the use of magical realism to explain Echo Brown’s time in college and work through her trauma, but unfortunately, those were the parts that took me out of the book the most. None of it was ever fully explained, and while it became a little clearer what the meaning of the Chosen Ones and the Keepers were in the end, I still didn’t understand the Star Wars references or what their relevance to the magical realism was. I do think the concept of using magical realism as a way for Echo to process her trauma was really neat; I just feel it could have been executed better.
Still, Echo was a fantastic protagonist to read about. Despite all of the odds stacked against her, she was determined to prove herself to her family, her friends, and to the world. Even so, she also realized just how much she craved approval from others, and how much people’s spiteful opinions were really getting to her. Watching her work through these internal conflicts was one of my favorite parts of the story. Since The Chosen One was also technically a memoir, I could really see where the author’s personal experiences played into the narrative. If this book had taken more of a fictional memoir approach and left out the magical realism, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more, because the scenes without the confusing magic parts were well done and developed, but with the inclusion of both, it became a little jarring and stilted.
Even so, I’m not disappointed I read this one. As I said before, there were some really important discussions and topics covered in this book, and for that reason alone, I will recommend this book to anyone interested.
Thank you to NetGalley, TBR and Beyond Tours, and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 15, 2022
2,5 stars.
This was a weird one.
Full review on my blog
Thanks to Hachette Audio for sending me an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Although it had a very interesting premise of exploring the hurdles of a first-generation black student on an Ivy-League College, this was—for lack of a better word—extremely weird. I tend to not be the biggest fan of magical realism but here that wasn’t the main issue. The narration was very disjointed and hard to follow and the characters felt somewhat flat. My favourite part were, hands down, Echo’s friends. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter was quite fun to read. Additionally, the audiobook production itself was quite interesting. It had some effects that added a welcome layer of creepiness.
This was a weird one.
Full review on my blog
Thanks to Hachette Audio for sending me an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Although it had a very interesting premise of exploring the hurdles of a first-generation black student on an Ivy-League College, this was—for lack of a better word—extremely weird. I tend to not be the biggest fan of magical realism but here that wasn’t the main issue. The narration was very disjointed and hard to follow and the characters felt somewhat flat. My favourite part were, hands down, Echo’s friends. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter was quite fun to read. Additionally, the audiobook production itself was quite interesting. It had some effects that added a welcome layer of creepiness.
March 11, 2022
The Chosen One was a lot to unpack, and what I thought was a quick read left my mind reeling. I cried at certain parts as I saw much of myself in Echo. She uses magical realism and memoir to explore many topics: racism, abuse, self-love, generational trauma, and more. It’s an emotional ride through self-discovery, and Echo learns to let a lot of walls down and that there is strength in vulnerability.
Magical realism is a new genre to me, and some things were unclear in the beginning. However, it starts to come together in the middle. I enjoyed how it explores healing throughout challenges. A little heavy, but this is worth the read.
Magical realism is a new genre to me, and some things were unclear in the beginning. However, it starts to come together in the middle. I enjoyed how it explores healing throughout challenges. A little heavy, but this is worth the read.
Read
January 7, 2022[DNF] 🥴 I was so excited to read this but the plot was a bit hard to follow with the way it jumped around from sequence to sequence. In addition, some of the plot elements just completely threw me off and made me question where the hell it was even going. I’m still unsure what the point of this book even was. I’m honestly hoping to possibly try reading again in the future but for now, I just can’t.
February 4, 2022
After Echo Brown's debut, Black Girl Unlimited, was one of my favorite books of 2020, I knew I needed to pick this sequel up as soon as it came out. Unfortunately, I thought this was only an okay read.
This is a difficult book to review, because I do not want to dissuade anyone from reading it. In many ways, this novel does a fantastic job portraying the collegiate experience, particularly because Echo Brown is writing directly from her own experience going to Dartmouth as a young Black woman. She captures the atmosphere of college in a way certain authors attempt to do but fail. The discussions about institutional racism, sexual assault, mental illness, intergenerational trauma, and finding one's place in the world were well done. There is so much insight to be gleaned from this story, and I do not regret reading it for a second. It's a story that needs to be told, and Echo Brown is a phenomenal person to write this story.
However, there were a couple drawbacks. First, the writing felt oddly stilted and forced at times. The dialogue did not feel real in the same way that the setting itself did. We also jumped back and forth between two many different topics, but none of it really flowed into one another. It felt choppy in a way that Echo Brown's debut did not. Second, the magical realism parts made no sense. I'm not the kind of person that needs everything spelled out to me, but I would have liked a bit more clarity on what exactly Keepers, Chosen Ones, and the Defiance were. The Star Wars references also felt a bit unnecessary. Because of those two things, I can't rate this book any more highly. I think maybe this book would have benefitted from another round of edits to make everything flow together more seamlessly.
This was still a quick read that did a great job at depicting the experience of a young Black woman in her first year of college. If you're interested in coming-of-age stories, and you've enjoyed Echo Brown's first work, I'd recommend picking this one up.
This is a difficult book to review, because I do not want to dissuade anyone from reading it. In many ways, this novel does a fantastic job portraying the collegiate experience, particularly because Echo Brown is writing directly from her own experience going to Dartmouth as a young Black woman. She captures the atmosphere of college in a way certain authors attempt to do but fail. The discussions about institutional racism, sexual assault, mental illness, intergenerational trauma, and finding one's place in the world were well done. There is so much insight to be gleaned from this story, and I do not regret reading it for a second. It's a story that needs to be told, and Echo Brown is a phenomenal person to write this story.
However, there were a couple drawbacks. First, the writing felt oddly stilted and forced at times. The dialogue did not feel real in the same way that the setting itself did. We also jumped back and forth between two many different topics, but none of it really flowed into one another. It felt choppy in a way that Echo Brown's debut did not. Second, the magical realism parts made no sense. I'm not the kind of person that needs everything spelled out to me, but I would have liked a bit more clarity on what exactly Keepers, Chosen Ones, and the Defiance were. The Star Wars references also felt a bit unnecessary. Because of those two things, I can't rate this book any more highly. I think maybe this book would have benefitted from another round of edits to make everything flow together more seamlessly.
This was still a quick read that did a great job at depicting the experience of a young Black woman in her first year of college. If you're interested in coming-of-age stories, and you've enjoyed Echo Brown's first work, I'd recommend picking this one up.
January 1, 2023
FINISHED MY LAST BOOK OF THE YEAR WITH LIKE AN HOUR TO SPARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The narrators did a great job reading the book and kept me even more engaged with the story.
I liked it overall! First time I've read a book by Echo Brown (also loved that she used her name as the main character BTW-main character energy!).
The story was very relatable as it is very common to go to PWIs and easily feel like you don't fit in as a Black woman. Her struggle with her classes, fitting in and ugh just all of it! It just added a whole other stressful layer to the already stressful college experience.
whoops lol I'm going through the reviews and I just realized this is supposed to be a sequel to "Black Girl, Unlimited" Well of course I need to read that now!
The narrators did a great job reading the book and kept me even more engaged with the story.
I liked it overall! First time I've read a book by Echo Brown (also loved that she used her name as the main character BTW-main character energy!).
The story was very relatable as it is very common to go to PWIs and easily feel like you don't fit in as a Black woman. Her struggle with her classes, fitting in and ugh just all of it! It just added a whole other stressful layer to the already stressful college experience.
whoops lol I'm going through the reviews and I just realized this is supposed to be a sequel to "Black Girl, Unlimited" Well of course I need to read that now!
May 14, 2022
This is a hard one for me to review/describe. I thought I would really enjoy it because I like autobiographical fiction and because of my firsthand experience with attending an Ivy League university as a Black woman. I very much related to some of Echo's academic struggles and her unwillingness to seek help (I didn't do that badly my first semester but I did struggle to adjust).
Maybe this would've been easier to read and get into if I'd read the previous book (Black Girl Unlimited) but this didn't really work for me. The magical realism didn't feel like it fit with the book. It felt more like it was forced in to try to give Echo a way out but in some ways it doesn't really help her out. And there's also the weirdness of her constantly fawning over this white guy as if becoming his girlfriend will magically solve all of her problems. That it was even in the book was gross to me.
There was also way more trauma than I was expecting. I probably should've looked for a content warning online first but I didn't. I'm glad that Echo was able to heal some of her childhood traumas and that she went to therapy on campus to help her do so. But yea, overall this wasn't for me and it took me way longer than it should have to get through this book.
Overall: 2.5*
Maybe this would've been easier to read and get into if I'd read the previous book (Black Girl Unlimited) but this didn't really work for me. The magical realism didn't feel like it fit with the book. It felt more like it was forced in to try to give Echo a way out but in some ways it doesn't really help her out. And there's also the weirdness of her constantly fawning over this white guy as if becoming his girlfriend will magically solve all of her problems. That it was even in the book was gross to me.
There was also way more trauma than I was expecting. I probably should've looked for a content warning online first but I didn't. I'm glad that Echo was able to heal some of her childhood traumas and that she went to therapy on campus to help her do so. But yea, overall this wasn't for me and it took me way longer than it should have to get through this book.
Overall: 2.5*
February 5, 2022
Black Girl Unlimited was one of my favorite picks of the year. This book was good, but had a few drawbacks.
Read
July 6, 2025DNF @ 122 pages, 39% into the book. First off I will say that I am a person that like to be pulled into a book by about page 50. I am beyond bored with this book. And confused. The writing is so choppy and the story has no flow and seemingly no connection. I’m sure if I was a little more patient, I’d figure out where the author was going with this but I am no longer interested. The premise seemed SO interesting and I’m disappointed in the execution. To put it into perspective, I bought this along with 7 other books two days ago and this was the first book I chose to read. Needless to say I was looking forward to seeing the story of a black girl in an Ivy League and make it out the other side of oppression. I disappointed and underwhelmed. I have nothing positive to say about this book other than it had a promising premise…that fell flat.
August 3, 2024
What is happening??
June 13, 2023
actual rating: 2.5 stars
picked this up because i've enjoyed echo brown's other books. compared to those, this was a little bit weird for me. the premise started with echo starting her first year at dartmouth college and she was struggling with her classes and self-identity because it's a majority white student body. as she finds her place in college, she begun having strange visions and weird things started to happen around her. through echo's perspective, her doubt about schooling and the racism that she faced as a black student is raw. i think the concept of this book was pretty cool. i thought it would be a purely contemporary novel but there were elements of magical realism/fantasy within. there were some parts that didn't work out for me but the overall concept was interesting.
picked this up because i've enjoyed echo brown's other books. compared to those, this was a little bit weird for me. the premise started with echo starting her first year at dartmouth college and she was struggling with her classes and self-identity because it's a majority white student body. as she finds her place in college, she begun having strange visions and weird things started to happen around her. through echo's perspective, her doubt about schooling and the racism that she faced as a black student is raw. i think the concept of this book was pretty cool. i thought it would be a purely contemporary novel but there were elements of magical realism/fantasy within. there were some parts that didn't work out for me but the overall concept was interesting.
October 18, 2023
This journey was never meant for people like us.
A beautiful follow up to Black Girl Unlimited, this book felt like music. When Echo finally leaves home like how she’s been hoping she starts her time in college as a first generation Black student at Dartmouth. Sometimes I couldn’t tell what was actually happening in this story vs. what was a consequence of her mental health or calling on her ancestral strength. I think that was sort of the point though. I love how community was emphasized through this story and the way healing and growth were handled. This isn’t a very straight forward story and uses some magical realism, I often found that if I didn’t have some similar experiences I wouldn’t have understood what was happening. By the end of the book I was teary eyed at the character development and heartwarming message.
A beautiful follow up to Black Girl Unlimited, this book felt like music. When Echo finally leaves home like how she’s been hoping she starts her time in college as a first generation Black student at Dartmouth. Sometimes I couldn’t tell what was actually happening in this story vs. what was a consequence of her mental health or calling on her ancestral strength. I think that was sort of the point though. I love how community was emphasized through this story and the way healing and growth were handled. This isn’t a very straight forward story and uses some magical realism, I often found that if I didn’t have some similar experiences I wouldn’t have understood what was happening. By the end of the book I was teary eyed at the character development and heartwarming message.
February 25, 2022
Speechless. This book is just so many things - thrilling, speculative, surreal.. It's disorienting to read, yet flows so well. Not to mention that the audio narrator is PHENOMENAL. You can really feel Echo's pain as she adjusts to college life and the strangeness that ensues after a university hypnotist dubs her a "Chosen One". We're able to discuss institutional racism, learned helplessness, and the importance of culture all through Echo's unique perspective. I honestly can't wait to read more books by Echo Brown.
*Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review*
April 17, 2022
Good novel about an African American student from an inner city high school who is a great student, applying for and getting into Dartmouth College based on a brochure. She experiences deterrence from her high school counselor and culture shock when she arrives at Dartmouth. Gradually she learns to adapt between her Cleveland home and Ivy League college.
May 2, 2022
Review to come. Real rating: 3.5
May 7, 2023
I really loved this book!!! Echo Brown really captures how it feels to be one of the only Black faces in a room. She perfectly verbalized everything I feel and think but don't know how to say.
February 21, 2022
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: rape, pedophilia
The Chosen One is a book that has been haunting me ever since I finished. Echo struggles to navigate not only the racism and micro-aggresions from fellow students, but also the internalized racism within her. At the same time, she's in this bind of having gotten into an Ivy League College, but not having the same preparation as her peers because of racism and class differences. It's a book that also explores mental health, rape, and trauma. There's so much to unpack in this story.
Echo's journey throughout her time at Dartmouth is illuminating. It was unsurprising the white privilege and racism she undergoes, while also having Echo examine her own internalized feelings. The Chosen One is a book I'd listen to again in a heartbeat. Not only to read Echo's experiences and pieces of wisdom - in the treatment and solidarity of her peers - but also because there's a definite supernatural feel to it I'd love to experience again.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
TW: rape, pedophilia
The Chosen One is a book that has been haunting me ever since I finished. Echo struggles to navigate not only the racism and micro-aggresions from fellow students, but also the internalized racism within her. At the same time, she's in this bind of having gotten into an Ivy League College, but not having the same preparation as her peers because of racism and class differences. It's a book that also explores mental health, rape, and trauma. There's so much to unpack in this story.
Echo's journey throughout her time at Dartmouth is illuminating. It was unsurprising the white privilege and racism she undergoes, while also having Echo examine her own internalized feelings. The Chosen One is a book I'd listen to again in a heartbeat. Not only to read Echo's experiences and pieces of wisdom - in the treatment and solidarity of her peers - but also because there's a definite supernatural feel to it I'd love to experience again.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
January 4, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Chosen One
Author: Echo Brown
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Black female main character, Black side characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, magical realism/realistic fiction
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (religion, language, racism, underage alcohol consumption, alcoholism mentioned, PTSD, HP reference, drugs mentioned, self esteem issues, rape mentioned, sexual content, generational trauma, slavery mentioned, child molestation, near death drowning experience)
Explanation of CWs: Religion is heavily present in the book. There is some cursing in the book. There is racism shown in the book. There is underage alcohol consumption shown and alcoholism mentioned. PTSD is shown in the book. There is one HP reference. Drugs are mentioned. There are self esteem issues shown and lots of generational trauma. Slavery is mentioned as apart of the generational trauma. There is some sexual content and rape is mentioned, as well as child molestation. There is also a near death drowning experience shown.
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn't keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.
In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The book was humanizing and so real, especially since it was somewhat a personal narrative from the author. The book had good world building and it was a very realistic look at what college looks like, especially to first generation students. The book normalized periods as well, which I thought was a great plus to it.
However, the book is very fast paced and it speeds through a bunch of the issues that could have made the book a bit more interesting. The book is confusing and it’s really easy to get lost in it. The book also leans a lot on religion. The book also lacks in character development and by the end I still felt like I didn’t know who Echo was. I also feel like this is the type of book you need to read the synopsis to in order to figure out what’s going on in the read, which I don’t like. Finally, the book contains an HP reference in a fairly positive light, which I found very unfortunate given the author of the HP series and her hate against multiple people.
Verdict: It’s good, just some issues that I think could be ironed out.
Book: The Chosen One
Author: Echo Brown
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Black female main character, Black side characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, magical realism/realistic fiction
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (religion, language, racism, underage alcohol consumption, alcoholism mentioned, PTSD, HP reference, drugs mentioned, self esteem issues, rape mentioned, sexual content, generational trauma, slavery mentioned, child molestation, near death drowning experience)
Explanation of CWs: Religion is heavily present in the book. There is some cursing in the book. There is racism shown in the book. There is underage alcohol consumption shown and alcoholism mentioned. PTSD is shown in the book. There is one HP reference. Drugs are mentioned. There are self esteem issues shown and lots of generational trauma. Slavery is mentioned as apart of the generational trauma. There is some sexual content and rape is mentioned, as well as child molestation. There is also a near death drowning experience shown.
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite graduating high school in Cleveland as valedictorian, Echo immediately struggles to keep up in demanding classes. Dartmouth made many promises it couldn't keep. The campus is not a rainbow-colored utopia where education lifts every voice. Nor is it a paradise of ideas, an incubator of inclusivity, or even an exciting dating scene. But it might be a portal to different dimensions of time and space—only accessible if Echo accepts her calling as a Chosen One and takes charge of her future by healing her past. This remarkable challenge demands vulnerability, humility, and the conviction to ask for help without sacrificing self-worth.
In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, Echo Brown confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as they steer the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth’s campus. The Chosen One is an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition—as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The book was humanizing and so real, especially since it was somewhat a personal narrative from the author. The book had good world building and it was a very realistic look at what college looks like, especially to first generation students. The book normalized periods as well, which I thought was a great plus to it.
However, the book is very fast paced and it speeds through a bunch of the issues that could have made the book a bit more interesting. The book is confusing and it’s really easy to get lost in it. The book also leans a lot on religion. The book also lacks in character development and by the end I still felt like I didn’t know who Echo was. I also feel like this is the type of book you need to read the synopsis to in order to figure out what’s going on in the read, which I don’t like. Finally, the book contains an HP reference in a fairly positive light, which I found very unfortunate given the author of the HP series and her hate against multiple people.
Verdict: It’s good, just some issues that I think could be ironed out.
March 3, 2022
This book is immensely weird but maybe in a good way?
(For disclosure: I did not read Black Girl Unlimited and I’m not sure if this was a sequel or in any way related to that book, but this one did seemly stand on its own.)
I love a bit of magical realism as much as the next person, but some of the magic/paranormal/unexplained phenomena were a little too mysterious to the point that certain scenes were difficult to follow. This is compounded by the fact that I am not a religious person and cannot relate to that kind of spiritualism AT ALL, so the references to Jesus and the Bible (and coincidentally, Star Wars?) etc were…challenging, at moments, to push through. I still got the message loud and clear, but the journey to arrive there felt a little convoluted and/or challenging at times.
I mainly picked this one up because, like the author and character, I also attended Dartmouth as a minority student and wanted to see how that experience was explored. While, overall, I did enjoy it and definitely recognized threads of my own truth in the themes and incidents (especially as it relates to social class), the exaggerated nature of characterizations inspired some skepticism here and there. I think it’s possible to show the school as a very hostile place without setting it up as some sort of villainous caricature of a racially divided hell—especially because it made it difficult to really buy-in when the school very abruptly turned into a kind of utopia after Echo began her healing journey. I’m also curious if someone who isn’t familiar with the campus got as much out of it as I did—there was a lot of name dropping like “collis cafe” and “Molly’s” and “the Aires” with, what felt like, little effort to set the scene beyond naming buildings, so even though *I* could picture it perfectly, it probably wouldn’t be so visceral for someone unfamiliar with the campus and might leave them wanting for some more lush description.
With all that said, unlike some other reviewers, I thought the way the author moved between time and space was extremely clever. I especially enjoyed how the adults (the HS guidance counselor & professor, the deaN & psychiatrist) we’re juxtaposed as two sides of a coin. That was very effective and not something I’ve seen done—especially in YA or NA—very often. It was also very easy to like the main character and you were instantly rooting for her, despite (or maybe because of) her flaws. The friendship dynamics, I felt, were the real highlight of this book and I personally wish all the time devoted to romance pursuits had instead been handed over to further developing the friend group.
Anyway, this was engaging and entertaining enough that I finished it quickly, and I did see some of my experience reflected back to me even though, by design, this was an individual account of the author’s time at the school. I could definitely see it being very impactful for a young person who is marginalized (either by race, culture, or class) who is entering one of these unique very wealthy, very white spaces for the first time and doesn’t know how to begin these kinds of conversations with their peers—for that alone, I found this book to be a worthwhile read.
Content TW: rape, assault, racism, suicidal ideation, drug addiction, mental illness, alcohol use
(For disclosure: I did not read Black Girl Unlimited and I’m not sure if this was a sequel or in any way related to that book, but this one did seemly stand on its own.)
I love a bit of magical realism as much as the next person, but some of the magic/paranormal/unexplained phenomena were a little too mysterious to the point that certain scenes were difficult to follow. This is compounded by the fact that I am not a religious person and cannot relate to that kind of spiritualism AT ALL, so the references to Jesus and the Bible (and coincidentally, Star Wars?) etc were…challenging, at moments, to push through. I still got the message loud and clear, but the journey to arrive there felt a little convoluted and/or challenging at times.
I mainly picked this one up because, like the author and character, I also attended Dartmouth as a minority student and wanted to see how that experience was explored. While, overall, I did enjoy it and definitely recognized threads of my own truth in the themes and incidents (especially as it relates to social class), the exaggerated nature of characterizations inspired some skepticism here and there. I think it’s possible to show the school as a very hostile place without setting it up as some sort of villainous caricature of a racially divided hell—especially because it made it difficult to really buy-in when the school very abruptly turned into a kind of utopia after Echo began her healing journey. I’m also curious if someone who isn’t familiar with the campus got as much out of it as I did—there was a lot of name dropping like “collis cafe” and “Molly’s” and “the Aires” with, what felt like, little effort to set the scene beyond naming buildings, so even though *I* could picture it perfectly, it probably wouldn’t be so visceral for someone unfamiliar with the campus and might leave them wanting for some more lush description.
With all that said, unlike some other reviewers, I thought the way the author moved between time and space was extremely clever. I especially enjoyed how the adults (the HS guidance counselor & professor, the deaN & psychiatrist) we’re juxtaposed as two sides of a coin. That was very effective and not something I’ve seen done—especially in YA or NA—very often. It was also very easy to like the main character and you were instantly rooting for her, despite (or maybe because of) her flaws. The friendship dynamics, I felt, were the real highlight of this book and I personally wish all the time devoted to romance pursuits had instead been handed over to further developing the friend group.
Anyway, this was engaging and entertaining enough that I finished it quickly, and I did see some of my experience reflected back to me even though, by design, this was an individual account of the author’s time at the school. I could definitely see it being very impactful for a young person who is marginalized (either by race, culture, or class) who is entering one of these unique very wealthy, very white spaces for the first time and doesn’t know how to begin these kinds of conversations with their peers—for that alone, I found this book to be a worthwhile read.
Content TW: rape, assault, racism, suicidal ideation, drug addiction, mental illness, alcohol use
March 25, 2022
The Chosen One
Echo Brown ⚡️
★★★½
"I wonder how long I will keep revisiting dead places trying to rebirth them." 🌤
As a first-year college student, Echo Brown tells a moving and profound story in 'The Chosen One.' The novel is partly a personal narrative, partly magical realism, partly religious, and mostly culture-encompassing.
Throughout, Echo's thoughts are half-written, half-thought, and half-said; everything happens very quickly. The book's format is one of the more whimsical ones I have encountered 🌙
It is one of the few books that captured everything I felt in my first year of undergrad. Being the first member of my family to attend college (a CSU), the expectations, the differences. Having the same desire to be an adult as everyone around me, but having to work so much harder. As Echo, I took remedial math in college (—or whatever it is called for those who are bad at math — my racist math teacher called me stupid in geometry, and to this day, I do not like geometry.) People lack belief in you because you are Black, NOT because you do not try. It is difficult to negotiate a world that no one — not even mothers — has accurately prepared you for. Being eighteen and dealing with the assumption that if you come from poverty, you will never work hard or get ahead is hard to deal with when you can barely manage homework, mental health, and identity.
In 'The Chosen One,' Blackness and culture are as well-depicted as the magical realism. It doesn't matter whether Echo's characters are Black or white; they all struggle with the same issues. It was the candidness, the openness, and the desire to grow that makes it wonderful. Echo's method of coping with her trauma is similar to how I dealt with my trauma. When you turn eighteen, the Black trauma strikes when you begin to question what you see. No one tells you about it either. It is exhausting and hard 🥺💓
I wish this book had been here to help me navigate. Despite some flaws in the ending, the 'reason' is still present, the plots still align, and the book is still a good and indispensable read.
Echo Brown ⚡️
★★★½
"I wonder how long I will keep revisiting dead places trying to rebirth them." 🌤
As a first-year college student, Echo Brown tells a moving and profound story in 'The Chosen One.' The novel is partly a personal narrative, partly magical realism, partly religious, and mostly culture-encompassing.
Throughout, Echo's thoughts are half-written, half-thought, and half-said; everything happens very quickly. The book's format is one of the more whimsical ones I have encountered 🌙
It is one of the few books that captured everything I felt in my first year of undergrad. Being the first member of my family to attend college (a CSU), the expectations, the differences. Having the same desire to be an adult as everyone around me, but having to work so much harder. As Echo, I took remedial math in college (—or whatever it is called for those who are bad at math — my racist math teacher called me stupid in geometry, and to this day, I do not like geometry.) People lack belief in you because you are Black, NOT because you do not try. It is difficult to negotiate a world that no one — not even mothers — has accurately prepared you for. Being eighteen and dealing with the assumption that if you come from poverty, you will never work hard or get ahead is hard to deal with when you can barely manage homework, mental health, and identity.
In 'The Chosen One,' Blackness and culture are as well-depicted as the magical realism. It doesn't matter whether Echo's characters are Black or white; they all struggle with the same issues. It was the candidness, the openness, and the desire to grow that makes it wonderful. Echo's method of coping with her trauma is similar to how I dealt with my trauma. When you turn eighteen, the Black trauma strikes when you begin to question what you see. No one tells you about it either. It is exhausting and hard 🥺💓
I wish this book had been here to help me navigate. Despite some flaws in the ending, the 'reason' is still present, the plots still align, and the book is still a good and indispensable read.
March 10, 2022
Library Review: Audiobook
3/5
The story was pleasant. It details the trials and tribulations of a black young woman going through her first year at Dartmouth. It was interesting to get a glance into undergrad life at an Ivy. However, the fantastical aspects kind of threw me off. I wasn’t able to tell when the narrator was exaggerating or not. At first, I thought it was a schizophrenic episode, and I think I would’ve liked the story better in that direction. The story dragged at times, mostly because the younger Brown kept oscillating between feeling completely hopeless and beaten down to feeling untouchable. I understand how that is a reflection of real life and can understand it in context (ie, when she was dancing with her crush and went in for a kiss but got rejected. I can see how a person would go from confident to broken). But there were too many times in the story where it just felt unreasonable or at least annoying. She would get this energy out of nowhere and then go on a tirade of how she isn’t good enough and all the while continuing to victimize herself. It felt like she spent a lot of time feeling sorry for herself, blaming others, and giving herself pep talks. During none of this did she actually try to claim her agency— despite all her monologues about empowerment. It takes almost half a book before she even tries tutoring. And maybe all of this is realistic and reasonable, but the way the story presents it is not. The presentation of the story makes of feel like there isn’t really character growth because Brown never really lets her character fail.
3/5
The story was pleasant. It details the trials and tribulations of a black young woman going through her first year at Dartmouth. It was interesting to get a glance into undergrad life at an Ivy. However, the fantastical aspects kind of threw me off. I wasn’t able to tell when the narrator was exaggerating or not. At first, I thought it was a schizophrenic episode, and I think I would’ve liked the story better in that direction. The story dragged at times, mostly because the younger Brown kept oscillating between feeling completely hopeless and beaten down to feeling untouchable. I understand how that is a reflection of real life and can understand it in context (ie, when she was dancing with her crush and went in for a kiss but got rejected. I can see how a person would go from confident to broken). But there were too many times in the story where it just felt unreasonable or at least annoying. She would get this energy out of nowhere and then go on a tirade of how she isn’t good enough and all the while continuing to victimize herself. It felt like she spent a lot of time feeling sorry for herself, blaming others, and giving herself pep talks. During none of this did she actually try to claim her agency— despite all her monologues about empowerment. It takes almost half a book before she even tries tutoring. And maybe all of this is realistic and reasonable, but the way the story presents it is not. The presentation of the story makes of feel like there isn’t really character growth because Brown never really lets her character fail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
This is one of the most unique books that I have read in quite some time. Brown's ability to infuse magical realism into the story elevates an already beautiful story. The magical realism disoriented me as a reader, but I believe that was the point-for the reader to feel as disoriented as Echo a young, Black woman from Cleveland on the very white New Hampshire campus of Dartmouth. I talked with one of my co-workers about this, and I feel that Brown was able to truly encapsulate the generational trauma that Black Americans have experienced in a completely different way, and makes her point abundantly clear. I was struck at the ending where Echo and her roommate Manda Panda are taking a picture together as they part ways and let each other know how much they care about the other. Manda mentions getting botox when she's older because she doesn't want to age while Echo replies that she doesn't mind aging. I knew going into this book that the author, Echo Brown, had passed away only months earlier, and that sentence was heartbreaking. Echo Brown was an amazing talent, and I think I speak for the rest of the world when I say that it is a tragedy that she didn't get to age and showcase her talent more for the world to see.
February 18, 2022
2.5 - I wanted to like this because I loved Black Girl Unlimited. But the narrative was all over the place and the magical realism didn't seem to connect in this one. Using it to examine the feelings that first generation Black students feel at PWIs just wasn't the best approach in telling her story. The bits and pieces that gave you a glimpse into her collegiate experience were intriguing and I wish she would have nixed the magical realism. I also was very annoyed with her romantic interests but want to be careful to not project my own perspective into someone else's lived experience. I wanted to like it but kept getting taken out of the narrative with the multiple storylines, magical realism, romantic attraction, etc. Disappointed that it didn't land like her first one.
March 1, 2022
I feel conflicted. I do think this was well written and engaging, but I also think it tried to be too many things at once. While the heart of the story is a coming-of-age YA novel about a young woman coming to terms with her past trauma during her first year at college, a pivotal element revolves around a supernatural, sci-fi-esque concept that felt unclear. As a metaphor, I think it's powerful -- but it didn't feel intentional as a metaphor but an actual part of Echo's real life. (Also, in the audiobook, it includes a lot of repetitive 'WHOOOSH' noises that were very jarring.) I think the story is powerful on its own without the supernatural elements.
June 13, 2023
Unfortunately, this book doesn’t quite live up to BGU for me and I find myself rather disappointed. The myth and magic she leans on in this book just aren’t as well thought out or integrated as in BGU. She also uses a lot more pop culture references and they are clunky and just don’t work with the myths she herself has created. What also doesn’t help is my absolute disinterest in the “American College Experience”.
What saves the book is Brown's clear and emotionally connected voice. The discussion of mental health and emotional growth is what anchors the book. I didn’t enjoy this book but I will be checking our other books by her in the future.
What saves the book is Brown's clear and emotionally connected voice. The discussion of mental health and emotional growth is what anchors the book. I didn’t enjoy this book but I will be checking our other books by her in the future.
January 6, 2022
I have never read a book quite like this one. Magical Realism? Realism Fiction? This book is about an Afro-American woman struggles, disappointments and success going through her first year of college. Echo is a black first-generation college student who has to deal with racism, immense pressure to succeed, mental health, generational trauma, and the toils of dating. There is a heavily religious aspect in this book and lots of negative self-talk and self-esteem issues.
Over this is a great book that every young black woman should read before going to college.
Over this is a great book that every young black woman should read before going to college.
January 31, 2022
Hooked me from the first page and it’s a quick read. I wanted to read it for the “Black first-generation college student” because I can relate to that . But we didn’t focus enough on that. The magical realism & over-coming trauma was overwhelming the narrative. The writing was also not for me. I mean the book is not bad but it didn’t give me ,what I expected. The romance was also a MESS.
At times it was funny but mostly to quirky and cringe for me.
This book has a few Christian undertones and cites bible verses which I couldn’t connect to.
At times it was funny but mostly to quirky and cringe for me.
This book has a few Christian undertones and cites bible verses which I couldn’t connect to.
gave-up-on
May 21, 2022Couldn’t finish :/ . I thought the magical realism was confusing in Black Girl Unlimited, but it was way more confusing in this one, which ultimately detracted from the important conversations this book was trying to have. I wanted to like it, but couldn’t wrap my head around the “chosen one” aspect and time jumps and astral projecting(?).
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