Simone, Half and Half

by Christine Rodriguez

Fourteen-year-old Simone is caught between Canadian, Québécois, and Trinidadian. She’s also torn between friends and the projects they want her to take part in. Her best friend Sarah wants them to compete in the talent show with a dance routine, but her new friend Jay has introduced her to the Black History and Culture Committee’s activism and its organizer, tenth-grader Vanessa. Though Sarah represents the comfort of what she knew growing up, Jay and Vanessa offer Simone an opportunity to get to know part of herself that she hasn’t explored yet. As pressure mounts on seeing both projects through, her friendships start to feel the strain and her loyalties are tested. Can Simone find the courage to stand up for what she believes in? Will her friends accept the choices she makes? And will she finally learn to be more comfortable with herself? Simone, Half and Half is a touching story about finding one’s place between identities and communities.

112 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Sara Palacios · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short read, I read it when I was at the library where I volunteer but forgot to take a photo for my instagram book reviews. Hopefully I’ll remember to do that when I go to the library next week.

As for the book, the discussion of racism was a tad on the nose for my taste. I would have preferred some scenarios where the protagonist encounters racism and show the consequences of racism on the protagonist inside the person. But that would be too much to ask of this play, as I suspect that the point is different than what my preferences are.

While that is something that I consider negative, I want to say something that I liked about the book: it’s set in Montreal. I love stories that have settings that I can relate to. Hopefully I can read more local stories soon.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great play! I wish I could've seen it when it was showing in MTL in 2020.

I added all of Vhristine Rodriguez's plays in my TBR.

[Natalie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb. However, as soon as I felt I was starting to understand the characters and am invested... it's over. Over too soon! I wish I would have been able to see the play live. Maybe one day.