Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

This discussion thread is to mark your completion of the August challenge to fulfill prompt #50 A book about Afrofuturism
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is August 23
https://www.unesco.org/en/days/slave-...

Please include the following information about this book:

Title:
Author:
Would you recommend this book?

Title: Pet (Pet #1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Would you recommend this book? YES! My review:
This is Emezi's Young Adult debut! And I admit to being rather surprised at just how much I enjoyed it! It is definitely thought-provoking and unique, IMO! Quite a lot of diversity depicted in various ways. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time, I'm sure!

The first several pages described a world that much resembles our current reality in the U.S. But that was the pre-revolutionary world of Lucille... Now in Lucille the belief is that all monsters are gone! There are none left in Lucille. Hmmmmm...

Definitely want to read Bitter!

Title: Bitter (Pet #0.5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Akwaeke Emezi
Would you recommend this book? YES! My review:
Wow. Are you sure this isn't the current political state of the U.S. in 2026? 'Cause it feels pretty possible right now... Citizens/non-citizens gunned down in the streets by "law enforcement," etc. Ugh.

I did particularly appreciate Emezi's depiction of the conundrum of rampant uncontrolled vengeful violence vs. political change. I believe it is difficult as humans to not allow our baser emotions to control us. But it is possible, IMO, to learn to exert control over ourselves. Though, admittedly, it is easier to do so sometimes than at other times!

Highly recommend this "prequel" which I enjoyed a bit more than the official first installment, Pet. Definitely a good book for discussion!